Mike asked for examples of "basic physical status". 1) Path - poorly-defined path (either because of low usage, or because there's no advantage in taking any particular line, or because someone's ploughed it)
2) Footway - well-defined, but not suitable for horses, due to accesses (stiles / kissing gates), and vulnerability of surface to damage from heavy animals. Most UK country footpaths fall into this category. Category also covers urban made-up ways from which cycles are specifically banned. Some are designated public footpaths. 3) Bridleway - well-defined, and usage by horses accepted, with gates for access. Surface unlikely to be made-up, and likely to be unusable by cyclists, especially in woods, and especially after rain. Routing a bike on such a way wouldn't be clever. Most UK country bridleways fall into this category, but not urban ones. 4) Cycleway - surface made up and fairly smooth. Probably no objection to horses using it occasionally, though situation likely to be unclear unless it's legally a Bridleway, or there's some horse-unfriendly gates. Possibly occasional access for farm vehicles / cars. Legal designation could be just about anything - so long as the landowner doesn't mind. Might be a case for narrow cycleways to be coded as cycle&footway, to show you will probably have to cycle differently, and to avoid claiming undue ownership/priority for cyclists. 5) Track - surface made up though may be a bit rough, and may have grass growing down the middle. Probably no formal access restrictions, though hard work for cyclists, and could well damage a normal car. Landowner may limit access. Also covers forest tracks, though surface likely to be less well made up, and prone to being impassable for some vehicles in wet conditions. Legal designation could be anything or nothing. The general point is that legal designation and physical status don't always align. Richard (not the one responsible for Potlatch)
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