A Barrier line marks a stretch of path that some visitors cannot use, such as steps or a blocked way. Normal directions cross it, but when a visitor turns on step-free mode the router avoids it. This guide covers drawing barriers and turning step-free on.
Draw a barrier
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Open the drawing tools
On the Wayfinding tab, click Draw wayfinding on the map.
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Pick the Barrier tool
Pan to the steps or blocked section, then click Barrier in the toolbar.
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Tap along the steps
Click point by point along the barrier, then click Done. Draw it over the part of the path that is the obstacle, so the barrier sits on the route it should block.
How step-free routing uses barriers
With step-free off, the router treats a barrier like ordinary path and will happily route across it. With step-free on, the barrier is off limits and the router finds another way around. If there is no other way, the destination cannot be reached step-free.
So a barrier is only half the job. For every step you block, make sure a level route, ramp or lift reaches the same places, or the step-free route will simply fail. Between floors that means a Lift marker, since stairs are avoided step-free. See Connect floors with lifts and stairs.
Turn step-free on
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Tick the option
On the Wayfinding tab, tick Enable step-free (accessibility). This adds a step-free toggle to the directions a visitor sees.
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Set an accessible line colour
Set Accessible wayfinding line colour to something clearly different from your normal line, so a visitor can see at a glance they are on the step-free route. It defaults to light purple if you leave it blank.
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Set an accessible speed
Under Walk time & distance, set Accessible speed (metres per second) for the estimated time when step-free is on. Around 0.8 is typical, against the 1.3 default for the normal route.
Test both modes
In the preview, route past a barrier with step-free off and confirm the normal line crosses it. Then turn step-free on and confirm the same journey detours around it and switches to the accessible colour. If a destination beyond a barrier goes unreachable step-free, it is missing a level path or lift. See also Set up step-free routes.