Safe Walking Routes

The cycling map layer shows signposted cycle routes, not routes with good "cyclability" or routes that are "safe". (This is also something that some web sites aim to do but not on our main site.) Overlays with hiking routes are also available from third parties. I am not aware of anyone signposting or recording "city walking routes" but if they were signposted they could certainly be mapped and made available by someone.

The issue with "safe" walking is that it is subjective and we don't map subjective stuff. Whether you feel safe in an area could for example entirely depend on your gender, ethnicity, or social status. We only map things that are verifiable. For example, people map whether streets are lit at night and there are indeed maps showing that (e.g. http://lightmap.uni-hd.de/).

So, unless your city signposts "safe walking routes" which would then be a verifiable thing to add (not that these routes are safe - but that these are the city's official safe routes!), you are limited to trying to identify the verifiable features that could be used to determine the safety or not of a street.

Are you referring to traffic safety in the sense of not getting run over by a car or to "social" safety in the sense of not getting robbed? The former can to some extend objectively mapped by tagging sidewalks, curbs, barriers between carriageway and sidewalk, tactile paving, sidewalk width, crossings, traffic lights, lamps/lighting, underpasses, signed walking routes etc. Adding subjective, personal views like "my preferred way to work" is frowned upon my most mappers.

There are several projects that try to find best routes for for example disabled or visually impaired pedestrians. Some of what they do is also applicable to generally safe walking. Maybe have a look at Wheelchair Routing to get some additional ideas.