We map what is there, not what should be there. You should tag the legal access as additional information, though. So, for https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Desire_line.jpg I would go for * `highway=path` * `surface=ground` * `smoothness=bad` (just a guess from the image) * `width=0.4` (if I would have measured/guessed it from reality) * if needed: [access](https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:access) tags depending on the legal situation and signage. If a sign forbids use officially (whyever it is there) but no one (including the owner) cares, then I possibly would tag it `access=permissive` + `access:legal=private` (or something). something similar … I am not sure if we have an established tag here) + `access:description=officially forbidden by a sign which no one including the owner cares about` (a tag describing the access to make it clear to users and mappers). Similarly, if a sign forbids use by all vehicles, but quite clearly only motor vehicles are meant (just the wrong sign was put up). up) I would not use `vehicle=no`. Note the [suggested default access assumptions](https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OSM_tags_for_routing/Access-Restrictions). Somewhat questionable is a "desire path" which crosses a railway line. Is there a path for the 5 metres across the railway line? Likely you cannot see it, you can just assume some use, but there is no real-world feature. In this special case (also influenced by the danger) I would tend to not map the part which is across the railway line.

We map what is there, not what should be there. You should tag the legal access as additional information, though. So, for https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Desire_line.jpg I would go for * `highway=path` * `surface=ground` * `smoothness=bad` (just a guess from the image) * `width=0.5` `width=0.4` (if I would have measured/guessed it from reality) * if needed: [access](https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:access) tags depending on the legal situation and signage. If a sign forbids use officially (whyever it is there) but no one (including the owner) cares, then I possibly would tag it `access=permissive` + `access:legal=private` (or something). Similarly, if a sign forbids use by all vehicles, but quite clearly only motor vehicles are meant (just the wrong sign was put up). Note the [suggested default access assumptions](https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OSM_tags_for_routing/Access-Restrictions). Somewhat questionable is a "desire path" which crosses a railway line. Is there a path for the 5 metres across the railway line? Likely you cannot see it, you can just assume some use, but there is no real-world feature. In this special case (also influenced by the danger) I would tend to not map the part which is across the railway line.

We map what is there, not what should be there. You should tag the legal access as additional information, though. So, for https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Desire_line.jpg I would go for * `highway=path` * `surface=ground` * `smoothness=bad` (just a guess from the image) * `width=0.5` (if I would have measured/guessed it from reality) * if needed: [access](https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:access) tags depending on the legal situation and signage. If a sign forbids use officially (whyever it is there) but no one (including the owner) cares, then I possibly would tag it `access=permissive` + `access:legal=private` (or something). Similarly, if a sign forbids use by all vehicles, but quite clearly only motor vehicles are meant (just the wrong sign was put up). [Suggested Note the [suggested default access assumptions](https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OSM_tags_for_routing/Access-Restrictions). Somewhat questionable is a "desire path" which crosses a railway line. Is there a path for the 5 metres across the railway line? Likely you cannot see it, you can just assume some use, but there is no real-world feature. In this special case (also influenced by the danger) I would tend to not map the part which is across the railway line.

We map what is there, not what should be there. You should tag the legal access as additional information, though. So, for https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Desire_line.jpg I would go for * `highway=path` * `surface=ground` * `smoothness=bad` (just a guess from the image) * `width=0.5` (if I would have measured/guessed it from reality) * [access](https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:access) tags depending on the legal situation and signage. If a sign forbids use officially (whyever it is there) but no one (including the owner) cares, then I possibly would tag it `access=permissive` + `access:legal=private` (or something). Similarly, if a sign forbids use by all vehicles, but quite clearly only motor vehicles are meant (just the wrong sign was put up). [Suggested default access assumptions](https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OSM_tags_for_routing/Access-Restrictions). Somewhat questionable is a "desire path" which crosses a railway line. Is there a path for the 5 metres across the railway line? Likely you cannot see it, you can just assume some use, but there is no real-world feature. In this special case (also influenced by the danger) I would tend to not map the part which is across the railway line.