Right of way

Right of way (no hyphens), is the legal right, established by grant from a landowner or long usage (i.e., by prescription), to pass along a specific route through property belonging to another. A similar right of access also exists on land held by a government, lands that are typically called public land, state land, or Crown land. When one person owns a piece of land that is bordered on all sides by lands owned by others, an easement may exist or might be created so as to initiate a right of way through the bordering land.

This article is about legal access to routes. For land usage right for transportation projects including road, rail, pipeline, etc., see Right-of-way (property access). For priority in using a way, see Right of way (traffic). For maritime transport, see Right of way (shipping). For other uses, see Right of way (disambiguation).

This article focuses on access by foot, by bicycle, horseback, or along a waterway, while right-of-way (with hyphens) focuses on land usage rights for highways, railways, and pipelines.

A public footpath is a right of way that legally may only be used by pedestrians. A public bridleway is a right of way that legally may be used only by pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians, but not by motorised vehicles. In some countries, especially in Northern Europe, where the freedom to roam has historically taken the form of general public rights, a right of way may not be restricted to specific paths or trails.

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