diff --git a/DataStructures/ExtractorCallBacks.h b/DataStructures/ExtractorCallBacks.h
index 0f25f2bf8..8f274e319 100644
--- a/DataStructures/ExtractorCallBacks.h
+++ b/DataStructures/ExtractorCallBacks.h
@@ -157,6 +157,10 @@ public:
         std::string cycleway( w.keyVals.Find("cycleway"));
         std::string duration ( w.keyVals.Find("duration"));
         std::string service (w.keyVals.Find("service"));
+        std::string area(w.keyVals.Find("area"));
+
+        if("yes" == area && settings.ignoreAreas)
+            return true;
 
         //Save the name of the way if it has one, ref has precedence over name tag.
         if ( 0 < ref.length() )
diff --git a/DataStructures/ExtractorStructs.h b/DataStructures/ExtractorStructs.h
index 03c87ccf7..51787ee05 100644
--- a/DataStructures/ExtractorStructs.h
+++ b/DataStructures/ExtractorStructs.h
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ struct CmpWayByID : public std::binary_function<_WayIDStartAndEndEdge, _WayIDSta
 };
 
 struct Settings {
-    Settings() : obeyBollards(true), obeyOneways(true), useRestrictions(true), accessTag("motorcar"), defaultSpeed(30), takeMinimumOfSpeeds(false), excludeFromGrid("ferry") {}
+    Settings() : obeyBollards(true), obeyOneways(true), useRestrictions(true), ignoreAreas(false), accessTag("motorcar"), defaultSpeed(30), takeMinimumOfSpeeds(false), excludeFromGrid("ferry") {}
     StringToIntPairMap speedProfile;
     int operator[](const std::string & param) const {
         if(speedProfile.find(param) == speedProfile.end())
@@ -292,6 +292,7 @@ struct Settings {
     bool obeyBollards;
     bool obeyOneways;
     bool useRestrictions;
+    bool ignoreAreas;
     std::string accessTag;
     int defaultSpeed;
     bool takeMinimumOfSpeeds;
diff --git a/speedprofile.ini b/speedprofile.ini
index 998018369..f7752f2b8 100644
--- a/speedprofile.ini
+++ b/speedprofile.ini
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 	obeyBollards = yes
 	obeyOneways = yes
 	useRestrictions = yes
+	ignoreAreas = yes
 	accessTag = motorcar
 	excludeFromGrid = ferry
 	defaultSpeed = 50