See e.g. this route where we prefer the shorter path (969m) with over 70m steps (!) instead of the 1.3km alternatives routes.

Not sure why we do not pick at least this route it is also under 1km but contains only 11m steps.

Or maybe this is more a data problem as the path after the steps are marked as cycleway (!?)

Other real world examples:

• https://graphhopper.com/maps/?point=54.105588%252C-2.790275&point=54.105676%252C-2.790023&profile=bike
• https://graphhopper.com/maps/?point=54.119558%2C-2.777136&point=54.122602%2C-2.778895&profile=bike
• https://graphhopper.com/maps/?point=55.896367%252C-3.539176&point=55.895712%252C-3.539402&profile=bike
• https://graphhopper.com/maps/?point=51.018127%2C-3.103208&point=51.018692%2C-3.102821&profile=bike