<html>
<head>
<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 20/09/2015 4:45 PM, Pee Wee wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAPx7Go7qErQPz+VEbrffpEr1gam6TSqDPsK0aYNvTx-GuwrwpQ@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">
<div>
<div>
<div><br>
</div>
On<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://lists.openstreetmap.org/pipermail/talk-be/2015-September/007805.html">
Talk-BE</a> this question was asked. Since this is a
question that applies not only to Belgium I thought it
would be good to raise the question here. User Escada asked
the same question on <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://help.openstreetmap.org/questions/45377/can-we-map-hiking-routes-found-in-books">OSM
help</a> that there is not much response there.<br>
<br>
</div>
<div>Also on the <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://forum.openstreetmap.org/viewtopic.php?id=32678">Dutch
forum </a>this question was asked. Much to my surprise
there seem to be quite a few that think it is OK to have
these non way marked routes in OSM. Main argument is that
there are also other non visible elements in OSM (such as
administrative boundaries, bus routes etc.).<br>
<br>
</div>
<div>To keep discussion simple I suggest that we assume that
the author of the booklet/website etc, in which a route is
described allows us to enter this in OSM. (no copyright
issue)<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
What do you think?<br>
<br>
</div>
<div>Is is OK to have (walking) routes in OSM that have no
visible marks on the ground and if so under what conditions?<br>
<br>
</div>
<br>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
Yes, these are OK to have within OSM. <br>
<br>
Case a) Verifiable by documentation. Published (medium does not
matter). I'd think few would argue this case. <br>
<br>
Case b) Frequent use and 'the best' route. This would be
contentious. However,<br>
<ul>
<li>the map user would benefit from the indication of 'the best'
route. </li>
<li>for my cases there are no near by documented routes. </li>
</ul>
<p>So as an aid to the map user .. would be of benefit. The
verification comes from observance of the use of the route, that
may take some time!<br>
In highly developed and populated places this will seem wrong, in
places with less people and/or infrastructure there may be few
routes that meet the criteria set by those with the better
infrastructure and more population. In some places an
'international route' may only be 50 km long .. in other places
2,000 km is not long enough to get to another country. So 'rules'
should be 'guides' that take into account the wide variation
around the globe. <br>
</p>
</body>
</html>