[OSM-newbies] multi-use segments

[Dermot McNally]

On 15/05/07, Franc Carter <franc.carter at gmail.com> wrote:

> as I have been editing I have come across some segments that are used in
> both
> a way representing a street and a way that represents an area for a park.
>
> Is this a valid/sensible thing to do or should I untangle them ?

I began doing this, but quickly ran into a problem I couldn't
gracefully avoid. Since you're re-using segments of, typically, a set
of several bounding roads, rivers, railways or whatever, you are stuck
with whatever direction those segments point. I found myself in a
position where the single way I wanted to lay down for my new area
couldn't use all the segments I wanted to without breaking the rule
that all segments should face the same way.

Breaking the perimeter into multiple ways reflecting the differing
directions would work, but given the idiom that's emerging whereby an
area's segment direction is deemed to be of significance (already for
coastlines, soon for inland waterways and forests etc.) I think I
prefer to draw new segments and take control of their directions.

Dermot