[OSM-newbies] How to map routes

[Dave Stubbs]

On Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 4:21 AM, Germán Buela <gbuela at gmail.com> wrote:
> On 21/07/2008, Thomas Wood <grand.edgemaster at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>   1.  Create each segment of the route and tag them as appropriate.
>>
>> Additional segments overlapping the existing ways should not be
>> created. Relations should be applied directly to the ways which
>> represent the road/path/rail lines.
>
> OK. But:
>
>>>   2. Select one segment and click on the second symbol on the right
>>> side, which looks like two chain segments.
>>> -----> Can't select segments individually! Therefore I can't tag them
>>
>> Replace segment with way. If overlapping, the / key will allow you to
>> select one of the ones below.
>
> The problem with this is that ways are mostly made as whole streets,
> end to end, and bus routes go along segments of those ways. Does this
> mean that ways should be created as smaller units (ie one per block)
> in order to create routes? Otherwise, I don't see how this model can
> be used to represent real world routes...
>

Just split the streets as necessary as you're creating the route. In
general I think you should create streets as long as possible --
there's no point in guessing where people are going to need to split
them. It's pretty easy to use the scissors in Potlatch to cut up ways
when you need to.

If you need some examples then go look at some of the London cycle
routes we've put in:
http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=51.45874&lon=-0.14626&zoom=16&layers=00BFTF