[OSM-newbies] Paths not showing in Mapnik

[ael]

Antony Walmsley wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I've been using highway=path to describe some ways I entered. They are just
> public footpaths across muddy fields with no special surfacing such as
> gravel. Just your typical countryside grass covered path across a grass
> covered field.
> 
> I've now noticed that these are not showing up on the Mapnik rendering but
> they do show up fine in Osmarender. Here is an example location:
> 
> http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=53.93106&lon=-2.29033&zoom=15&layers=0B00FTF
> 
> I see that others are using highway=footway and these do show in Mapnik.
> What should I be using in this situation? I don't want to be forced to
> describe something incorrectly just to make it appear in one particular
> renderer.

As I understand it, path is a rather recent tag. I used to use
highway=footway for want of anything better for the sort of paths you
describe, and like you started to use path instead when it became
available. But I have reverted to footway because, as you say, Mapnik
does not render it. Perhaps the Mapnik people have some objection to
path: if not, they are taking a very long time to get around to
supporting it.

I hope someone with more information will comment.

ael