[OSM-newbies] service:alley or highway:residential?

[Udo Giacomozzi]

Hello James,

Saturday, March 14, 2009, 5:39:37 PM, you wrote:
JE> So, now the question is: are these roads that are designed to drive a
JE> vehicle down, or is it just a common area between houses that is paved
JE> over?

Both fit somehow. It's like a normal residential street, but smaller
and without an exit. People living there use the street to get to
their houses where they can park their cars on their private ground.
At the end of the street there is a courtyard. You can see that on the
Google Aerial photo.

As said, the street is only large enough for one vehicle.


JE> Have a look at
JE> highway:living_street
JE> http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:highway%3Dliving_street

There are no special restrictions or rules for the street, so this is
won't fit.


JE> or
JE> highway:pedestrian
JE> http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:highway%3Dpedestrian

...and it's not restricted to pedestrians either.


JE> I would guess that the latter might be better suited, as I doubt that
JE> vehicular traffic is encouraged on these "highways".

Anyone can drive in there (and will do so only to reach the courtyard
of the last house).


JE> Have you looked at the tags that can be associated with highways?
JE> http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Map_Features#Highway

Yes.
highway:service comes close to it as the street provides access to
(private) buildings. 

I'm just confused by the fact that there are other houses on both
sides of the street. What if there was no courtyard on the end of the
street? Would it be a residential highway in that case?

Udo