[OSM-newbies] cycle map rendering

[Dave F.]

Paul Johnson wrote:
> On Wed, 2009-09-09 at 01:32 +0000, Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason wrote:
>
>   
>> As an aside: Perhaps the reason that people producing trail maps in
>> the past have left out things like motorways is that if they wanted to
>> include them they'd have to pay a pile of money to some agency that
>> surveys them. Which isn't very nice when motorways aren't even the
>> main thing the main thing they're trying to present. So they don't.
>>     
>
> At least in the US, such map data is public information, yet trail maps
> still rarely include motorways (or if they do, just as a generic,
> classless road along with any other ribbons of pavement).  I hazard to
> guess it's likely a feature that's downplayed or removed due to a lack
> of relevancy relative to the data the map is trying to convey.
>   
>   
I'm surprised at this 'lack of relevancy' argument.

All roads are relevant whether you want, or are able, to cycle down them 
or not.

Imagine a map with just the cycleways (a VERY bare map) as some people 
seem to want. Imagine trying to follow a cycle route through a big city 
using just that information. Any cyclist would be lost within 5 minutes!

Dave F.