[OSM-newbies] Adding Walking Trails

[David Groom]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Clifford Snow" <clifford at snowandsnow.us>
To: <newbies at openstreetmap.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2011 4:24 AM
Subject: [OSM-newbies] Adding Walking Trails


> I'd like to add a walking/biking trail in Seattle.  It loops around a 
> lake.
> Is that appropriate to add?

If this is an "official" trail (does it have a recognised name? is the route 
of it published anywhere? is the existence of the trial publicised?) , then 
it is appropriate to add it.  If its just a route that you like to take, but 
has no official status then it would not be appropriate to add it to OSM.

>  If it is, the trail uses parts of an existing
> bike/walking trail, the Burke Gillman trail.  Since OSM doesn't have 
> layers,
> I'm wondering how to show it.  I have a bike gpx I can import, but mostly 
> I
> plan to use my knowledge of the route to add it to OSM.  It is the section
> that duplicates the Burke gillman trail that I'm not sure how show both
> trails.

You need to be considering the use of relations.

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Relation:route#Walking_routes_.28also_hiking_and_pilgrimage.29
>
> Also, there are parts of the trail for just walking (on docks and 
> sidewalks)
> while the bike trails follows the city street.
>

First start by ensuring that there are ways in OSM for each section of the 
trail, and that each of these ways is appropriate to the type of access 
(walking / cycling) allowed

If only part of a street (way) is used in the route of the trail then you 
will have to split the way into sections.

It then appears to me you have two options:

1) The simple way is:

Then add each way to a relation (the procedure for doing this differs 
depending on which editor you are using), and then tag the relation with

type = route
route = foot  (or maybe route  = bicycle )
name = ??


2) The less simple way -   You mention that part of the trail is for 
walking, and part is for bikes.  I've not come across this in my experience, 
either a trail is just for walking, or it has cycle access along all of it.

I guess that if only a small percentage of the route is only suitable for 
walking then I'd tag as above with the relation tagged as route = bicycle, 
and rely on the tagging of individual ways to provide the restrictions.

However another method might be to create one relation for all parts of the 
route which are only for walking, create a separate relation for all parts 
of the route on which cycling is allowed, and then  create a 
"super-relation" which contains the two other relations.

David

> BTW - the answers I've been getting have been very helpful.  Thank you 
> very
> much.
>
> Thanks,
> Clifford