[Tagging] "new" highway tag for small and informal footpaths; trail
M∡rtin Koppenhoefer
dieterdreist at gmail.com
Fri Oct 22 18:09:59 BST 2010
2010/10/22 Mike N. <niceman at att.net>:
> I would still say that the current highway=path handles this very well.
> I've never felt constrained by this tag with the common attributes. You
> can provide direction to renderers by adding surface=, width=, sac_scale,
> mtb:scale . If current renderers do not interpret *scale, surface, or
> numerical width - this is a renderer problem.
Yes, I knew that this would be an argument brought into discussion.
Path can basically handle everything (according to the definition in
the wiki you could also tag motorways with path, if you put the right
additional tags on it, that's not a joke, have a look in the wiki and
see below) because it says almost nothing.
IMHO it is out of the logic of our highway-classification to have path
at all: all tags have their distinct signification, path hasn't. It
has almost no meaning, vehicles can be permitted with subtags, lanes
could be added, etc. The only reason for path to be there are path
with no dedicated means of transport. Why tag a way as footway if it
is a bridleway and a cycleway at the same time? That was the reason
for path and I agree. But it should have a limit as well. I would
distinguish informal and "ordinary" paths at the main level: they are
different. There is a justification to do so.
Here comes the motorway tagging as
highway=path
surface=asphalt
width=12
lanes=3
oneway=yes
motor_vehicle=official (or designated)
foot=no
bicycle=no
horse=no
moped=no
snow_mobile=no
access:requirement=possible_speed>60
maxspeed=130
source:maxspeed=IT:motorway
easy. We could do this, why on earth do we need highway=motorway? Path
can rule them all.
Well, beside this little detail, that some paths are formal (they are
intended, sign posted, maintained, have maybe names, etc.) and others
are informal, usually shortcuts, usually not very long, shall not be
maintained, etc.
cheers,
Martin
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