[Tagging] Star ("*") character in tags?

[Ole Nielsen]

I'm considering some changes to the syntax of the lane_group proposal 
http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Proposed_features/Lane_group .

The syntax of the proposal in some cases allows empty lane values in the 
value list (nothing between two commas), e.g. to indicate default value 
or 'not applicable'. This can result in poorly readable tag values like 
"=,,70". My idea is to add a "wildcard" for empty lane values using the 
"*" character.

Is this character in any way 'reserved' in OSM? (API, mapnik, editors 
etc). The wiki uses * as wildcard but in my proposal the * character 
will never appear alone in the value field.

Ole N / polderrunner