[Tagging] Divided highways, and not so divided highways, one way or two

Frederik Ramm frederik at remote.org
Thu Oct 10 06:38:28 UTC 2019


Hi,

DWG has been asked to mediate in a user dispute in Germany where a local
mapper has chosen to represent a busy four-lane primary highway (two
lanes in each direction, and a double continuous line painted in the
middle which is physically possible but legally not allowed to cross).

Other mappers object to this saying that it violates the rule that there
must be some sort of physical division to allow that form of mapping.

The original mapper claims that using two separate oneway=yes ways is
clearer and easier, as it does away with the need for turn restrictions
at junctions. Other mappers claim that the two-separate-way mapping is
violating rules and that OSM will soon become unusable if everyone maps
how they want.

The question is basically two-fold; one, what are the established
standards and rules concerning this situation, and two, in how far is it
acceptable to deviate from these standards if a local mapper thinks it
is a good idea.

Personally I believe that "physical division => separate ways; no
physical division => shared way" is the standard in OSM, or perhaps at
least the "rule of thumb". But (since people in the German discussion
have more or less claimed that the world is going to end if local
mappers are allowed to treat this differently) I'd like to hear from
mappers in other countries how rigidly this standard is applied. Is it
something where local mappers have some freedom of judgment (like when
choosing which highway=* category to apply to a road) or do you have
strict standards and definitions?

Bye
Frederik

-- 
Frederik Ramm  ##  eMail frederik at remote.org  ##  N49°00'09" E008°23'33"



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