[Tagging] Reviving the path discussion - the increasing, importance of trails in OSM

[Daniel Westergren]

>
> As I recall, a long time ago this thread started off with the concern
> "people from the city might die on this hiking trail". Is that a
> function or a physical characteristic?
>

That wasn't my main concern when starting the thread, but it was for others
(which is why these kinds of discussions are so important). And it is
definitely a physical characteristic, which is why path can't define more
than the function of a way and other characteristics must always be used to
define the physical characteristics that are important to understand who
can use it.


>2. the default OSM rendering not considering physical characteristics
> (particularly for non-urban ways) ...
>
> I am not clear on the definition of "urban" you use. I notice you also
> used this word in the doc you've written up (thank you!). Are my
> examples "urban"? They're well within city borders, near to urban
> areas, but they're not like a sidewalk. At what point do we cross from
> a city park pathway to a non-urban way?
>

We don't need to make that distinction if we only use path|footway|cycleway
for the function of a way (basically for pedestrians, bicyclists or
both/unknown). By adding surface and smoothness we will know enough about
its usability for "people of ordinary ability", whether we call it an urban
footway, a rural path, a hiking trail or whatever that may work locally.

Indeed, such wordings should probably be removed if they cause confusion,
IMO.

Ouch... I've said enough. I'm looking forward to more input on the use of
highway tags for function, surface/smoothness/width for usability and other
tags for technicality. Good and clear distinctions?

/Daniel




>
> --Jarek
>
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