[OSM-talk-be] OSM Forêt de Soignes / Zoniënwoud

[Ben Laenen]

Pierre Parmentier wrote:
> I would like to join my efforts to complete the map of the Forêt de Soignes
> / Zoniënwoud.
>
> Is there a "Belgian" standard for the various highway tags applicable for
> wooden areas, forests, etc.?
>
> I see "track", "pedestrian", "footway", "cycleway" and the rendering shows
> different symbols for the same type of highway!

The problem is that there are many definitions to be found on different places 
and each allow a mapper to make his own interpretations. So this obviously 
results in a plethora of different tags for essentially the same path. And 
that in its turns makes it impossible to know what exactly is allowed on some 
paths.

I'm trying to think of rules so that deciding how to tag everything is just a 
matter of simple rules and no interpretation, so everyone would tag the same. 
Current results here: 
http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/User:Eimai/Belgian_Roads#Paths -- but I'm 
pretty sure it's not entirely free of controversy. Using highway=cycleway only 
for paths signed with traffic signs D7/D9/D10 would exclude a lot of paths 
which are currently signed as cycleway for example.

Also, I've currently done a bit of work only for those public roads that have 
traffic signs. For domains like parks or nature reserves restrictions are 
usually signed differently. It could be with signs like these 
http://www.natuurenbos.be/nl-
BE/Thema/Toegankelijkheid/Overzicht_toegankelijkheidsborden.aspx in nature 
reserves in Flanders. In some parks there's just a information sign at the 
entrances where it says in words that e.g. only cyclists and pedestrians are 
allowed inside). And I'm personally not entirely sure yet what would be the 
best way to tag all that, in order to not conflict with the tags as used for 
the paths with real traffic signs, as to not have a situation where the same 
tags could mean two different things with different access rules.

I have no idea how everything is signed in the Zoniënwoud, but I guess it's 
part of the last group with special signs...


(note that some of the things I'll say here below  may just reflect my opinion 
and others may disagree)

> May I suggest for this particular case:
>
>    1. stick to the following keys:
>    1. *"*unclassified" + "surface" values ("asphalt" or "concrete" or
>       "cobblestone"

Unclassified only to be used for roads that are accessible for "normal 
people", meaning that it's a public road and you could just take a car to 
drive there (some restrictions may apply like access=destination). So if a 
road is only accessible for service vehicles, it becomes a path (because just 
like emergency vehicles, service vehicles can just go everywhere, even if it's 
a path signed as cycleway with D7). A road inside a domain where visitors can 
drive their car (e.g. to get to a parking or a caravan site on the domain) get 
the highway=service tag.

>       2. "tracktype" + "grade 1" or "grade 2" values ("3" or "4" values in
>       some cases, most tracks have a high grade for forestry engines!)

tracktype only to be used with highway=track. Use "grade 1" with care, tracks 
are only for unpaved roads (some Germans disagree on that). Same notes from 
unclassified above: service vehicles don't count as normal traffic, so if 
those are the only traffic allowed there (other than cyclists or horse 
drivers), it's a path.

>       3. "path" + "restrictions" values (*bicycle=no* or *horse=no*)**

path by default allows: foot, bicycle, horse, moped (= moped_A + moped_B)

>       4. "bridleway" (a few specific cases)

Use with care, and only if the path is *only* accessible by horses and no 
other vehicles. If cyclists can go there, no more bridleway. I'd prefer to 
only see bridleway being used together with traffic sign D13 (just like 
cycleway would only be used for certain traffic signs), and given that those 
domains usually don't have those signs, it'd be path + access rules.

>       5. "cycleway" (a few specific cases)

see above. I doubt there are many paths there signed with D7/D9/D10 (it's 
possible though) so they become path if they're anything else.

>       2. remove "pedestrian" tags as it is more appropriate in urban areas

indeed

>    3. suppress "cycleway" when "highway" key is activated

I guess you mean removing the cycleway=track tags? The indeed don't mean 
anything together with higwhay=cycleway. It was just Potlatch that used to add 
that tag when choosing the cycleway preset.

>    4. suppress "footway" and replace it by "path"

That would probably be closer to reality as well.

Greetings
Ben