[OSM-talk-be] Highway classification in Brussels region

[Benoit Leseul]

Hi,

On Tue, Jun 5, 2012 at 7:28 PM, Sander Deryckere <sanderd17 at gmail.com> wrote:
> First of all, I want to say that I agree with the fact that the Nxx vs Nxxx
> subdivision has it problems. I also have seen routes that aren't correct
> according to the N-number, but I don't want to change those because it makes
> no sense. E.g. the Westlaan in Roeselare is a 2x1-lanes, so you have no
> possibility to overtake another car (when one car stops, you have a traffic
> jam)
> http://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=50.939069&mlon=3.117374&zoom=14&layers=M
> . The reference is N32, but I refuse to bring this to a primary highway. I'd
> rather like to be guided via residential roads than having to follow the
> Westlaan.

I see the downgrade happens at the boundary of the urbanized
(residential) area.
So maybe the first thing we should all agree on is "different rules
apply when inside urban areas".

I like consistency as well, but I'm not sure every city is the same.
Sometimes you have to cross historical areas through narrow streets
but they still are the main road everyone has to follow. Sometimes you
have wide avenues with separate lanes but they are in the middle of
residential areas where only locals go.
So strict rules based on number of lanes or crossings may not always
be the best choice.

I think something that could be ground-checked is signage. If there
are signs saying you should follow some road to either get to the city
center, a nearby highway or another city, then the road is probably
more important that it looks.

-- 
Benoit