[Talk-GB] Other Route with Public Access (ORPA)

[Dave F.]

On 23/03/2011 12:15, Robert Whittaker (OSM) wrote:
> On 23 March 2011 11:18, Dave F.<davefox at madasafish.com>  wrote:
>> I've noticed a couple few ways being tagged with designation= Other Route
>> with Public Access (or just ORPA)
>>
>> I've never seen a route signed with this on the ground or in the OS Opendata
>> set, only on OS printed maps.
>>
>> If this is the case I believe it's illegal mapping&  should be removed. Is
>> this correct or have I missed something?
> As far as I know, "ORPA" is a term invented by Ordnance survey to
> describe and mark some unclassified roads that might otherwise appear
> to be private tracks on their maps. These are routes that aren't one
> of the designated public rights of way (footpath, bridleway, byway,
> restricted byway), but are a public highway or some sort, so you have
> the right to use them. These will not be signed as "ORPA" on the
> ground, and I guess the only way you could know the specific "ORPA"
> status is by looking at the OS map. Hence I guess we shouldn't really
> have these in our data.
>
> As for how to (legally) tag the rights on these routes, you can follow
> the instructions on the OS map key, and ask your local Highways
> Authority what the status of the route is. The Highways Authority
> maintains a "List of Streets" which will probably include the route as
> an "unclassified highway" with a reference number. For tagging
> suggestions, see
> http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Talk:Proposed_features/Designation#Other_Roads_with_Public_Access_.28ORPAs.29
>
> If we are to remove the designation=ORPA tags, it might be useful to
> replace them with a fixme="check legal status to route with highways
> authority" (assuming we're allowed to do this).

Right, we're agreed that that were copied from printed OS maps, which is 
banned in OSM.

Can't speak for all authorities, but mine issue such data on top of OS 
maps. There's been a lot of talk, & I believe the consensus was that the 
OS map 'contaminated' the data & was not usable.

As for tagging, use what you see on the ground. Most of the OPRA I know 
of lead onto paths/bridleways etc & are signed as such at the beginning 
of the OPRAs.

Cheers
Dave F.