[Talk-GB] driveway-becomes-track

[Martin Wynne]

On 12/12/2020 17:37, Andy Townsend wrote:

> That allows maps such as 
> https://map.atownsend.org.uk/maps/map/map.html#zoom=16&lat=52.28208&lon=-2.42987 
> to display it as a public bridleway (in blue)
>

Hi Andy,

That's a great map! It seems you have already done what I would be 
interested in doing - to provide a better map for walkers and others 
showing footpaths, stiles and gates, etc. much more prominently.

What I'm wondering is how the typical recreational country walker would 
find that map, or get it on their mobile phone app in place of the awful 
Google maps? It's a lot of work to create if no-one ever uses it?

One thing I would ask for is more prominent rendering of benches. They 
appear only at maximum zoom on the OSM standard map, and only as a very 
small symbol. I don't suppose younger OSM mappers roam the countryside 
looking for somewhere to sit and eat their lunch, but at 72 years of age 
I do (cheese & pickle sandwich and a hard-boiled egg, since you ask)!

Something I feel strongly about, and would be a prime motivation for 
doing something about myself, is to map and provide rendering for the 
area:highway tag:

  https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:area:highway

Country walkers often need to include a stretch of public road in a 
planned walk, and it is very difficult to discover whether a road will 
be safe to walk along. Sometimes there are wide verges, but sometimes 
high banks or close hedges with nowhere to leap to out of the way of 
approaching traffic. It's necessary to look on Google Streetview before 
setting out, but not all country roads are covered. At present even apps 
which do render it (I believe OsmAnd) can't do much because it is not 
commonly mapped between the hedgerows along country roads. Legally the 
entire area between the property boundaries on each side is the public 
highway.

Having recently been very nearly taken out by a van while walking 
(legally!) along an A road, it's an omission I want to do something about.

Local highway authorities are required by law to provide a "Public 
Footpath" sign where a public footpath joins a road. But they are not 
required to provide any safe means of reaching it.

cheers,

Martin.