[Talk-GB] Ways with path vs footway

[Robert Skedgell]

On 13/12/2021 12:43, Mat Attlee wrote:
> I was looking at the map for Wanstead Park after a recent survey and
> noticed the ways are a mix of path and footway and I'm wondering what is
> the right approach? Am I correct in assuming that footway is generally
> used for dedicated and often paved footpaths whilst the unpaved parts in
> the park would be better modelled as a path?
> 
> https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=19/51.56660/0.04028
> <https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=19/51.56660/0.04028>
> 

The problem with highway=path is that it doesn't have any implicit
access restrictions, so they need to be added explicitly or some routers
will do the wrong thing (yes, I know we shouldn't tag for the renderer
or router).

A highway=footway can be tagged with values of surface=* (and posibly
tracktype=*) which certainly don't imply that it's a dedicated or paved
footpath. There's also the informal=yes tag for unmaintained desire line
footpaths.