[Talk-GB] The designation=unclassifed_highway tag.

[Robert Whittaker (OSM lists)]

On Wed, 17 Mar 2021 at 07:51, Russ McDermid <russ.mcdermid at gmail.com> wrote:
> Using Richard's  https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/User:Rjw62/PRoW_Tagging as a guide, I have been using the tag designation=unclassifed_highway.  Another user has stated in a changeset comment, that this is just a personal page, and I should refer to https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:designation#Rights_of_way_in_England_and_Wales
> Easy to criticise, but the latter, is not specific in any way, when it comes to UCR's.  Damned if I do , damned if I don't, maybe ?

It's "Robert" not "Richard" by the way. Yes, that page is a personal
page. I put it together to record the tagging I personally use in a
way that I thought would be helpful to others who were asking about
it. It's not official, but hopefully at least doesn't contradict any
approved tagging schemes. There shouldn't be a problem for anyone to
follow what's there on new items. You may incur someone else's wrath
if you start changing things they've already tagged in another way
though.

As for your specific issue, if you look at the usage in taginfo:
https://taginfo.openstreetmap.org.uk/keys/designation#values I think
you'd be on pretty safe ground using designation=unclassifed_highway
for routes that fit the bill. Obviously there's a big benefit in
having a standardised tag value for such routes, as they all share the
same legal status whatever terminology individual County Councils
decide to use. Maybe we should try to formally agree a UK standard...

One other thing to be aware of when tagging such routes: make sure you
are only using permissible sources. You can't copy information from OS
maps (unless they're out of copyright) and any maps from Councils
showing highways are probably off-limits too. Use of a Council's "List
of Streets Maintainable at the Public Expense" document is ok, as long
as you've got explicit permission from the council first. (The easiest
route for this is to ask for permission to re-use the information
under the Open Government Licence, and then add the appropriate
attribution statement to
https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Contributors#United_Kingdom .
There are some already listed there under the "Public Rights of Way
Data from local councils" heading.)

Robert.

-- 
Robert Whittaker