[Talk-GB] Pavements (footways/sidewalks) mapped as pedestrian areas AND footways

[David Woolley]

On 26/12/2022 13:32, Edward Catmur wrote:
> Permissible, sure, but jumping a kerb may well be impracticable for people
> who use wheelchairs or have other mobility issues. When done correctly,
> mapping sidewalk and crossing detail is beneficial for accessibility.

Most residential roads don't have formal crossing points, except, 
possibly, at their ends, where they form the vertical part of a T.  On 
the other hand there are likely to be many dropped kerbs, but not 
aligned with those on the other side.  Crossing points tend to be only 
on the ending road, not on the one they are joining.

The problem with separate sidewalks, is that routers cannot tell whether 
there is a significant barrier or not, so can potentially take very 
roundabout routes if the correct solution is to arrive on a side road on 
one side and cross over to the house opposite it.  That encourages 
arbitrary crossing points to ensure more sensible routing.

Even for a wheelchair user, the solution may be to cross diagonally 
between two driveways, rather than go to the end of the road, and back 
again.