[Talk-us] Use of ref-tag on state highways

[Craig Hinners]

I tend to think of business, truck, loop, alternate, etc. as logical
subnetworks, or sub-classifications, of their respective networks. Just
a different way of thinking, I suppose:
 
"50" is the unique designation within the "Business" sub-classification
of the "US Highway" network (i.e, US:US:BUS)
 
as opposed to
 
"50 Business" is the unique designation within the "US Highway" network
(i.e., US:US)

I see what you're saying about Arkansas, in that their treatment of US
business routes on signage "feels" more like a "different designation".
On the other hand, Maryland uses a totatally different shield design for
business US routes (basically a green-on-white US shield), which is more
of a "distinct network" feel.
 
Either scheme allows data consumers to differentiate business and
non-business networks, but we probably ought to standardize on one or
the other.

 
 
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [Talk-us] Use of ref-tag on state highways
From: Nathan Edgars II <neroute2 at gmail.com>
Date: Wed, August 24, 2011 6:37 pm
To: talk-us at openstreetmap.org

On 8/24/2011 6:25 PM, Craig Hinners wrote:
> FWIW, I agree with all of Jason's suggestions, below, for the
> relation-level "network" tag values. It mirrors my thinking on the
> matter exactly.

I disagree with putting alternate and business in the network. These 
modifiers are part of the designation, and some states (Arkansas in 
particular) treat them as lettered suffixes rather than separate plates.