[Talk-us] Usage of highway=track in the United States

[Mike Thompson]

Here are some of my thoughts.

Indications that something might *not* be a track):
* If the snow is typically plowed by the next day after significant
accumulation, or in the event of a large storm, as soon as crews are
available after higher class roads are cleared.
* Down trees, mud slides, and other blockages are removed the same day, or
in the event of a large storm, as soon as crews are available after higher
class roads are cleared.
* The road is used by standard parcel delivery services, such as USPS, UPS,
FedEx, Amazon, etc.
* There are residences along the road, including "cabins" with modern
amenities
* There are businesses/offices along the road to which employees regularly
report to work, customer visit, deliveries are made, or shipments are sent.
* There are addresses associated with the properties along the road
* The road has two or more lanes such that two standard width two-track
highway vehicles can pass in opposite directions while traveling at the
posted speed limit.
* The road, if unpaved, is graded and/or compacted, on a regular basis,
such as seasonally.
* A driveway, or other access to a residence or business where there is
regular human presence


On Thu, Feb 25, 2021 at 10:27 AM Joseph Eisenberg <
joseph.eisenberg at gmail.com> wrote:

> I'm updating the page again because most of what we have mentioned is not
> only true for the USA but globally.
>
> While I understand that as Americans we are used to our opinions being
> extra valuable, it's important to recall that only about 10% of
> OpenStreetMap data and mappers are from the USA, so we should avoid having
> country-specific sections unless absolutely necessary, or else we will end
> up with a section on usage in Russia, Japan, Brazil, Germany, England,
> Poland, etc. for each wiki article.
>
> I've added that tracks might be used for hunting, fishing birdwatching or
> gathering mushrooms as examples. We already have mention of
> leisure/recreation via hiking, cycling, or ATV / off road vehicles too.
>
> "Note that forestry use includes also forestry use without logging, for
> example access for firefighting, hunting, fishing, birdwatching, gathering
> mushrooms, and so on."
>
> (This is at the end of the paragraph which starts "Some highway
> <https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:highway>=track are used for
> various leisure or recreation activities - hiking, cycling, or as SUV/ATV
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-terrain_vehicle> trails.")
>
> I've also updated the next section:
>
> "* There may be structures used as hunting cabins, fire lookouts,
> agricultural service buildings, or camping shelters, which are only
> accessible by a highway=track, but a road which is the primary access to a
> permanent residence or commercial property, such as residential driveways
> or industrial access roads, should be a highway=service or a higher road
> class."
>
> I hope this makes it clear that vacation or hunting cabins and camp
> shelters can be accessed only by a highway=track, just like agricultural or
> forestry accessory service buildings (barns, storage sheds). But I believe
> permanent residences, including farmhouses, isolated dwellings and
> industrial or commercial buildings are accessed by highway=service or a
> higher class
>
> Now that these clarifications are added, I think we are including
> basically all examples of usage in the USA which are widely considered
> appropriate.
>
> -- Joseph Eisenberg
>
> On Thu, Feb 25, 2021 at 8:06 AM Zeke Farwell <ezekielf at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On Thu, Feb 25, 2021 at 7:53 AM Frederik Ramm <frederik at remote.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Tagging something as "highway=track" without further details will be
>>> interpreted by almost anyone as "being available to the public".
>>>
>>> As someone who is part of the team that receives complaints from land
>>> owners, park managers and the like, I wonder if we as a project need to
>>> start exercising more caution when we carelessly claim that any track we
>>> spot on aerial imagery is usable for the general public.
>>>
>>
>> Frederik, I think this is well said.  For what it's worth, I don't
>> interpret "highway=track" without further details as "available to the
>> public".  This is probably due to US usage, but to me that situation is
>> uncertain and just means: "Here is a track where some vehicles drive.
>> Legal access is unclear.  May be too rugged for some vehicles."  Or in
>> other words "be prepared, you're on your own!"
>>
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