[OSM-talk] The Return of the Highway tags and other junk

[Richard Fairhurst]

Ben Robbins <ben_robbins_ at hotmail.com> wrote:

>> gates & cattle grids are applied no nodes and not ways, so don't seem to
>> come into the matter.
>
> I don't wish to be repetative, but gates and cattlegrids take up an area, so
> nodes is incorrect.

But everything "takes up an area".

If it is a feature primarily related to the linear passage of a road,  
and doesn't extend significantly beyond the bounds of the road, then  
tagging it as a node is more appropriate than tagging it as an area.

As a side effect, tagging gates and cattlegrids as nodes (and  
mini-roundabouts, etc.) is also helpful for navigation software.

cheers
Richard