[OSM-talk] Path rendering in the cycleway

[Andy Allan]

On Sun, Aug 31, 2008 at 6:50 AM, Peter Miller <peter.miller at itoworld.com> wrote:
>
> I think it is really confusing for tags to appear on the main list of
> features (http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/index.php/Map_Features) which then
> don't get implemented by core applications

I think it is really confusing that tags appear on the main list of
features which aren't already implemented by core applications.

> I think there are two messages here, firstly we should be really careful
> about voting for new features in the core tagging list unless they are
> strictly necessary,

I think we should be really careful about voting.

I think we should be really careful about trying to promote a second
(or third or fourth) way of tagging the same thing. New features are
different (and cool), but changing existing tagging schemes are almost
always a waste of time - there's no feature that we couldn't map
before, but now with extra hassle for everyone.

> and secondly when a tag does get added then we should
> look for rapid adoption across the main applications.

Given that we have a lot of effort going into changing things on the
wiki, and many fewer people making editors and maps, perhaps we should
look for people to leave the wiki alone instead of asking for even
more work from the latter, smaller group.

> So, I am not really commenting on the path tag as such (although I could
> because I have used it and do want it to appear on the cycle layer)

I know ;-) But I've got different priorities for the cycle map - I
want to show more things that aren't shown already (like cycleway =
opposite and opposite_lane arrows, hillshading or even just bridges
and tunnels) than spending time supporting more ways of tagging the
same thing. And imagine if someone decides next week on a new way to
tag rivers or maybe railways the week after, or buildings the week
after that, and then woods - the amount of work needed to just stand
still becomes ludicrous (and tedious) and the cycle map will never
show anything new or interesting. Which would be a waste.

And everyone needs to bear in mind that I'm quite happy dedicating
most of my waking hours to OpenStreetMap and have done for the last
six months. How would someone feel who only has time to work on their
map once every few months if the style sheet only lasts for 3 weeks
before someone rewrites Map Features for the 20th time?

I'm not saying I won't find time to sort out everyone's requests, but
I'd rather people left the wheel alone - it might be a bit wonky but
it's not worth continually reinventing it instead of getting on with
more interesting and useful things.

Cheers,
Andy