[OSM-talk] [tagging] updated RFC: Highway administrative and physical descriptions

[Lester Caine]

Alex Mauer wrote:
> Lester Caine wrote:
>> Alex Mauer wrote:
>>> I've added a decision tree to the physical section of the page, as well 
>>> as removed the "boulevard" designation (since it didn't really add much)
>>>
>>> I'd like to have some more comments from the UK and german end, as to 
>>> whether or not A and B roads (and others?) fit into the highway:admin 
>>> scheme.
>>>
>>> Again, the proposal location is:
>>> http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/index.php/Proposed_features/Highway_administrative_and_physical_descriptions
>> :admin is appropriate for the UK - but not laid out as it is at present. 
>> Motorways may be under different administration to the 'Highways Agency' and 
>> the 'Highways Agency' is also responsible for other main roads, but private 
>> companies will actually be responsible for managing those roads.
>> Basically WHO admins a road is a bit of a lottery, so trying to create a 
>> simple list as currently proposed is wrong for the UK :( :admin SHOULD be the 
>> company responsible for maintaining the road.
> 
> Hmm, that's not what I was going for.  I was going for the 
> "administrative designation" of the road (that is, M, A, B [I gather] in 
> the UK, I-, US, [state abbrev] in the US) .  In the US this is closely 
> tied to who maintains it.  In Europe it seems to be much more closely 
> tied to its physical characteristics, and varies wildly from country to 
> country.

The basic problem is the lack of any clarity between countries on road 
definitions. The 'designation' of a road adds little to knowledge of its 
structure in the UK some main A roads have single lane passing places and 10 
MPH speed limits while others are much higher quality than most motorways. 
Just keep the road designation as it reference number and then worry about 
such things as 3 4 or 5 lanes each way without reference to 'different types 
of motorway'.

I don't think it applies so much elsewhere - but UK motorways have no 
pedestrian access - does the same apply on any American routes?

-- 
Lester Caine - G8HFL
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