[OSM-talk] Rights of way (was: Vote: highway=path)

[Cartinus]

On Tuesday 20 May 2008 10:20:59 OJ W wrote:
> The issue isn't so much discussion of loads of new tags, but the
> potential loss of existing data if people start using
> highway=bridleway for something which isn't one

But what is a bridleway?

From your talk it seems like the tag can only be used for something that is a 
bridleway in the eyes of the British (or possibly local) law. Except nowhere 
on the wiki can I find anything that says that. Both Map Features and the 
Tag:highway=bridleway read:
For horses, (in the UK, generally footpaths on which horses are also 
permitted)

If in the Netherlands we would limit the tagging of bridleways (dutch: 
ruiterpaden) to what is one legally, then we wouldn't have many, as I don't 
remember ever having seen the official sign for it. (A round blue sign with a 
white horse and rider) However I have seen plenty of paths which are signed 
with a rectangular sign with the word "ruiterpad" and/or are physically only 
suitable for horse riders. (too narrow for vehicles and with deep loose sand; 
think dry part of a sandy beach)

So to sum it up: Do the ways currently tagged with "bridleway" conform to your 
narrow definition or is there already no data to loose, because it is already 
use for ways which are physically, but not legally paths for horses.

-- 
m.v.g.,
Cartinus