[OSM-talk] highway=cycleway or highway=path

[PJ Houser]

Hi all,

I sent this to the talk-us list, but responses have been few. I'm hoping a
bit more dialogue could happen on the talk list.

In Portland, Oregon, four interns at the local transit agency (TriMet -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TriMet) are attempting to improve and update
OSM so as to make it routable. TriMet will be switching to OpenTripPlanner (
http://opentripplanner.org/,
http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OpenTripPlanner) in a few months, and
will draw its base map from OSM. We are trying to make sure streets have
correct geometry, directionality and names; intersections have turn
restrictions; bike routes are properly tagged; and trails and pedestrian
routes are up-to-date, accurate and tagged. The trip planner is multi-modal,
meaning it incorporates bicycling, walking and transit, and combinations
thereof. Anyways, the point is...

We have been tagging multi-use paths that are also considered bike routes as
highway=path and bicycle=designated. Another user prefers highway=cycleway.
What criteria do other mappers use to distinguish between a cycleway and
multi-use path?

Terms:
Cycleway: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:highway%3Dcycleway "The
highway=cycleway indicates that the used way is mainly or exclusively for
bicycles. Some consider it better to use highway=path if use is not
restricted to cyclists."
Path: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Tag:highway%3Dpath "This tag is
used for paths for which all and any of highway=footway, highway=cycleway,
and highway=bridleway would be inappropriate or inadequate (or simply not
sufficient), but which are nonetheless usable for travel or navigation. They
might be not intended for any particular use, or intended for several
different uses. Intended uses can be indicated with the access=designated
keys. It is also used for hiking trails."

Some examples of multi-use paths that have switched between highway=cycleway
and highway=path:
Eastbank Esplanade
http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?PropertyID=105&action=ViewPark
Morrison Bridge Multi-use Path
http://bikeportland.org/2011/06/10/morrison-bridge-path-to-close-for-construction-project-54559
Hawthorne Bridge, with both pedestrian and bicycle markings
http://bikeportland.org/2005/11/21/hawthorne-bridge-gets-new-markings-673.

Traffic stats:
In 2008, the breakdown for peak-hour (4-6 pm) usage of these trails shows
that cyclists usually dominate, but pedestrians make up 15% to 50% of the
traffic.
http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=34778&a=292746

Thanks!
--
PJ Houser
Trimet
GIS intern
username: PJ Houser
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.openstreetmap.org/pipermail/talk/attachments/20110622/a4d90da6/attachment.html>