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There is a road near me, which is permanently blocked off by a fence (see picture).

Picture of a road with a fence across it.

I'm wondering if this should be mapped as a single way with a barrier as that is physically what is present on the ground, or with two ways as there is no join for any type of traffic.

I'd prefer the first option because it physically is a single road but I can't find an appropriate barrier type. I don't want to use a gate barrier (which you can tag a node to be) because that would imply the possibility of opening it.

Currently, I have gone for the second option of splitting the way into two that don't quite meet and putting a fence barrier between them.

asked 13 Sep '12, 21:36

Dominic%20Hosler's gravatar image

Dominic Hosler
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accept rate: 0%


While the second option makes a lot of sense, there's nothing wrong with a barrier=fence on a node. You can add an access=no for good measure, but it's not strictly necessary.

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answered 14 Sep '12, 09:49

Vincent%20de%20Phily's gravatar image

Vincent de P... ♦
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accept rate: 19%

This is of course correct, but unfortunately most routers just ignore barrier and access tags on nodes.

(14 Sep '12, 09:59) scai ♦

I'm not sure that "most" routers do this - by volume I'd expect that most users are using the Garmin / mkgmap combination which as I understand it can be made to support barrier access.

(14 Sep '12, 11:05) SomeoneElse ♦
3

If that's the case then most routers need to be fixed ? Barriers on nodes are common (bollards for example), and access should obviously be heeded.

It's as basic as oneway streets, so I would expect it to be supported.

(14 Sep '12, 15:18) Vincent de P... ♦
1

That's completely true, Vincent. SomeoneElse: As far as I know most online routers ignore barrier nodes as long as there is no access tag at all, only OSRM treats an absent access tag as access=no.

(14 Sep '12, 17:27) scai ♦

I have accepted this answer because the principle of OSM (and I agree) is to map what is there as correctly as possible. It is up to the renderers and navigators to use the information to their liking. If it takes a while for "most" routers to catch up and stop ignoring barrier and access tags on nodes, then people should use a better router / improve the router. This way when the routers do improve, people have accurate mapping data to rely on.

(16 Nov '12, 14:43) Dominic Hosler

It has been 8 years and barrier=fence on a node still isn't rendered by anything. So making an actual cut seems like the more practical choice for now, as the other answers suggest.

(03 Apr '21, 04:58) smheidrich

Also, iD now complains if you put barrier=fence on a node instead of a line...

(28 May '22, 19:51) smheidrich
showing 5 of 7 show 2 more comments

I think your second option - unconnected ways, linear fence barrier between them - is the better choice because it is likely to produce more desirable results in mainstream applications. From a theoretical point of view it can be justified by interpreting this situation as a road cut, rather than a barrier.

It's still a tradeoff, though, rather than either solution being a "perfect" choice with no drawbacks: A few use cases will be negatively affected by the second option, realistic rendering being one of them. But these effects are likely relatively minor.

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answered 14 Sep '12, 06:26

Tordanik's gravatar image

Tordanik
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accept rate: 35%

That particular barrier basically represents a road cut, thus option number two would be the perfect thing to do.

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answered 13 Sep '12, 23:46

JCsM's gravatar image

JCsM
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question asked: 13 Sep '12, 21:36

question was seen: 6,711 times

last updated: 28 May '22, 19:51

NOTICE: help.openstreetmap.org is no longer in use from 1st March 2024. Please use the OpenStreetMap Community Forum