Warn users if hw=path is a lone tag

[openstreetmap.org-user-d1g]

If highway=path used without supplementary tags (access,sac_slace,surface,smoothness) it may mean up to 6 different things in OSM ​1 ​2.

Similar to other unspecific values (barrier=yes and highway=road) users should be asked to enter more information about (sac_scale/surface/smoothness/access and other tags)

• ​http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:access
• ​http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:width#Estimated_values
• ​http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:sac_scale
• ​http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:surface
• ​http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:smoothness
• ​http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:trail_visibility
• ​http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Key:obstacle#Specific_tagging - about physical barriers and practical (im)passibility per each vehicle/transportation mode

See also #11753.

[skyper]

I just did change a small unpaved hiking trail in the mountains from footway -> path, IMOH the opposite is much worser.

People tend to use highway=footway/cycleway in many cases where there less stricter access restrictions.

What should I map if I have a source for paths but without any physical information (e.g. Maps4BW) ?

[openstreetmap.org-user-d1g]

I forgot mtb:scale.

[openstreetmap.org-user-d1g]

Replying to skyper:

I just did change a small unpaved hiking trail in the mountains from footway -> path, IMOH the opposite is much worser.

Still, it is not as good if was qualified with surface/visibility and other tags?

If this trail in the mountains (with rocks, cliffs and such), then it makes sense to tag it with sac_scale=* / mtb:scale=*, isn't?

What should I map if I have a source for paths but without any physical information (e.g. Maps4BW) ?

If you don't have any physical/surface information, you shouldn't enter fake/estimated values. Survey it over time and you will get complex parts of the tail (visibility, mtb:scale) or with complicated passibility (surface, smoothness).

highway=path is ambiguous without any (visibility, mtb:scale, surface, smoothness) tags.

hw=path users (myself including) trying to differentiate them from hw=footway, but exact reason "why are they different" is simply unknown if they only use single hw=path tag.