Adding "Modal Filter" as a point feature category

General talk Tagging general discussion
1

I would like to start adding “modal filter” as a distinct point feature type to maps. Modal filters are highly effective infrastructure for encouraging walking and biking and limiting car traffic. They are found in cities and towns around the world. Is there a way to suggest this to the OpenStreetMap community?

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Hi and welcome

We do have tons of

Maybe those help

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3

Thank you! “Barrier” definitely looks like the right broad category (a filter being a partial barrier), and some of the elements listed could be part of a modal filter (e.g. bollard), but none of the types seem quite to fit.

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What type of traffic would the modal filter you’re interested in let through or block?
Are you sure none of motorcycle_barrier, sump_buster, bus_trap and cycle_barrier would work? Note that I don’t think a barrier has to match the exact model illustrated as long as it has the same effect, e.g. blocking bicycles.

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A modal filter generally allows pedestrians and cyclists to pass but not cars. So I don’t believe it is described by the several features noted. Also, I think it’s better for a modal filter not to be a sub-category of barrier, which emphasizes what is blocked rather than what is facilitated.

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Then tag the footway or the cycleway.

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You can use the tagging traffic_intervention=modal_filter to explicitly identify modal filters as such. However, this tag should only be used in addition to the actual “physical” tags, which describes the construction and effects of the modal filter (e.g., bollard, bicycle barrier, access tags etc.).

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we are typically mapping less abstract features, so instead of abstract “modal filter” you would map cycleway connector / bollards / planters / oneway status etc.

can you post image of what you want to map?

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It can probably be mapped with, e.g., a cycleway and a bollard, but it would depend on the specific case.
An example I mapped some years ago: Way: 1072392763 | OpenStreetMap

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Often a modal filter separates two roads so it’s not a footway or cycle way

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What is then between both?

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California St x Ada St in Berkeley, California USA

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Eldredge St x Vernon St in Newton, Massachusetts USA

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I would map this as a short cycleway with a barrier=planter in the middle.
As a reminder, we cannot use Google Street View to map, as it’s copyrighted. But you have probably been to the area, or you can use freely licensed street imagery or aerial imagery to support your mapping.

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Yes, the accepted way to map these since at least 2008 (the earliest I could find) has been a short section of cycleway connecting two dead-end highway=residentials.

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16

Ok this seems to be it. Thanks!

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I think I have my answer so I will delete the photos and bear that reminder in mind. Thanks!

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Of course the physical feature can be mapped as a barrier. If it is combined with a specific traffic sign to allow/disallow specific modes of traffic, then you might want to look at Key:access - OpenStreetMap Wiki

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A lot of modal filters in the UK have no physical barrier, or very widely spaced planters (wide enough for a bus or a fire engine at 20mph), together with traffic signs and enforcement cameras. They’re not really point features.

For example the filter at the end of my street in a low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) is tagged on a short way as:
highway=residential + motor_vehicle=no + emergency=yes + traffic_intervention=modal_filter (the ALPR cameras are also mapped and part of an enforcement relation).