Does separate cycleway implies allowed use of the main carriageway in the UK

General talk Tagging general discussion
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I live in the UK and would like to improve the data in my local area particularly for cycling infrastructure. I initially started tagging using StreetComplete, which has cycleway layer, but after reading a little bit more about cycling tagging and cycling tagging in the UK I am a bit confused about a specific situations.

My main concern is the use of cycleway:*=separate in the following case:

  • carriageway and cycle track are mapped as separate ways
  • cycle track is a shared use path,
  • the physical separation is a kerb, sometimes kerb and a lawn,
  • shared use path is only one side of the road.

I have several situations like this in my area. I initially tagged the main carriageway as e.g. cycleway:left=separate. This was StreetComplete suggestion, but I became concerned that this may imply that a cyclist cannot use the main carriageway, which I don’t believe is the case. I had a hunch this may be inaccurate as a road cyclist may prefer a smooth asphalt of the main carriageway to a side path shared with pedestrians. I was wondering whether cycleway:*=no is more appropriate.

Witherwin Avenue is one example and this stretch of A56.

Could you also suggest what would be the right way to tag pedestrian infrastructure.

PS I have since noticed that there’s also a tag use_sidepath, which is only valid in countries that have compulsory side tracks. I assume that UK is not such a country.

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The UK is certainly not such a country.

Cyclists and pedestrians can use any road unless explicitly signed.

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cycleway:left=separate doesn’t say anything about being allowed to ride your bike on the carriageway, just that there is a cycleway along the left side of the road that’s mapped as a separate way. This cycleway is not compulsory unless explicitly tagged so via bicycle=use_sidepath.

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To clarify: bicycle=use_sidepath (or bicycle:backward=use_sidepath or bicycle:forward=use_sidepath) would go on road where cyclists are restricted due to obligatory cycleway on one side or both.

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There are so few of these that people claim to have listed them all. One you may be aware of is part of the A55.

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Thanks for all the replies. So would you agree that the following set would a be a reasonable tagging for the UK?

Main carriageway:

cycleway:left=separate
cycleway:right=no
highway=*
...
sidewalk:left=separate
sidewalk:right=no
...

The way for shared use path:

bicycle=designated
foot=designated
highway=cycleway
segregated=yes
...
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I’m certainly aware of the special road section of the A55.

It uses old (but green) pre-chopsticks motorway signs with restrictions listed.