Suggestion: a tag for Belisha beacons at crossings?

[LordGarySugar]

Just a quick post to ask if there are any existing tags people have used or would suggest for tagging the prescence of Belisha beacons at pedestrian crossings. Of course, we have the tag crossing_ref=zebra which implies zebra and dashed markings, zigzags, Belisha beacons and appropriate signage, but I’d like to be able to differentiate crossings that have Beacons but aren’t a fully-fledged, legal zebra crossing. See here for a common example of a supermarket car park zebra crossing with zebra markings and beacons, but which clearly isn’t a legal crossing_ref=zebra. As far as I have seen, there’s no way to adequately define such a situation. It could be as simple as tagging crossing:beacons=yes/no…

[UW_Amy_Bordenave (Amy Bordenave)]

flashing_lights=* | OSM Wiki

We discussed this topic earlier today in the OSM World Discord server.
I’ll mirror the related, additional-context links here:

[Solved] Pedestrian Crossing Flags

High-visibility hand-held flags are available at some crossings, especially around schools. How should this be tagged? The existing crossing:markings=*, crossing:signals=*, and (proposed) crossing:signed=* tags don’t quite capture this very well. [pedestrian-crossing-flags] Image taken by TCAT staff and released under CC0 license. (source) For reference: SDOT: Pedestrian Crossing Flags See Me Flags (common brand) Naturally, I must also mention the existence of Seattle’s crossing bricks …

Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB)

[yes_2_square] [image] (Image Source: TDEI Tools | Wikimedia Commons) I’d like to start a discussion on mapping of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) at crossings in the US. 1. How should we map the beacons themselves? (Tags on nodes at the location of the beacon) 2. How should we map the beacons’ implications? (Tags on the footway=crossing way and/or highway=crossing node) The only existing documentation I’m finding on the OSM Wiki is on flashing_lights=* (link) which states: f…

[lakedistrict]

Crossings in the United Kingdom - OpenStreetMap Wiki suggests/documents crossing_ref=informal_zebra for the zebra crossings in supermarket car parks without Belisha beacons (following discussion at UK Quarterly Project 2024 Q4: Pedestrian Crossings )

[rskedgell (Robert Skedgell)]

crossing_ref=zebra doesn’t always imply the presence of Belisha beacons - they’re not required for zebra crossings over cycle tracks. There are many examples of this around floating bus stops on TfL’s Cycleway network. The same applies to the controlled area with zigzags.

I think the minimum requirement is the zebra markings on the crossing itself, plus the give way dashes on the side(s) facing approaching traffic. Dots are optional.

We’ve also got a trial of informal zebra crossings on (public) side roads in Westminster, which don’t have the give way dashes or Belisha beacons,

[LordGarySugar]

Thanks to all for the info. I’ll now be using crossing_ref=zebra + crossing:markings=zebra;dashes + flashing_lights=yes for official zebra crossings.

[SomeoneElse (Andy Townsend)]

@LordGarySugar

crossing_ref=zebra + crossing:markings=zebra;dashes + flashing_lights=yes

If you do, you’ll be the first in the UK to do that!

Edit: Actually, flashing_lights=always is more common in this usage. 3 in the UK.

[LordGarySugar]

Yes, that was me :) There are already 800 uses of flashing_lights=always in the UK, but no combinations of all three (until now). Clearly crossing:markings=zebra;dashes is not very popular (100 uses) despite being found on most official zebra crossings. Or am I wrong and should a crossing such as this be zebra;dots? Do the dashes count as part of the crossing markings??

[rskedgell (Robert Skedgell)]

I’d consider the dots (which may be omitted) to be part of the crossing markings, as they’re provided for people using the crossing.

The dashes are a give way instruction to road users and may only be present on one side. So far I’ve never seen these tagged separately and don’t think highway=give_way would be appropriate, at least without discussion. If you wanted to (micro) map them, traffic_sign=GB:1001.5 could be used as a node on the highway way without confusing any data consumers.