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Slow map: Mapping Britain's intercity footpaths

bbc.com

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Re: Slow map: Mapping Britain's intercity footpaths

#41

Post by nicbou »

arethuza wrote: post #20
varispeed wrote: post #18

This is great. When I was looking for my missing cat I discovered so many hidden trails in my borough that was just amazing. For example a gap between two residential homes I thought it leads to someone's garden but actually it was a quite long public footpath with signs of homeless people camping on it. I also found two abandoned properties that I wouldn't see in Google Maps. One of which was totally overgrown with…

I found OpenStreetMap invaluable for places to walk during the lockdown earlier this year - it has a lot of paths that aren't on OS maps at all.

I was about to mention it. I habitually use OsmAnd+ to spot interesting paths in my city. I have found the coolest places this way.

Re: Slow map: Mapping Britain's intercity footpaths

#42

Post by johnjreiser »

adrianN wrote: post #28
ascorbic wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

OSM shows all of the paths. It doesn't say which are the best ones to use.

OSM has a lot of metadata about the paths that could be used to indicate which ones are best.

Exactly this. The metadata is flexible and OSM could readily support a quality assessment within a "slowways" namespace.

Re: Slow map: Mapping Britain's intercity footpaths

#43

Post by gnufx »

Angostura wrote: post #36
arethuza wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I found OpenStreetMap invaluable for places to walk during the lockdown earlier this year - it has a lot of paths that aren't on OS maps at all.

If they aren't on OS, they probably aren't public rights of way. OS is definitive.

As I understand from chekcing how to do it, designations in Openstreetmap are supposed to be done on the basis of signs on the ground and verifying the route by walking it (combined with local authority reference data, which I understand is definitive). If someone has taken an interest, the paths (and other features) in an area are likely to be in a better state in OSM than an OS map from some years ago, and possibly better than the master OS data. (Obviously mileage varies -- though one hopes not far outside GPS or satellite imagery tolerances.) I guess the place to start is https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Access_provisions_in_the...

Re: Slow map: Mapping Britain's intercity footpaths

#44

Post by gnufx »

rathel wrote: post #3

Now, if only there was a project to deliver freely licensed maps of the world... Let's call it, idk, OpenStreetMap? Sounds cool :^)

OSM is noticeable by absence of any mention I can see on the web site, sadly, and it's not even clear the data will be licensed compatibly. (The OSM UK mail list demonstrates the obsession^Wcare which at least some contributors devote to mapping.)

Re: Slow map: Mapping Britain's intercity footpaths

#45

Post by 0xffff2 »

gnufx wrote: post #43
Angostura wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If they aren't on OS, they probably aren't public rights of way. OS is definitive.

As I understand from chekcing how to do it, designations in Openstreetmap are supposed to be done on the basis of signs on the ground and verifying the route by walking it (combined with local authority reference data, which I understand is definitive). If someone has taken an interest, the paths (and other features) in an area are likely to be in a better state in OSM than an OS map from some years ago, and possibly…

What is "OS" in this context?

Re: Slow map: Mapping Britain's intercity footpaths

#46

Post by jonatron »

0xffff2 wrote: post #45
gnufx wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As I understand from chekcing how to do it, designations in Openstreetmap are supposed to be done on the basis of signs on the ground and verifying the route by walking it (combined with local authority reference data, which I understand is definitive). If someone has taken an interest, the paths (and other features) in an area are likely to be in a better state in OSM than an OS map from some years ago, and possibly…

What is "OS" in this context?

Ordnance Survey

Re: Slow map: Mapping Britain's intercity footpaths

#48

Post by jvm_ »

Another resource for finding footpaths/routes is

https://www.strava.com/heatmap

They've aggregated tons of bike and running routes so you can see where other people have ran/biked before. Good to use in the woods when the trails aren't very obvious, just use the 'find me' button on the map and then you can see where you are and which trail goes where.

Re: Slow map: Mapping Britain's intercity footpaths

#49

Post by inglor_cz »

DanBC wrote: post #22
dkarp wrote: post #5

The project page: https://slowways.uk/ As they say, there are many paths in the UK but it can take a lot of research to find long routes that don't leave you on a busy road with no pavement. I hope this project is a success and can't wait to use it.

Yes. Or some footpaths cross major roads with no real crossing in place. It's a bit scary using this foot path crossing, especially in poor weather or at night. Cars can travel at 70 mph (112 km/h) on this road. https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.6832617,-1.9031193,3a,75y,...

Holy shit, people are expected to cross THAT on foot?

Re: Slow map: Mapping Britain's intercity footpaths

#50

Post by dTal »

chrisseaton wrote: post #4
rathel wrote: post #3

Now, if only there was a project to deliver freely licensed maps of the world... Let's call it, idk, OpenStreetMap? Sounds cool :^)

Most people in the United Kingdom would be using Ordnance Survey. Also, I think Ordnance Survey's record of the use of these footpaths has significant weight in keeping them legally protected. So Ordnance Survey is the best tool here.

Most regrettably, Ordnance Survey isn't free.
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