Hi Tony, The area <https://www.openstreetmap.org/edit?way=1008258040#map=21/-38.08893/145.12596> in question is certainly what I wouldn't call a footpath being a wide grass only area but what is a footpath? I think of a footpath mainly in urban areas being just wider than a large pram (wider in shopping precincts), either concrete or asphalt. In rural areas, I see footpaths also being longer gravel versions that allow primary school kids safe access to the local school or bus stop. Anything else is a path, track or shared footpath however....
In Victoria (as with other states) the road safety rules <http://legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/statutory-rules/road-safety-road-rules-2017/009> say throughout ... "Bicycle, footpath, motor bike, nature strip and postal vehicle are defined in the dictionary. ". I can't find a precise well-used definition but the WA Road Traffic Rules <https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/prod/filestore.nsf/FileURL/mrdoc_44431.pdf/$FILE/Road%20Traffic%20Code%202000%20-%20%5B05-w0-00%5D.pdf?OpenElement> say "footpath means an area that is open to the public that is designated for, or has as one of its main uses, use by pedestrians;" Things get murkier if you pop over to Macquarie Dictionary <https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/resources/aus/word/map/search/word/footpath/Central%20West%20NSW/> and see that Footpath can be inferred by some, as the entire area from residential boundary to road so that includes the grass, trees, crossovers and potentially, a "sidewalk". This is what I would call a naturestrip or roadside verge. I see the WA definition of "designated for" as important. I also see potential risk to pedestrians and cyclists (reversing cars out of driveways) being key and the length of footpath as important as a long path without many exits would suggest cycling as a key option. In his instance, the footpath is on private land, has not been designated as a footpath and isn't signposted so I see this as a perfectly legitimate to cycle. I know this hasn't answered your question however I would consider a footpath is only when a path runs parallel to a road and is in very close proximity to that road i.e. a sidewalk, Everything else is a path. Regards Ewen On Fri, 7 Oct 2022 at 20:26, <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi > I have been monitoring the edits by a user who still "changes shared > paths to footpaths as no signs present to indicated bikes are > permitted" in Victoria Australia. > > Most of these changes are small ways where there are unlikely to be > serious consequences, its not worth the petrol (or electricity in this > case for my Nissan Leaf) to go out and inspect the way and I have said > nothing. > > I have commented on way 1008258040 in Changeset: 126886850 where > bicycle=yes by the previous editor has been removed because there were > "no signs present to indicated bikes are permitted" > > There is good street level imagery. It is not a footpath in the > sidewalk sense. It looks OK for bicycles to me. Sorry to bother but I > request a clear community consensus again on whether "no signs present > to indicated bikes are permitted" is of itself sufficient evidence > that bicycles are disallowed. > > Sorry to bother you all > Tony > > > > _______________________________________________ > Talk-au mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-au > -- Warm Regards Ewen Hill
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