Mapping Driveways

[Cory]

In most areas I haven't seen enough to worry about, but in the area I'm working right now, there are tons are private driveways mapped out.  One was a regular 60 foot driveway up to a house.  Most are gravel paths across private property up to someone's house.  They're all marked Local/Terminal 2 lane 25mph roads, which looks ridiculous on the map compared to tiny ETA/PL segments.

How should these be marked since nobody wants to delete them?

[mnovotny]

My two cents... I would NOT map them out as they are private driveways... it goes back to that Street View privacy issue that Google had a while back.  If there were one or two in random spots, that should be fine as that property owner may have wanted them there.  I think they should be marked as the ETA/PL segments if they were to stay.

[Cory]

My preference would be to delete any driveway on private property for a single dwelling.  Google could add a separate road category for private driveways that wouldn't show up on map views unless needed for directions or specifically requested.  Until then, I'd rather they didn't clutter the map, and I definitely hate that so many are marked as local and therefore routable.

Driveway

Incorrectly drawn driveway

Bunch of farm roads/trails

Cut through trees and private farm road

Dirt/gravel driveway

A few "local" roads on private propery liable to get you shot driving on

I just have a major issue marking these as "Terminal" because a driveway on private property is a big difference from a non-routed or residential area with public roads (or dead end-streets that most reviewers like to label Terminal).

[- deltafox -]

Hi,

terminal roads are to be marked as "local", private roads as "Terminal"

that's Google's logic ;-) there already have been half a dozen threads on this subject in the last days

[Raza]

Hi Cory, mnovotny and deltafox,

Since we currently do not have a separate road category for private driveways, these should be mapped under the road category 'Terminal'.

@deltafox, we are still mapping terminal roads under the category 'Terminal' and not 'Local'.

Here's the definition of a Terminal road(from Map Maker's Help center):

Terminal road: A terminal road is typically an access road to a point of interest. It is often used for very small roads inside a neighborhood or the roads inside shopping centers and public promenades. Driving directions will route you onto a terminal road if your starting point or destination is located on it or another adjoining terminal road. 

Thanks,

Raza

[Nathan Williams]

I would just like to add that I share Cory and mnovotny's opinion that private driveways, ESPECIALLY residential ones, really have no place on the map.  Businesses and public spaces are one thing, especially if the owner wants it there, but residences just do not seem appropriate.  As a general rule, most dwellings have a driveway or dedicated parking area and this is common knowledge.  You wouldn't map every 25-foot-long driveway in a subdivision - it would be come unmanageable!  So, why should the dirt track through Farmer Jones' cow path be mapped?  It makes no sense.

At the very least a usage option needs to be added for driveway.  Even better, a Private Road priority would be great, so as to make the distinction between roads that are terminal (i.e. not through streets) but open to the public and roads that are truly private.  For the time being, I have taken to marking private roads as "No Vehicle Access,"  which has worked so far, but that will probably change the next time I mark one as such - G-Reviewers and their consistency is a little flaky. ;-)

I've actually been able to get a few actual driveways deleted in my area, but now that I read Raza's post I suppose I will have to abandon that practice.

[IndianaRed]

@Raza, Should private driveways be set as an Enclosed Traffic Area?

[Otter]

I have to agree with Nathan and the others....mapping random paths on private property is a little bit much. Next thing people will be mapping is individual houses, sheds, dog houses and out-houses.  

 

Parking lot lanes are a tad much as well, but since I see the value that can provide in getting people to business I don't care as much.

 

My suggestion is to have an option in the settings if you want to have private drives show up on your maps.

[Tim]

I made an issue in the issue tracker about a week ago suggesting private drive segment usage and line type (similar to roads and trails). Issue 1962

[Nathan Williams]

Thank you, Tim.  Very well-worded request.

/me votes.

[Pete]

I have been deleting them in my area. One or two clueless reviewers may disagree and ask you to "undo", but a polite reply telling them you won't(because the idea of mapping every driveway is ridiculous) will usually result in them, or another reviewer, approving it. I had the same reviewer tell me to "undo" dozens of driveway deletions. I replied, telling him that I would not "undo" because they should not be mapped regardless of what HE thought, and that I would just have to leave it pending until a more sensible reviewer approved it...which they did. 

It comes down to the fact that "reviewers" aren't always right, and many simply copy/paste comments w/o really looking at the edit. If you disagree with them, don't be afraid to tell them and stand up for your edit. I've left some pretty lively replies to reviewers.

[Pete]

Exactly!

[Nathan Williams]

Totally agree, Pete.

Keep in mind that YOU are the one making the edit and it is because YOU know the area.  The reviewer likely does not know the area and is just trying to do his job - which is to review as many edits as possible before lunch.  This is not his fault, but it does lead to false assumptions so don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion if you believe you are correct - remember that the reviewer has no clue who you are and therefore cannot vouch for your knowledge or motives.  You can be lively, but remain courteous - moderators in any forum are much more likely to take you seriously when you engage in intelligible conversation as opposed to obstinate shouting.  Feel free to question the reviewer's reasoning and explain your own, as it shows you understand what you are talking about and want to improve your mapping abilities.

[Mxx]

Why would you not map individual houses? That's the whole point of Google Building Maker and Sketch Up. Are you also going to complain about Google Earth 3d layer adding 3d models trees to more accurately represent parks and forests?
You can never have too much useful data. It might not be useful TO YOU, but why punish other people just because of you. For example, did you know that some fire departments use Google Maps? Don't you think it's good for them to know about every possible access to any house/building/property?

I say map everything possible and let algorithm figure out what's important to show at what zoom level.

[Raza]

Hey IndianaRed and others,

I should have specified this in my earlier post. Please do not set the segment usage as 'Enclosed Traffic area' for these driveways.

Thanks,

Raza