Editing rules: French-speaking Switzerland

Level L2

These rules apply as soon as you make significant changes to the map.

Fundamental objectives

Every map edit must aim for three objectives:

1. User-friendliness: simple maps with clear navigation instructions, given only when needed
2. Simplicity: avoid excessive detail (too many lanes, unnecessary segments) that creates complexity and maintenance
3. Preservation: do not delete existing segments without reason: they contain valuable data (speeds, routing history)

Naming segments

See Naming roads and cities: the reference page for casing, abbreviations and road types.

Parking lots and parking areas

Roads to map

Map only the elements essential to navigation:

• Entrances and exits connected to the road network
• Lanes running along commercial buildings
• Perimeter roads of large parking lots
• Main circulation routes of large sites

Do not map individual parking spaces or secondary lanes with no routing value.

POIs and parking areas

Reserve these for parking lots with dedicated access roads. Use the Parking Lot category and the exact name with the P symbol if available. Leave the field empty when in doubt. Avoid generic terms such as "Parc" or abbreviations.

Pedestrian paths

See Pedestrian paths: when to include them and when not to draw them.

Private roads

Do not map residential private roads, unless they:

• Serve several dwellings
• Exceed 100 metres
• Create a proven routing problem

U-turns

Allow only when:

• The maneuver creates a dead end
• It is legal, safe and marked by official signage

Splitting into one-way streets

A two-way street should only be split into two one-way segments if:

• The physical separation is ≥ 5 metres
• The GPS points are far enough apart at 100-metre zoom

Freeways and expressways with roadways separated by a central median always deserve two one-way segments.

Bridges and levels

Do not change the level of an entire street. Assign different levels only to the individual segments concerned (bridge, underpass, viaduct). The level is local, not global.

Unfinished segments

Unfinished segments are not locked. Complete the work properly before the updates propagate to users.

Micro-segments

Minimum length: 5 metres. Below that, speed and navigation calculations are disrupted.

Loops

Every loop requires at least 3 segments. A 2-segment loop generates routing errors. A 1-segment loop must be restructured or deleted.

Dead ends

Do not map a roundabout or turning loop at the end of a road. Simply extend the segment to the farthest reachable point.

Narrow Street

Apply this type only to lanes that are:

• Two-way
• Longer than 50 metres
• Allowing only a single standard vehicle through at a time

Exclude: one-way streets, bridges, dead ends, passages with traffic lights or traffic-calming features.

Important

If you are unsure about a rule, do not make the change. Ask your question on the French-speaking forum or on Discord.