Dear user rondock,

the community in Catania is concerned about your recent deletions of sidewalks. I have already asked you in a changeset comment to not only use proper changeset comments (which you did) but also discuss the issue beforehand (which you didn’t).

There are arguments for and against the mapping of sidewalks as separate ways. The wiki is not the ultimate authority on this but even if it was, it lists both options here: osm.wiki/Sidewalks

It is not ok for one person to come in and unilaterally change everything the Catania community has done until now. You have to discuss the matter with the community, explain why you think sidewalks shouldn’t be mapped separately, and come to an agreement.

There’s an “OpenStreetMap Catania” group on Facebook that you could use, https://www.facebook.com/groups/1596333080610164, or you could discuss the matter on the (very low volume) Sicilia mailing list https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-it-sicilia or on the (relatively busy) Italy list https://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-it.

Just don’t continue deleting things without talking to people.

Best regards
Frederik Ramm
OSMF Data Working Group