Arguments for locking at L3
- A segment locked at L3 is seen as confirmed, as non-drivable segments are removed if they do not contribute to routing
- In practice this only applies to the Netherlands, Belgium does not do this
- Walking Trails have an effect on routing, so they should be locked
- The same logic would require all regular streets to be locked at the same level, but obviously exceptions can be made
- The logic between the categories of non-drivable segments is a bit more complicated for new editors
Arguments against locking at L3
- Locking at level 3 will block new editors from adding missing non-drivable segments or adjusting connected local roads, causing frustrations
- Since the introduction of phantom nodes, connecting non-drivable segments no longer creates unwanted nodes on the drivable segments
- There are hardly any reports of errors based on this sort of routing, making a high level lock feel like overkill
Things everybody seems to agree on
Complex situations should always be locked appropriately. If a segment is important for proper routing, it should be protected against mistakes of starting editors.