Stream: sabiedriskais transports

Topic: PSV lane or not

markalex (Feb 19 2026 at 16:00):

I have a question about streets like Vaidavas and Avotu (in Riga) where they are oneway for usual traffic, but buses go the other direction too.
Signs there ("brick" with exception for bicycles, example) don't indicate exception for buses.
I suspected, that this is to prevent taxies and electric cars from using those exceptions (my understanding was that since those can use bus lanes, they could use exceptions too).
Right now, they are tagged with oneway:psv=no. Example.

So my question -- is it correct? Shouldn't it be tagged with oneway:bus=no instead, even though it's not legally defined?

HellMap (Feb 19 2026 at 16:27):

Yes, oneway roads with psv routes on them should be tagged as oneway:psv=no. Technically, the "brick" sign never applies to PSVs by traffic law. But it wouldn't make sense to tag EVERY road like that for OSM. So in practice places with dedicated routes or expected psv access (like depos) should have it.

HellMap (Feb 19 2026 at 16:29):

(Cars always look at me funny when I make that left turn there :grimacing: )

markalex (Feb 19 2026 at 16:34):

Technically, the "brick" sign never applies to PSVs by traffic law.

Wow. Does it mean that taxi can go under brick?
Or did I misunderstood what PSV mean?

HellMap (Feb 19 2026 at 16:34):

If you are asking specifically about buses versus psv - the brick sign doesn't distinguish stuff like trolleybuses, microbuses, coaches, even taxis. I am not sure OSM should either. I guess one could look at what modes of transport go there, but I generally don't myself and I don't see the point. Like, if a bus can go there, then so can battery trolleybus and such.

HellMap (Feb 19 2026 at 16:35):

Oh, taxi, hmm....

HellMap (Feb 19 2026 at 16:36):

For some reason I didn't think taxi=* was under psv=*

HellMap (Feb 19 2026 at 16:36):

And I guess technically bus=* also includes trolleybus=*

HellMap (Feb 19 2026 at 16:43):

Legally "pasažieru sabiedriskais transportlīdzeklis" in Latvia are buses, trolleybuses and trams. The 301. sign does not apply to them. This does not include taxis. There are separate rules for lanes when traffic signs aren't posted, which then allow EVs and taxis.

HellMap (Feb 19 2026 at 16:44):

I guess I see what you mean. Trams are always on separately-mapped rails, so all the possible access variants are buses and trolleybuses, and since trolleybuses are included in buses, then bus covers all.

markalex (Feb 19 2026 at 16:45):

HellMap said:

I guess I see what you mean. Trams are always on separately-mapped rails, so all the possible access variants are buses and trolleybuses, and since trolleybuses are included in buses, then bus covers all.

Yes, that's what I meant exactly =)

HellMap (Feb 19 2026 at 16:46):

I've been radicalized by Rīgas Satiksme, I don't believe trolleybuses are buses! :upside_down:

HellMap (Feb 19 2026 at 16:47):

I think you are right, it should be oneway:bus=no and not psv, which includes taxis.

markalex (Feb 19 2026 at 16:58):

HellMap said:

I've been radicalized by Rīgas Satiksme, I don't believe trolleybuses are buses! :upside_down:

What's up with that?
They are the ones who fail to colour buses and trolleybuses differently, so I'd assume their point was that buses and trolleybuses are one and the same ))

HellMap (Feb 19 2026 at 17:04):

I'm just joking, although they do clearly separate the two. In recent couple decades it's much less so, but there used to be a very different subjective perception when busses and trolleybuses were these
image.png
image.png
Like they just felt different. Modern ones are indeed basically the same box with different engines.

markalex (Feb 19 2026 at 17:16):

That's not what meant.
I have a good sight, and still I need a moment to realise if something in from of me is a bus or a trolleybus.
Other cities solved this problem quite easily: you paint all buses one colour, and trolleybuses - the different one.
And if RS really wanted their blue and white, they can paint buses with blue on the bottom and trolleybuses with blue on the top.
OIP.3STBDVlLAnolmLZ0v9qHGwHaEc.webp
OIP.GK1tP202Oth_Kd6K48Z1oAHaE8.webp

markalex (Feb 19 2026 at 17:36):

I replaced oneway:psv=no with oneway:bus=no everywhere in Riga (after confirming signs)

markalex (Feb 19 2026 at 17:40):

Seems like outside of Riga oneway:psv was not used

HellMap (Feb 19 2026 at 17:46):

Yes, the fact that buses and trolleybuses currently look the same was part of the joke :smiling_face_with_tear:

HellMap (Feb 19 2026 at 18:03):

Looks good, I think. I swear I thought there were more oneway streets in Riga with opposite PSV lanes... May be because half of them are places I regularly go past, it feels like there are more...

markalex (Feb 19 2026 at 18:12):

Kinda the same. But I suspect we live not too far from each other, so affected by the same bias)

Last updated: Mar 13 2026 at 01:19 UTC