Hi,
Thanks for the comment I know I have been caught out before. I use google and OS Map as references to check details but do not copy from them I only map where I have been and made notes.
My references to Definitive maps are more to substantiate the fact that they are a designated PROW included on the definitive map and statement, for the relevant authority, at the time I mapped it. I use a gps for the trail and and overlay the trace supplied by them to check its accuracy and status. As far as I am aware such information is open licence though councils use OS maps as a base which are copyright.
http://www.rowmaps.com/ will allow you to overlay the route on a map of choice such as OSM.
My aim is to include only PROW not tracks which people have been made over a period of time which could very well be referred to as public on someones deeds but have never been recorded with the local authority. There is a big change coming around 2026 when many paths which people assume are Public will be closed to them.
I am wary of the OSM classification at the moment were a number of paths are labelled as permissive and would encourage mappers to only include a trace which has some legal status i.e. designated. Even then we must be cautious as the authorities do not guarantee that their information is up to date.
Yours,
John

sorry new to the Forum.
Hope this will make it clearer.

Footpath
Public footpaths are public rights of way on foot.

Bridleway
Public bridleways are public rights of way on foot, or leading or riding a beast of burden (e.g. a horse). Cyclists may also use bridleways, but must give way to riders and pedestrians.

Byway
Public byways open to all traffic are public rights of way for all types of traffic but are mainly used by pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists and may not be suitable for all types of motorised vehicle.

There are also restricted byways.

definitive information from the authority gives us the legal status. A horse rider would be in the wrong to use a footpath. Yes many tracks look wide enough for a 4x4 but that does not give them the right to use it. We must be careful to provide accurate information, landowners also have rights and anyone using OSM as a source for navigation needs accurate knowledge.

My apologies for not giving the full URL , I shall do so in future. I was hoping that contributors to OSM would be inquisitive enough to research this resource for themselves and read further; it is a minefield but useful.
I have used the online map of local authorities as a resource to check the accuracy of their trace with my own gps recordings, Bing satellite imagery and on the ground knowledge. Using the information provided, I have then traced the Public Right Of Way as accurately as possible using Bing and tagged it with the access rights accorded by the definitive map that the authority supplies. This does not always follow the path marked on the definitive map and no assurance can be given to the accuracy of the definitive map or information; http://www.rowmaps.com/. I then try to include landmarks which may be useful for navigation.
Where I have crossed a path, I will occasionally check that the person who has mapped it previously has given the appropriate tags for the access and that the route is in line with the satellite imagery and definite map. In the case of the North Somerset map I found a route clearly marked as a bridleway on OSM which was marked as a footpath on the definitive map. I believe it is important that we should abide by the knowledge we have. I queried the source given and felt my source more valid for the access rights to a PROW, only the local authority officer responsible for PROW can give us the up to date information, failing that we have to rely on the data the local authority has provided. NSL OS Maps were used to draw up the definitive maps but are not as up to date. There is a significant difference between the right of access in the case of footpaths, bridleways, byways or boats and we must respect that. Locally it may be that cyclists and horse riders are using the footpath but it would require an 'order' for it to be labelled a bridleway.
As mentioned above (http://www.rowmaps.com), 86 local authorities have provided information and pointed out its limitations including the fact that they use OS crown copyright maps to show this data on their websites. The raw data is rather different though there is no agreement as to its status, open source or copyright. Perhaps this will come with the PROW review in 2026. The traces I have used are sets of coordinates which I have had to convert to GPX format which I can then overlay on the map but not copy and paste. It is not possible to upload them as tracks as they do not have timestamps. Does this breach copyright?
If I have got it wrong, I apologise and would take no offence at it being corrected.