Hello...

I recently learned from "locojd1" who is editing in New Mexico, that there has been some decision to set dirt roads to "runway" types to eliminate them from the map.  This practice started happening around my home in Albuquerque (west side) and I noticed it while editing.

There is a problem with this.  Dirt roads in New Mexico are used like streets.  I argued this back in 2013 or 2015 when I made the argument that some of these dirt roads were like highways.  I particularly advocated for this on BIA lands (native American). If one (at the time) were to mark these as dirt roads, this would deny residents of the state of NM their use as the real highways they were for the communities (they were well maintained).

Now this practice of eliminating dirt roads from the map is denying NM residents of travel on these roads that are important on the outskirts of the city.  I travel on them all the time when visiting people who live in the undeveloped areas around the city.  They are used throughout the state.  These roads are not under construction... they are dirt roads that have been that way for decades, 50 years, or longer.

So I hope the community will stop this practice that seems a tad arrogant or privileged thinking that dirt roads are impassible and not useful.  Rural communities need and use these roads.  Please don't mark such roads as runways.  

Regards,
Mike