OpenstreetMap's data format is deliberately simple and flexible to allow mappers as much freedom as possible in the way they record the geographic features they encounter. The disadvantage of this approach is that it's more difficult for non-technical users to add information to the data, as for many features you need to know how to draw and tag the primitives to represent the feature you're mapping.
One solution being proposed is to have specialized editors for different types of features, so that motorists can map road-related features, walkers can map footpaths, and cyclists can map cycle paths, each using a tailored interface. The theory is that by not including features in which a particular type of mapper isn't interested, the editing application's user interface can be simplified, increasing usability.
One such editor has already been produced by Cloudmade: the Mapzen POI Collector (http://mapzen.cloudmade.com/mapzen-poi-collector) for the Apple iPhone...