Are Footbridges acceptable POI?
JeroenSchuiten-PGO
Posts: 6 ✭✭
I’ve come across several nominations for footbridges. I was always under the impression that this is not an acceptable POI, as it is just basic infrastructure. However, there were many already accepted footbridges in the game. And they weren’t even super special looking. Just plain bridges. So now I’m unsure wether I should accept them or not. What are your thoughts?
Comments
pedestrian footbridges along trails and paths can promote exercise and exploration. it depends on where you live: some areas might reject footbridges more than other areas. in the united states where i live, footbridges are pretty easily accepted unless you really mess it up.
i usually accept footbridges unless the submission isn't done well, or if the footbridge is in disrepair and just looks like a line of logs or planks or something.
I second what @Himillsy-PGO posted. Unless it looks like some generic plywood that was salvaged out of a dumpster laying across a one inch trickle of water, footbridges typically make great nominations. They are perfect spots to meet-up with others to safely (usually) play the games. 😃
Footbridges that are part of named trails are definitely acceptable under the Exercise criteria.
If it's not part of a trail, it depends. If it's in a park, I would probably be a bit lenient. If it's out on a street, it should be architecturally interesting enough to meet the Explore criteria in order to get approved, imho.
My footbridges in trails/parks have all been accepted in the US except for 1, that was pushing it a bit (on the "sad line of planks" side). They encourage exercise and exploration along the trail and are a man-made physical object/placemarker.
Yeah, as others said, footbridges in trails or parks are good.
Conversely, bridges on sidewalks and roads are infrastructure, not good waypoints. They don't meet any criteria.
Tell that to the Golden Gate Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge.😉
@TablogEimrats-PGO I drove over to the Golden Gate Bridge and passed the message. It said, and I quote, "Tell them I'm busy being a world-famous landmark and I'll think about that when I don't have a hundred thousand cars a day driving across me and big throngs of tourists on my sidewalks. But hey, tell the guys who ride mountain bikes across me that their tires tickle, would you?"
That is very funny.👏👏😂
98% of the bridges I see on Review, are just plain, boring bridges that contain a beg for a PokéStop and get one star.
It’s not often that I see a “good” bridge that falls under any of the three criteria.
So in short, just because it is a footbridge doesn't mean it is inherently eligible, even if that footbridge is on a trail.
Woah woah woah. You don’t expect certain sects of Wayfarers to take on official forum comments if it’s against what they think should be a Wayspot, do you? That’s crazy talk.
If you don't agree with Niantic's reasoning on this, then don't demand that other reviewers must follow Niantic's reasoning elsewhere. *cough*trailmarkers*cough*
Bridges connect people and encourage exploration. That’s the quality I look for. Who cares if they look generic. They have a structure and a function.
Well, the same can be said of sidewalks, crosswalks, plain bus stops, taxi stands, or major highways. The criteria these days are so very vague that anything can be made to fit if you phrase it right, but still....I approve most footbridges on named trails, preferably with a support structure (so not those planks or pre-formed wood sections you can plunk down on the ground to avoid the muddy spots) and maybe a handrail. Something built for permanent use by non-vehicular traffic, allowing you to progress on a trail to explore further.
Yes I agree, the criteria are intentionally vague giving the reviewers the leeway to approve things to bring more points of light into lightship
I mean, @NianticGiffard ’s comment that @TheFarix-PGO has linked to just above says to reject generic bridges. Seems pretty black and white to me.
Yes but your idea of generic and my idea of generic may be different, which still gives the leeway to the reviewer. I’m agreeing with everything.
I’m sure if Niantic said anything important about trailmarkers or bridges anywhere, they’d highlight it on the main Wayfarer site and not leave it buried in a comment on a months old thread here.
I like your humor. But I do agree that if it is something that reviewers should be followed, it would be in the criteria pages. After all, those pages are the source if truth, not random forum post that quickly get lost in the noise.
FWIW, I don’t think Giffard’s comment has made it very far. I don’t remember seeing it before, and I was active in here at the time of that post. In my experience most voters will approve a small bridge in a natural area, park, or golf course.
But it has gotten carried away, as I’ve recently started seeing driveways over culverts submitted as a “bridge.”
Yeah. If it’s important enough, it should be in the main pages of Wayfarer. No new Wayfarer should have to trawl through pages of threads to find out if a bench is okay, or if a particular type of trailmarker is acceptable. It may end up affecting their Wayfarer rating etc.
Funny how far that one went, versus the comment about NCN markers/trailmarkers
Or LFLs on PRP, or dog wa$te stations…
To be fair, the 🐶 💩 stations was @NianticDanbocat and not Giffard, hence him earning some less than flattering nicknames in some places.
Because if it means more "Pokestops", it must be followed as gospel. And anyone who doesn't follow the gospel is a bad reviewer and must be banned from the system. But if it results in fewer Wayspots, then what Niantic posted can be safely ignored. The dog waste stations and objects on the edges of PRP, both of which were later walked back, are two other examples of why I don't take forum posts from Niantic as. If I agree with their reasoning, then I will follow it. If I disagree or think their reasoning is absurd, then I don't.
Sounds like you may have had experience of a certain global Wayfarer group on social media too. 😂
Not just on social media, but on these forums as well.
This is one of the bridges I’m talking about just very generic. But I see them being accepted all the time
Yeah, I don’t see how that meets any explore, exercise or social criteria.
Admittedly I can’t see the description and supporting, but wouldn’t be shocked if one of them was “No PokéStops in the local area”.
Why what did Niantic say about trailmarkers? 😛