I don’t usually bring my swimming trunks or a canoe when using a footbridge to cross a river…
Exactly. And yet… that’s not really part of the criterion.
If the footbridge forms part of a trail and goes over land / water that isn’t usually otherwsie accessible by foot, it should be considered as acceptable…
You might think… but I’ve just had two that did refused as being non-distinct, (I presume).
Water is weird around here. Usually, there’s none. I live in a desert. But when it rains, it literally rains so hard it’s easy to drown in it. My driveway, on the side of a mountain, is literally knee to waist deep during a downpour. For all of about 10 minutes a year. It’s serious when it happens but it rarely happens.
Dunno. The footbridge is permanent. It’s necessity is seasonal.
Without seeing the nominations, I can’t comment. If they are legitimate footbridges and the appeal has been rejected both via wayfarer.nianticlabs.com and via here, there must be a reason behind it.
LOVE this conversation. Thank you for starting it @xLilPoundcake
I have a number of footbridges accepted. And rejected 
One accepted - is used in an exercise park and is used to create sensations as you walk over it. Not a classic footbridge that we see everyday but described by council and architects for part of a senses park.
Had a couple accepted that are on documented paths called “desire lines” for the community to move from one location to the other. Basically the community over time worked out the easiest way from a to b and they put up a footbridge when the engineered the creek. I was able to reference the council desire lines to help get approved as these footbridges are documented waypoints by the council.
Another was a tiny footbridge. Bit of a search to find it. Permanent. Mainly used when tide is in and you cannot walk on beach. Unique little spot. Stunning views. Cute in size and original wooden build. This took major effort to get through. but I was able to get the package right in the end.
And two that were not brilliant or beautiful but were heritage listed with a very interesting backstory from the depression era in the 20th century. And happened to be in a neat park.
Overall - my view a waypoint is a place that marks a spot. It can be any stage of a line. It can mark a change in direction. It is a reference point for a journey. Often it has something physical to place mark the waypoint.
Footbridges - irrespective of design - meet that criteria - if described appropriately. Meet me at - turn left at etc.
Now like everything in Niantic - it is nuanced… argued well I will accept most. With photos, Title. Description with good supporting criteria - all done well. It is the package that tips the balance. Yes there are some footbridge more beautiful have greater history - recognised architects - award winning. Totally.
Just as there are uniform designs that repeat repeat repeat. For instance one footpath/shared path I know has some 40 culverts. All the same. And I see people nominating them as footbridges. I have yet to see one argued well enough to be accepted.
Any how… As I say - each area is different - take into account rural v city. Review the package - double check the supporting information and away I go…
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I love this!
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That’s some pretty strong faith you have there. :).
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not sure this passes as a footbridge. I would go for sculpture… And never mention the word stepping stones. As on water some people may judge not safe…
subject for nomination support. LOVE The photo though @Panjadraakj certainly to me would stand as a sculpture that also supports fantastic views. Let us know how it goes as a nomination!
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Wow. Awesome. Reminds me how as a kid we would pull anything together to create paths across hard to cross places.
Are those warning signs stuck on the wood?
I would struggle to support this nomination. Not so long ago, there was a discussion about foreshore nominations due to certain nominations ending up under water because of their proximity to the water (land level and close to the edge of the body of water being the main criteria). That would make this type of nomination unsafe.
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I LOVE this! Its a definite feature, and to me is like play equipment, gorgeous photo too.
@Trollfarer 's one looks super fun too.
For me, pedestrian footbridges help people exercise and explore. They are features on a path, and I like to stop at them and watch the water and look for wildlife. So I think they make good nominations
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And here are some I’ve had rejected. I dont think the location was mismatched. It was correct to the best of my abilities. And clearly none were natural features😆 someone else can judge how good the pictures are but I thought they were clear enough
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Whenever I submit or review any nomination, not just bridges or footbridges, I always consider the purpose for which the candidate was installed and managed. I believe that those purposes must meet the eligibility criteria. In exceptional cases, if the object is found and evaluated for another purpose, even if the purpose for which it is established or managed is different, I will consider whether that reason meets the eligibility criteria.
If the bridge is located in the middle of a trail, I will consider that the purpose is to maintain the trail and to promote exercise. I believe that suspension bridges could also be good candidates. In Japan, a popular comic book that depicts the daily life of girls enjoying camping among friends has an episode that the main characters enjoy the feeling of thrill by going around and over suspension bridges on their way to the camp. I consider such suspension bridges to be ideal places for exploration, as they have their enthusiasts. Of course, it is up to the submitter to demonstrate that such qualifying criteria are met, and the reviewer does not need to look into it.
However, most city footbridges are infrastructure for passage, and many people just pass through them for their daily activities. They serve no purpose in promoting exercise, and you can’t go see them and enjoy them or tell episodes about them. If it is a river, a detour to another bridge is sufficient; if it is a roadway, a pedestrian crossing is sufficient; if it is a railroad, a railroad crossing is sufficient.
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Yeah, watch out for the trolls. (Or crossing is your own responsibility)
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