Pre-Submit Advice: Pedestrian Covered Bridge and Scenic Lookout Point

Nomination Support
1

I am hoping to get advice before submitting a pedestrian bridge to ensure I describe it right and use the right type of pictures to get approval. I’ve read here bridges can be subjective but feel strongly this is a great candidate.

What is it - A large covered pedestrian walking bridge that serves as a safe way to walk across Manhattan’s busiest highway, and is a tourist destination and popular spot to meet and take photos on its own.

Why is it eligible - It is a great way to explore the downtown area because it provides not just safe passage and escape from the elements - it is a fantastic lookout point that tour guides use every day because of its large windows that allow a great vantage point to see and take photos of the World Trade Center site, One World Trade skyscraper and surrounding skyscrapers. It’s one of the few safe elevated places you can do this from in the area 24/7/365.

Please let me know your thoughts on the below and suggestions for improvement, thanks in advance! :clinking_beer_mugs:

Main photo I have for this submission on hold:

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Supporting photo:

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Title
Liberty Street Bridge Lookout Point

Description
The Liberty Street Bridge provides panoramic views of the west side of Manhattan for sightseeing and photography of nearby sites like One World Trade Center, WTC Memorial and West Side Highway hustle and bustle. It’s size makes it easily accessible for all types of activities while it also provides safety from the traffic and elements. Plus it is open to the public 24 hours a day!

Supplemental info:
This large pedestrian bridge is a great place to meet, exercise, be safe and enjoy the local views. It is a frequent part of large tourist tours of downtown NYC due to its great location offering safe viewing and photography of many famous tourist spots. It is open to the public, permanent and connects Liberty Park to Brookfield Place.
Note it can be seen on Street-view from the outside on the sidewalk:

It can also be seen clearly on the overhead Satellite view:

2

Yeah seems alright, though I don’t know if the AI filter will like those photos. Maybe submit a picture of the bridge from the outside.

1 Like
3

If the lookout is part of what makes it notable, a photo supporting that would be better than your current potential supporting, I think. Sort of like when you have a photo from behind a scenic lookout bench to underline the view being what makes it great to explore?

2 Likes
4

I agree with above. Since you are selling scenic point, you need to show reviewer this point. They can see the bridge from street view and satelite already. But they may not see the view from your point of view. Otherwise they may just think of it of regular infrastructure.

2 Likes
5

Thank you for the feedback. One of my main concerns was using the proper photo/angle (indoor vs. outdoor etc.) and how to best describe it to make it acceptable vs. “just a bridge” and you’ve hit on exactly that.

Based on what I read in other bridge posts, seemed important to focus on what made it special vs just being a way to get from one place to another. This bridge has a lot going for it.

Being a sightseeing point with huge windows is a primary reason its notable.

Plus its a very large modern structure made to specifically accommodate big groups and provide a safe viewing/access point in a tourist area make it a notable draw to explore and socialize at.

Do you agree the best approach photo-wise is?

  1. an outdoor shot as the primary
  2. indoor picture of the the sightseeing nature, showing the view/buildings through the windows (can’t be the primary because then the actual structure/item isn’t the focal point right?)

Appreciate the help, I’m trying to revitalize my local community with high-quality new stops

6

I’d do outdoor shot as primary, indoor scenic as supporting, and then help guide people to how to get to the streetview in your supporting information. “Best seen on streetview from X street/intersection, looking in Y direction.”

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7

We need to see the “view” from the window before deciding if its good view or no

1 Like
8

Thanks for the great guidance here. I’ve got some photos to retake and resubmit, but here’s an idea of the view just based on street view

9

You already have a submission on hold, you could just queue it up. It might just go through.

1 Like
10

Good luck. Maybe you can consider using 360 deg photo for surrounding photo

11

I was slightly confused as to whether it was the footbridge or the view that was the most important aspect of this.

It appears to be that view is secondary to its primary function as a bridge.

Better to really focus on 1 rather than try and do too much and end up with something that is slightly confusing.

First this looks like a good point of interest.

I don’t have a problem with it being the bridge as a piece of architecture that is submitted. I really like the first photo.

If you decide to go with view then change it around with a view from the bridge that encapsulates all those great things to see.

When I looked at your proposed text I think there are things that could be changed

Its size makes it easily accessible for all types of activities while it also provides safety from the traffic and elements. Plus it is open to the public 24 hours a day!

In my view these 2 sentences could go. Accessibility and availability is something I think is best covered in the supporting. The description should focus on what it is.

State what you can see from the bridge not things that might nearby ( I might have misread your text)

So anything you can find out about it’s design would be relevant

Supplemental info:
This large pedestrian bridge is a great place to meet, exercise, be safe and enjoy the local views.

This is a classic case of trying to tick too many boxes. It only needs to meet one criteria.nthis is not a place designed for exercise. People may say let’s meet at this bridge but it’s not designed to be social. It is a place that encourages exploration as your next statement about tourist tours demonstrates. It’s a landmark.

If you can find a weblink to a reputable tour/ guide to the city that cites this as a place to visit then include that link.

any other links about the importance of the bridge as an iconic feature would also be very good.

4 Likes
12

Thanks, this is fantastic advice and very much appreciated!

After searching for more info on this, it turns out that it is actually one of the few surviving pieces of architecture from the original 9/11 World Trade Center site as well!

See #5 in this article

NY Times Article about it (toggle to “reader view” if it prompts you to log-in)

5 Likes
13

That would be hugely significant to add to the nomination, and I would just focus on the importance of the bridge structure as a place to explore in that case

2 Likes
14

Oh gosh that really does make a difference. A little research can go long way.

:crossed_fingers::crossed_fingers::crossed_fingers::crossed_fingers:let’s hope this goes through.

1 Like
15

I just got the fastest rejection ever, I released the hold and within a minute it was denied! What in the world happened here!? :thinking:

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16

I’m not surprised. I assume ML rejected that. To a computer, that main image just looks like a hallway. I think you’re going to have to appeal this. In your appeal, I would add the information you found about it being a replacement for a bridge that was damaged during 9/11. As soon as I saw your first post, I went out to Google and found that information. I would keep looking to see if I could find out who built it, though I’m not sure any significant architect was involved. I would talk about how some of the original exterior panels that were damaged during the attack have been preserved and donated to museums archiving the event.

17

Thanks, I can retake the photos as suggested by others and resubmit to see if that does the trick first. That was my original intention anyway but I figured the submission was already queued up and with the new supporting info, it was on solid ground so I’d take a shot…

Given the speed it came back was almost instant and not like other AI photo rejections I’ve gotten, would mentioning 9/11 or World Trade Center in the text cause a rejection in the system?

18

No. It’s almost certainly what @seaprincesshnb said - it looks like a hallway of no particular value, in that photo.

1 Like
19

The observed behaviour is that around 22-24 hours from submission the auto decision program gives its decision. If something is put on hold it doesn’t stop the clock. So the submissions time was up, and auto system stepped in as soon hold was released.

I think it’s appealable

If you are happy to take more photos and resubmit then do go ahead….i think you are in aMuch stronger position now to make a good submission. As it will still focus on building structure it might still get auto reject.

20

In some case, its easier to get approved through appeal. Try resubmitting, if it fail, try appeal. To AI, it looks like random hall

Anyway AI rejection is common but dont let this discouraged you. Without it there are so many crap nomination out there. I have seen people submit action figure or doll at home