Several local hiking trail markers were removed recently for no clear reason. As explained in the linked topic, these trail markers get approved on appeal by Niantic’s reviewers virtually 100% of the time, and when one somehow isn’t approved on appeal, a simple forum post here is enough to get the appeal result overturned, so these trail markers obviously fulfill the criteria. I would want to see these trail markers restored.
All of them are located in the city of Eindhoven in the Netherlands.
Wayspot Title: Wandelroutemarker Waalstraat
Location (lat/lon): 51.478305,5.425956
Wayspot Title: Wandelroutemarker Scheldestraat
Location (lat/lon): 51.477717,5.424073
Wayspot Title: Wandelroutemarker Leo van Dorstpad
Location (lat/lon): 51.470944,5.433398
Wayspot Title: Wandelroutemarker Jan Gielenlaan
Location (lat/lon): 51.471367,5.431744
Wayspot Title: Wandelroutemarker Ecopark Acht
Location (lat/lon): 51.475585,5.424534
Wayspot Title: Wandelroutemarker Leemkuil
Location (lat/lon): 51.480965,5.417137
Wayspot Title: Wandelroutemarker Leemkuil
Location (lat/lon): 51.479147,5.419576
Wayspot Title: Wandelroutemarker Leemkuil
Location (lat/lon): 51.478083,5.421358
Wayspot Title: Wandelroutemarker Schiestraat
Location (lat/lon): 51.478084,5.421945
Wayspot Title: Wandelroutemarker Schiestraat
Location (lat/lon): 51.477504,5.422672
Wayspot Title: Wandelroutemarker Roerstraat
Location (lat/lon): 51.480332,5.426409
Wayspot Title: Wandelroutemarker Roerstraat
Location (lat/lon): 51.481215,5.426285
Wayspot Title: Wandelroutemarker Roerstraat
Location (lat/lon): 51.481763,5.427216
Wayspot Title: Wandelroutemarker Achtseweg Zuid
Location (lat/lon): 51.466962,5.434013
Wayspot Title: Wandelroutemarker Achtseweg Zuid
Location (lat/lon): 51.466640,5.434990
Wayspot Title: Wandelroutemarker Achtseweg Zuid
Location (lat/lon): 51.464898,5.437272
Wayspot Title: Wandelroutemarker Waalstraat
Location (lat/lon): 51.478952,5.428113
Wayspot Title: Wandelroutemarker Waalstraat
Location (lat/lon): 51.478584,5.426868
These are all the removed trail markers I could find today. If I encounter more missing trail markers, I will be back with their information.
These are hiking network nodes right? I’m wondering if this is the same issue as the cycling node network? They are not exactly trail markers for a named pre-made hiking trail right?
I have no idea what the issue is. I’ve been submitting a lot of these for, like, the past six months or so, and I’ve also explained to other local players how to best submit these markers since covering the entire city by myself is quite a daunting task. The markers have a pretty good approval ratio with player reviewers and a near 100% appeal approval ratio if players reject them but I send them to Niantic on appeal. I’ve even had appeals that were rejected by Niantic reviewers who weren’t paying attention (I guess) overturned by making a forum post on here. If these markers were against the rules, then I doubt Niantic would ever approve all those appeals, and Aaron would not overturn a falsely rejected appeal on this forum.
And as explained in a linked topic in the other topic I made about this: two of the Wayspots in this list have been falsely removed once before and were restored after making an appeal topic here, and now they’ve been removed AGAIN for some unclear reason.
Right, I understand the issue. I can only speculate, but I would think there might be some internal debate on how to handle these. Going by the general clarification, this phrase
would complicate the eligibility of these markers, since the idea (from what I understand) is that you create your own route.
Are the trail markers you submitted numbered?
Edit: Sorry, I double checked the original post. They are not the knooppunt but the “in between” markers? Were the knooppunt removed?
Yes, they are the markers that guide you from intersection to intersection. No, they’re not numbered, and no, to my knowledge none of the intersection points were removed.
Considering the inconsistent results you and other Dutch community members have had with these markers part of the node network, even on the forum
(for reference, these seem to contradict each other somewhat
I would once again advocate for an official clarification regarding the different types of node network markers, since this uncertainty seems to create unnecessary work for everyone involved
Based on the information we have, these markers are self-made stickers put on lamp posts to get Wayspots. If this information is inaccurate, please provide evidence in support of your claim and we will be happy to review.
You have got to be kidding me. I have given you this information several times already (including in each and every approved appeal for one of these trail markers AND including in the topic I made here when two of these trail markers were removed back in October: Restoration request for two hiking trail markers that were inexplicably removed which you yourself restored, I might add!)
But I guess if you want to see it again, I’ll explain it to you again.
As seen in the above image, the symbol they use to map out their hiking routes is a green square with a yellow triangle that points towards the direction you need to go in to follow the route. In wooded areas, they will use wooden posts with plastic signs, but in urban areas, they make use of stickers instead, since it’s easier to just stick those on street lights, traffic lights and other already-existing infrastructure than to put up wooden posts everywhere.
If any of the stickers are ever damaged, illegible or outright missing, people can file a report on that page and they will send a maintenance person to fix the issue ASAP. And this system cannot be abused to get them to place stickers where they shouldn’t be, since they have their routes thoroughly mapped out here: https://routeplanner.visitbrabant.com/nl/wandelen and they are not going to place markers in the wrong spots. This in fact makes it very easy to check for abuse of any “selfmade” markers: if it’s along any of the routes on that map, they’re official. If they’re not along any of the routes on that map, they’re fake. The locations of all of the markers I mentioned in the original post can be verified to be along the official routes using the map. There is zero abuse going on here.
I would love to see whatever information you have that led you to reach your conclusion.
No, they are not. What on Earth are you basing this on?
What is your definition of a decision point?
Straight stretches with plenty of diverging roads. Each of those markers is located at a point where people have multiple directions they can go in, and the markers are located in their specific spots to remind people which direction the route goes in. Sounds like a decision point to me.
I checked this one as a sample. Using the Google streetview history, this lamppost has had a marker of this type on it continuously since 2009. It appears to have been refreshed during that period. It is at a point in the route indicating a direction change.
I would consider this sufficient proof that the marker exists, and what its purpose is when combined with the official website.
Your frustration is understandable and evident, given the reversal of the position previously taken by @NianticAaron.
Do you seriously think I was going around slapping stickers on street lights in 2009 in the hopes that a game like Pokemon Go would someday be created that would make use of those stickers, @NianticAaron ? Your whole “selfmade” theory is complete nonsense.
It is an official marker, yes it is on a utility pole, but that is the general rule, if there is already a utility pole, or traffic sign, usually these will be used, and it is very common that stickers are used on these poles.
On this case, it is not on a straight stretch, the sign indicates you have to turn left at the next intersection.
And to add, these stickers are not homemade. You can find them all over the country as they provide directions for the national walking trails.
