I recently (actually not that recently) found that the quality of appeal reviews is so questionable that apparently appeal reviewers often don’t read the appeal notes at all. Here’s an example:
Since the appeal reviewer advised me to read the criteria clarification library, let’s go through the library using my example.
- Official and Permanent: The article states that nominations need to appear official and permanent. I included a link to the trail to support this.
- Provides Value to Help People Explore: In my nomination, the trail marker includes the current location (a famous sightseeing spot), the name of the trail, the distance to the next decision point, and the distance completed on the trail. The above makes the nomination similar to the first example in the article, which was marked with
.
- What is a Mass-Produced Sign?: The vriteria article provides an example of a mass-produced sign, describing it as a set of directions that provides no value for exploration, socialising, or exercise. The appeal reviewer rejected my nomination, calling it a mass-produced sign. They claimed the sign isn’t located on a trail, doesn’t include the trail name, doesn’t provide distance, or give directions. Is that really accurate with all the evidence?
This report shows that the appeal reviewers aren’t even familiar with the criteria themselves.
Moreover, numerous experiences indicate they don’t read the appeal notes at all. For the next example, I emphasised that the nomination was a fish shape art piece and not a business in the support info and appeal notes, but the appeal reviewer still clearly hadn’t read any of the notes.
2 Likes
Hi! Sorry to hear your appeal was rejected, and agree that the “normal sign” response is not helpful.
However the information and the link presented in the appeal statement leave me somewhat confused, is what you are nominating a marker for a cycle path, a hiking path or some other kind of sign? You include a link for a biking path with a different name (Bali). Wondering if that was commented on in the complete nomination - could you share it?
5 Likes
i just noticed the Link to the travel website was updated today. It looks like the tourist department hasn’t create an english versision so please use google translate.
For Q1, It is a cycling and leisure walk pathway.
Q2, Bali is the suburb name. 八里左岸 (bali left bank) is the trail name, which is on the sign. 淡水 (Tamsui River) is the river next to the trail, so i reckon it is the section name.
1 Like
would you mind clirify the second question? Bali is the name i hve put in the title. What do you mean a different name?
Thank you for your patience.
I’m asking about whether it’s a bike trail because bike trail markers are not necessarily slam dunks - they would need to be safely accessible to pedestrians, and that should be clearly pointed out in the nomination or in the appeal. If this is a shared use trail I would suggest providing evidence of that, and evidence of pedestrian access to this specific marker. From the link and photo you provide this doesn’t seem to be obvious.
Yes, I used Google Translate, hence my question - your sign seemed to be indicating “Tamsui River”, your website “Bali Trail”, and your title indicates both. One could indeed be a section of the other, but I see nothing on the photo or in the link to connect them.
This is not to nitpick on your nomination (again, please feel free to share it in full if you have already addressed all of these points there), but to try to explain why an appeal reviewer may have found this situation unclear, and to help with a resubmission or new appeal in case of a new rejection going forward.
1 Like
I strongly recommend reading the link first! It’s helpful because it has all the answers you need, like how the Tamsui River is next to the Bali trail, how the government recommends jogging, walking, or cycling there, etc. These details are also repeated in the nomination.
Tamsui is a place, and the Tamsui River flows between Bali and Tamsui. From the trail, you can see a beautiful view of the river.
Think of how the Brisbane River runs through different suburbs, not just Brisbane City. Even if you’re in another suburb, you can still say you’re next to the Brisbane River because it’s the same river flowing through. In the same way, the Tamsu River runs between Bali and Tamsu, and you can see it from the trail.
After all, the sign saying “You are next to Tamsui River” isn’t that important because it’s not the trail’s name. I have to repeat that you’ve been missing the words “八里左岸 (Bali Left Bank),” which is the official trail name shown on the sign in Chinese.
And yes, like every nomination, this one includes an additional photo. The link and second photo support that it’s a place for jogging. Even though this is a shared trail, bike trails are still eligible on their own.
Things go a bit off topic here, but the criteria list is on the wayfarer website. I can imagine new wayfinders may never read these criteria guidelines, I’m happy to discuss criteria with ambassadors who are also new wayfinders!
Mod edit: removed irrelevant content
1 Like
And I strongly suggest staying respectful - I don’t think reminding of the pedestrian access criterion is “being a new Wayfinder”, especially considering said supporting photo is not provided.
Thank you, indeed I don’t read Chinese, however I don’t think it’s an absurd assumption to guess that the “you are here” part of the sign that you are kindly pointing out is the variable part, and that the constant part is the name of the full trail, like in this other example that appears to be from a different location in town. Happy to be wrong about that, though.
1 Like
This is different location from different town
I’m always happy to educate wayfarer basics respectfully. In the content guideline section, we are encouraged to use the official title of a trail as well as any nomination, as following:
In my example, the official name is Bali Left Bank, shown in the sign and the government website. So putting Bali in the title is the most appropriate option.
In your example, the official name is Golden River Bank, indicated on the sign and in the website.
They are not the same trail, by the same river, and connected. It’s not rare to see biking trails connect multiple suburbs
I guess what @Chingchunning means is @Xenopus example is not in the same town, while @Xenopus said it is. Ive visited both places so I know the difference
No, it says “like in this other example.” Make sure that you fully read all comments. It does note that this is an example from a different location in a different area, which is why I highlighted that part of the post as well.
He notes “this other example” of sign in the same area. The key part is “a different location in town,” which implies that @Xenopus suggested both the current examples are within the same town, just in separate places.
@Xenopus is just trying to prove the official name of the trail is Tamsui River with other example, but made a wrongful assumption with another similar exercise sign.
@DTrain2002 I won’t asked you to read cause it looks like you already are, just misunderstanding some minor stuff 
@Chingchunning is the one that doesn’t understand that @Xenopus is providing an example of a similar sign. They are thinking the example is the same as your nomination, which it isn’t. I’m not even talking about the title at all, nor am I getting involved with the nomination; I’m just clarifying info that has been stated.
I take it that English is not their first language, which could be where some misunderstanding comes in. English isn’t required to use the forums, as there is a translator here.
Hi everyone
It’s good to share experiences all over the world and discuss, sometimes unfamiliar, items but please try to tread eachother more friendly and respectful.
Btw: welcome to the forum @Chingchunning 
1 Like
