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Virtual hiking nodes network Wallonia
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Until recently, Belgium only had hiking nodes in parts of Flanders and the East Cantons. We are now changing that with our virtual hiking nodes network in a large part of Wallonia!
Background
Why?
Hiking nodes in Flanders and the Netherlands are a huge success. They are in very high demand. “Figures show that virtual nodes are almost as popular as nodes that are signposted,” says Sven Nijs of NodeMapp.
Therefore, in response to the demand of our users, and in support of the Walloon community, RouteYou decided to develop a virtual hiking nodes network in Wallonia to unlock beautiful trails in a very accessible way.
The virtual network can be used in RouteYou apps as well as in other node-based apps, such as the apps from our partner NodeMapp. Thus, this new network is immediately being offered on two of Belgium's largest nodes platforms.
Thanks to the integration of the virtual nodes network into a route planner, users can easily compile their own walks and hikes along these beautiful trails, fully in line with their wishes in terms of length, starting point, region, difficulty level and so on.
What are virtual nodes?
Read all about virtual nodes here.
How was it created?
In creating this virtual network, we took into account:
- the characteristics of the paths
- the beauty of the surroundings
- existing networks and routes from professional organisations
- community input: the integration of the RouteYou hiking heatmap allowed us to integrate the most popular segments, based on over 470,000 recent hikes.
The result is a network where we can visualise the distinction between unpaved and paved paths. The network itself is mostly comprised of pedestrian and low-traffic roads through the greenest and most peaceful regions of Wallonia. The density of the network is nicely balanced between being not too big and not too small.
The first version of this network will certainly not the last. This network is a dynamic concept that we will adapt based on input from both professional organisations and individuals with knowledge of the area. When new local or regional networks or routes are created, we will adjust the hiking nodes network based on that professional input. But equally, an individual user's local terrain knowledge can also be taken as a reference.
Giving feedback
We invite anyone with knowledge of the area to share their expertise with us and indicate which segments would be better removed or which segments should absolutely be added.
You don't have a RouteYou account yet? Then please registrer first.
(More info on that can be found on this page.)
Follow this simple step-by-step plan to submit your feedback.
- Go to the route planner and map out the segment that you’d like to correct.
- If you follow existing paths and roads when doing so: use 'Shortest - OSM' as the routing type.
- If you’d like to deviate from existing paths and roads: use 'Manually' as the routing type.
- Save the route and include in the itinerary what the problem or missed opportunity is.
- You can also always add one or more photos to clarify your feedback (find out how to do that here)
- You can also always add one or more photos to clarify your feedback (find out how to do that here)
- Link the route to the right group (find out how to do that here)
- If you want a segment removed from the network, link your route to the group 'Remove from hiking nodes network'.
- If you want a segment added to the network, link your route to the group 'Add to hiking nodes network'.