My Journey

nodemapp.com

5 min read

NodeMapp & Node Navigation Summary

​Background & Story

  • ​Origins: Concept adapted from Belgian underground coal mine navigation by Hugo Bollen (1995) to guide cyclists and hikers across scenic roads rather than high-traffic thoroughfares.
  • ​Platform Founder: Founded in 2011 by Sven Nijs in Belgium, initially growing through regional Belgian portals (vlaanderen-fietsland.be, wandelknooppunt.be).
  • ​Scope: Covers over 150,000 km of interconnected cycle and walking node networks across Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, and France.
  • ​Virtual Nodes: Features digital-only nodes to connect gaps in areas lacking physical roadside signage.

​Core Usage & Key Features

  1. ​Node-to-Node Planning: Tap numbered junctions on an interactive map to build custom loops or point-to-point tracks.
  2. ​Surface & Profile Filters: Customize routes based on surface preferences (paved roads vs. gravel/unpaved paths) or activity (cycling vs. walking/hiking).
  3. ​Turn-by-Turn Guidance: Provides visual prompts and voice alerts for upcoming node numbers.
  4. ​Heatmap Overlays: Displays community usage data to highlight popular cycling and walking routes across regions.
  5. ​Export & Sync: Allows direct .gpx file downloads or QR code syncing for mobile apps and dedicated bike computers (Garmin, Wahoo).

Discover Routes

https://www.nodemapp.com/en/biking/discover or in the app. Bookmark any routes to shortlist.

​Step-by-Step GPX Export Guide

​1. Generating GPX on NodeMapp

  1. ​Plan or load your route on NodeMapp.com.
  2. ​Select Finish in the top-right corner.
  3. ​Click Create GPX, name your route, and toggle node/elevation inclusion.
  4. ​Download the .gpx file to your mobile device or computer.

​2. Syncing to Garmin Units

  • ​Mobile Sync (Wireless):
    1. ​Open Garmin Connect app \rightarrow More \rightarrow Training & Planning \rightarrow Courses.
    2. ​Select Import, choose the .gpx file from your device downloads, set as Cycling, and save.
    3. ​Select Send to Device to sync over Bluetooth.
  • ​Desktop Sync (USB Cable):
    1. ​Connect Garmin unit via USB to your computer.
    2. ​Copy the .gpx file directly into the Garmin/NewFiles folder on the drive.
    3. ​Disconnect unit; the route will auto-convert under Navigation \rightarrow Courses.

​3. Syncing to Wahoo Units

  • ​ELEMNT Mobile App Import:
    1. ​Open the downloaded .gpx file on your phone via your file browser or email.
    2. ​Choose Share \rightarrow Select ELEMNT app.
    3. ​Tap Select Route within the app to transfer wirelessly to your connected Wahoo unit over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

​Active Travel & Leisure Touring

  • ​Quiet-Road Cycling: Ideal for planning low-stress day rides or touring routes across Belgium, France, and the Netherlands while avoiding heavy vehicular traffic.
  • ​Handlebar Display: Simplifies on-bike navigation down to sequential numbers, reducing the need for constant map checking on mobile devices or bike computers during long rides.

Comparing to UK Sustrans

​## Sustrans (UK) vs. Node Network / NodeMapp (Europe)

​### 1. Overview & Network Design

  • Sustrans (National Cycle Network): Uses a linear route system. Paths are designated as long-distance numbered trunk routes (e.g., NCN Route 1, Route 4). Navigation requires following fixed end-to-end corridors across the UK.

  • Node Network (NodeMapp): Uses a mesh/grid network system. Intersections are assigned two-digit numbers (nodes). Riders navigate by chaining numbers together, creating infinite custom loops and point-to-point routes without following a fixed named trail.

​### 2. Similarities

  • Focus on Safety: Both systems aim to keep cyclists off busy main roads by utilizing converted disused railway lines, canal towpaths, forest tracks, and low-traffic rural lanes.

  • Wayfinding Signage: Both rely on physical on-the-ground signage (blue signs for Sustrans; green/white or red/white numbered signs for NodeMapp).

  • Leisure & Tourism Focus: Both are primarily designed for leisure riding, walking, and local active travel rather than high-speed road cycling.

​### 3. Key Differences

  • Governance & Ownership: - Sustrans is a registered charity (rebranded in 2025 as the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust) and owns only about 2% of the paths on its network. The remaining 98% relies on local councils, highway authorities, and private landowners.

  • The European Node Network is directly owned, built, and maintained by regional governments, local tourism boards (such as Visit Flanders or Dutch regional provinces), and municipal councils.

  • Routing Logic: Sustrans requires traditional map or GPX navigation along a long route line, whereas the Node Network simplifies navigation down to a memorable sequence of 2-digit numbers (e.g., 42 → 87 → 12).

  • Digital Ecosystem: NodeMapp serves as a unified, purpose-built app layer specifically for node-based navigation. Sustrans relies on third-party mapping platforms like Ordnance Survey, OpenCycleMap, or Komoot.

​### 4. Maturity & Maintenance Assessment

  • Winner: Node Network / NodeMapp (Significantly More Mature & Better Maintained)

  • Sustrans Challenges: The UK network is frequently described as a “quality lottery.” Because Sustrans lacks direct ownership and legal authority over most paths, surface quality varies wildly—from pristine asphalt rail trails to muddy tracks, chicanes, and busy A-roads. In recent years, Sustrans was forced to strip thousands of miles from the official NCN designation due to safety and accessibility barriers.

  • Node Network Strengths: The European node infrastructure benefits from dedicated municipal and regional tourism budgets. Wayfinding signage, surface paving, and barrier-free design are consistently audited and maintained to high standards across Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany.

​# Personal Relevance

​## Implications for UK vs. European Riding

  • Predictability: Riding on the European Node Network via NodeMapp offers far more predictable surface quality and barrier-free access than a typical Sustrans route in the UK.

  • Navigation Efficiency: When touring in Belgium or the Netherlands, the node grid removes the hassle of plotting exact street-by-street routes. You can adjust your loop length on the fly mid-ride simply by turning toward a different node number.

  • Infrastructure Perspective: The contrast highlights the difference between a charitable framework (Sustrans relying on fragmented local authority funding) and a state-backed public infrastructure model (European regional tourism authorities treating cycle paths as essential public works).

My take

It’s good to explore and look wider then ones shores for inspiration and best practice. Could Burnham prioritise the right choices in the UK so it’s not left behind?

Graph View