The clearest photo I’ve seen yet of this subway map-themed mural in Brooklyn, New York. Aesthetically, it seems to have more in common with the London Tube Map than the subway map of its own city.
Photo: All Is Fare In Love & Brooklyn
Photo: June 18, 2012 by Matt’ Johnson
It’s coming! WMATA’s Rush Plus map and service changes are almost here, and ads are appearing on Metro trains around D.C.
Source: tracktwentynine/Flickr
Official Map: Vancouver, BC Frequent Transit Network, 2012
Here’s a question I received from Tumblr user pw3n:
“TransLink (in Vancouver) just released their first official Frequent Transit Network map. A lot could be said about the design (in particular, the apparent lack of craftsmanship), but that’s not what I want to ask you about. The first thing I noticed was a lack of route numbers. At first I was annoyed. But then I thought: do I care what bus is coming by, as long as there’s a bus coming? Basically: is the corridor or the route more important? What are your thoughts on frequent transit maps?”
In general, I think showing service frequency on a map is a good thing and it’s something that’s not done enough by transit agencies. I feel that you can get away without showing frequency on a map that concentrates on one mode with a known service frequency – everyone expects trains to come frequently on the New York subway, for example – but it’s definitely needed on mixed-mode maps like this.
That said, I’m not sure that this FTN map is particularly useful for travellers. My problem is mainly with the bus corridors (as per pw3n’s initial thoughts): there’s no indication of which routes serve the corridors or where any buses actually go. As a transit user, I would say that’s the most important thing for a transit map to show: If I get on a bus here, can I go there? This map doesn’t show that information at all, and I actually feel that TransLink’s previous Transit Connections map did a much better job that this map as the bus routes shown are clearly labelled.
Another problem with this map is that it creates the idea that infrequent service (those routes which exist but don’t meet the criteria for inclusion on this map) equals no service. Out of sight, out of mind, so to speak. I far prefer to see frequency information incorporated into a full system map, like the previously-reviewed and quite excellent Spokane Transit map.
One thing this map does do well is show gaps in the frequent service network, so it may actually be quite useful for future planning. But as a tool for travellers, I don’t think it’s actually that useful.
Source: TransLink Buzzer Blog
Photo: Transit Map Station Art – Phoenix, Arizona
These are nice! Anyone got better photos of each installation?
You can see what they’re trying to do with this art: look at all the great transit systems of the world portrayed here: Frankfurt! London! Moscow! … and (by association) … Phoenix. Yeah, right.
Source: crume/Flickr
Ads: “Your Life On Track” for Phoenix Metro Light Rail
Hardly the most original idea in the world, but nicely executed.
More details:
Advertising Agency: Park&Co, Phoenix Arizona, USA
Creative Director: Luis Medina
Senior Art Director: Shawn Hardy
Copywriter: Dan Oboyle
Published: June 2011
Source: helloyoucreatives
Historical Map: Trolley Map of Portland, Oregon, 1943
It’s been a while since Transit Maps featured an historical map, so here’s one from my city of Portland, Oregon. This charming map was produced by the Portland Traction Company in 1943: check out their nifty monogram in the photo set.
While it’s labelled as a “trolley map” of Portland, it actually marks a point in time where streetcars and trolley buses were being replaced with cheaper to operate buses, and transit as a whole was on the decline, being replaced by the all-powerful automobile. In the early 20th Century, almost all of the routes shown on this map were streetcars, and many of them now correspond directly to TriMet bus routes. And now streetcar is on the rise again, with the east side loop almost completed and a network extending into the suburbs in the planning stage.
I’ve used this map as a basis for this poster, which overlays rail transit in Portland in the years 1912, 1943 and in 2015 (when the PMLRT is finished) – a fascinating view of the changing attitudes towards transit in the Rose City.
Have we been there? Home sweet home!
What we like: A comprehensive overview of services. The use of different symbols for each transit mode allows routes to be overlaid on each other quite clearly. Amusing and delightful little illustrations dot the map. Great fun to be had spotting changes to the city over the years: Union Avenue on the map is now MLK Avenue, the Morrison Bridge shown here is the predecessor to the current one, there’s an ironworks where the lower OHSU campus is now… and more!
What we don’t like: Downtown is a confusing jumble of crosses, dots, lines and numbers all crammed into a very small space with no idea given of route termini.
Our rating: Charming and breezy. Historically interesting. 4 stars.
Source: Vintage Portland
Unofficial Future Map: Seattle East Link Light Rail (Segment A)
Hey, I got to make a transit map for work! This base map will eventually show all the issues (and solutions) that my company has identified for this part of the corridor, but I can’t show you that part, just the map itself.
These “issues maps” are usually created from GIS data overlaid on a low-quality aerial photo, so it’s definitely nice to break the mould and create something more visually compelling and stylish. I’m using 30- and 60-degree angles instead of the usual 45 degrees to match the topography of the land and route better: this is one of those rare occasions where it’s actually more appropriate.
Photo: Direzione Anagnina
If the name of your station is in light grey, the trains from this platform are not going there. Simple but effective wayfinding signage from Rome’s Metro.
Source: Matt Taylor Hobbs/Flickr
Official Map: Rotterdam Metro, The Netherlands, 2012
The very best transit diagrams have every element working in harmony to present a cohesive visual message. When even one element is out of place, a map can suffer. When that element is as important as the depiction of the region’s geography, the results can be disastrous, as shown by this map of Rotterdam’s Metro.
Have we been there? No.
What we like: The routes themselves are shown very clearly, with interchange stations and the National Rail system given the right importance. In fact, this would be a quite excellent example of European transit map design if it wasn’t for one thing…
What we don’t like: The hideous blurry background. Quite possibly the worst attempt at rendering geography on a transit map I’ve seen yet. It’s not realistic, it’s not diagrammatic, it’s just… fuzzy. I can only guess that the reasoning behind this was to make it clear that this is not an accurate to-scale rendering of the landscape, but it just ends up looking indistinct, out of focus, poorly executed and a jarring visual contrast to the clean diagram placed on top of it.
Our rating: A quality diagram poorly let down by a terrible background. Two-and-a-half stars.
Source: Official RET website
Unofficial Historical Map: An Animated History of the MBTA
This is something you just have to look at: an amazing animated timeline of the Boston MBTA Subway over at Andrew Lynch’s Vanshnookenraggen blog (check out his future MBTA maps while you’re there).
To my mind, this work is far superior to the animated history of the New York Subway map that was floating around the interwebs a little while back: it’s clearly dated on the map, it’s fully annotated, and even has a slide show version below the animated GIF so you can flick through the years at your own pace. What’s fascinating to me is the almost complete reinvention of transit in Boston as the original elevated lines get torn down and replaced by subway.
An amazing work, and fully worthy of a 5 star rating. I’m not going to steal Andrew’s thunder by posting the full GIF here: click here to visit his site and watch the years roll by!