Submitted by Kostya, who says:

Hi Cameron,

Hope you’re safe and doing well.

Remember metro orientation map of Prague you’ve reviewed back in 2012 (August 2012, 3.5 stars)? You might be surprised how little it changed since then. The framing you were uncertain about, little bits here and there, and… that’s pretty much it. This seems like an overhaul waiting to happen, doesn’t it?

So here I am trying to address some of the issues I believe are critical in terms of usability including the one you’ve pointed out back then, and I totally agree with (no tram routing). I’ve also introduced new subway line D which is currently under way just to explore how the whole thing scales. What do you think?

There’s a short story in case you’d like to learn more about my decision making.

Transit Maps says:

A rather lovely effort to “modernise” the Prague Metro map from Kostya, and one that’s mostly successful. I do like the large, sweeping curves used; they really lend a sense of elegance to the map. I do applaud the addition of route numbers to the tram lines, though I think in general the tram lines are too thin and the numbers too small to be easily read. It’s interesting to note that Kostya has actually taped his map up in a Metro car and come to much the same conclusion himself – I love it when designers test their work in real-world conditions!

The addition of information about bus transfers to the airport are another welcome addition, though it seems a pity not to at least indicate the Czech Railways Airport Express bus from Terminal 1 to the more centrally located Hlavní Nádraží as well.

Like the official map, Kostya uses icons to indicate points of interest, which I think could benefit from an explanatory legend. While locals may understand what the icons represent, Prague is a major tourist destination and these users probably need to be catered for.

Our final word: A stylish update that mostly works and certainly isn’t as clunky as the official map. The tram line could probably use some work to make them more legible in real-world usage.