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Somewhat cynically I think the zone system ties London to the current tube map layout. If you look at a geographical map, especially a recent one, you'll see ho
by ddek 5y ago
Somewhat cynically I think the zone system ties London to the current tube map layout. If you look at a geographical map, especially a recent one, you'll see how illogical the zoning is now. Recent developments such as the Battersea branch of the Northern line or the zone 1 enclave at Canary Wharf just make it worse.
Also you're right about landmarks. In NY, you use the grid system to navigate. Therefore it makes sense to tie transport links to the grid. London has no logical road system and the landmarks are more spread out.
- rst 5y agoNew York has multiple grids, though. The one in Manhattan north of 14th street is the one most people are aware of. But Queens and Brooklyn are mostly a patchwork of separate grids, and even Manhattan gets messy south of 14th street. (West 4th Street and West 12th Street intersect; the financial district preserves the Colonial street layout and is as messy as anything in, say, Boston.)
- avianlyric 5y agoThe zoning thing is interesting. Although I think the idea the zones should be strictly geographic is out dated. The zones exist to increase pricing for travelling though congested parts of the network, and provide cheaper fares for people that avoid them. Historically the busiest part of London was just the centre. But the cites evolved quite a bit, and now has multiple busy spots like Canary Wharf, Shoreditch and soon Battersea. So it makes sense to put them in zone 1 from a traffic density perspective.