4 ms·

New Yorkers say this stuff all the time to defend their unique geographical subway map, ignoring that the map is still so far zoomed out and inaccurate that it

by ant6n 4y ago

New Yorkers say this stuff all the time to defend their unique geographical subway map, ignoring that the map is still so far zoomed out and inaccurate that it doesn’t help a tourist at all with any understanding that is relevant to walking distances. At the same time, the nyc subway map is incredibly confusing and idiosyncratic, tourists will keep getting confused and lost thanks to it while trying to navigate the actual subway system the map is primarily supposed to explain. How about making the map simpler, removing essentially useless geographical information but making sure ppl don’t get lost on the way to their destination stop.

Mordisquitos 4y ago
To be fair, the NYC subway can be extra confusing for tourists from cities with more "predictable" metro systems. For example, in the Madrid and Barcelona Metros, all trains departing from each given platform are guaranteed to belong to the same line and will serve the same stations from A to B—no need to think at all. That's also usually the case in the London Underground, though some lines may split and there are some exchange stations where you need to pay attention as to what line the train arriving at the platform belongs to. Now compare that to the NYC Subway, with its routes, lines, express services, local services, etc. Anyone used to the simplicity of Madrid or Barcelona style systems is bound to find it confusing. Not that I have anything against the idea though, it's just a different philosophy and it is connected somewhat to the NYC Subway's rare 24/7 service. I have fun memories of when I went to New York with my parents when I was 18, and they were simply unable to understand the Subway in depth and relied on me to make sense of it.
- ant6n 4y ago
  A hundred years ago most subway maps were more geographic - until Londons tube map came along. Most cities over time switched to a more easy to understand diagrammatic map. In New York, the resistance to that change was huge - it was tried in the 70s with the vignelli map, and failed. If u remove all the unnecessary geography, u can have more affordances to show night time service and or local and express patterns … look at the weekender, which is much more understandable to ppl from other places.

by ant6n 4y ago

Mordisquitos 4y ago

To be fair, the NYC subway can be extra confusing for tourists from cities with more "predictable" metro systems. For example, in the Madrid and Barcelona Metros, all trains departing from each given platform are guaranteed to belong to the same line and will serve the same stations from A to B—no need to think at all. That's also usually the case in the London Underground, though some lines may split and there are some exchange stations where you need to pay attention as to what line the train arriving at the platform belongs to. Now compare that to the NYC Subway, with its routes, lines, express services, local services, etc. Anyone used to the simplicity of Madrid or Barcelona style systems is bound to find it confusing. Not that I have anything against the idea though, it's just a different philosophy and it is connected somewhat to the NYC Subway's rare 24/7 service. I have fun memories of when I went to New York with my parents when I was 18, and they were simply unable to understand the Subway in depth and relied on me to make sense of it.

ant6n 4y ago
A hundred years ago most subway maps were more geographic - until Londons tube map came along. Most cities over time switched to a more easy to understand diagrammatic map. In New York, the resistance to that change was huge - it was tried in the 70s with the vignelli map, and failed. If u remove all the unnecessary geography, u can have more affordances to show night time service and or local and express patterns … look at the weekender, which is much more understandable to ppl from other places.