tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18909424.post2352583430014178294..comments2024-03-24T23:01:11.766+11:00Comments on Melbourne on Transit: Peter Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13413976934040474125noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18909424.post-14645855750286764502011-06-27T06:52:18.929+10:002011-06-27T06:52:18.929+10:00One map can't do everything. A city-wide, road...One map can't do everything. A city-wide, road-based map showing rail and buses/trams is the need at one end (I am currently seeking one to find a suitable hotel location which will link into public transport to a wide range of Melboune locations to facilitate a holiday visiting relatives). I thought this once existed. London has abolished its single map, but has at least replaced it with about three regional maps, which is just about as good. At the other end is the need for very good local area maps, which you indeed possess.<br />My fear is that the modern computer-based world is relying too much on airline methods. Operators imagine our only wish is to travel from A to B, and that's all they tell us about; sometimes it is very difficult indeed to find earlier and later service times.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18909424.post-32905193657813055602010-09-20T18:31:25.302+10:002010-09-20T18:31:25.302+10:00Local area maps are available, showing all of this...Local area maps are available, showing all of this information:<br /><br />http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/maps-stations-stops/local-area-travel-information/<br /><br />However, it is not one big Melbourne map.<br /><br /><br />In terms of clarity, if Zurich can provide a big one, why can't we?<br /><br />http://a.parsons.edu/~limam240/visualcomplexity/images/93_big03.jpgJarksnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18909424.post-54580743762940638162010-09-20T17:18:16.067+10:002010-09-20T17:18:16.067+10:00The topology needs to be simpler.
Do things in a ...The topology needs to be simpler.<br /><br />Do things in a cross pattern, no squiggles.Riccardonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18909424.post-32440929387352319512010-09-18T23:39:18.093+10:002010-09-18T23:39:18.093+10:00@Peter: "I don't think you can expect one...@Peter: "I don't think you can expect one map to do everything, and clarity suffers if you try to. Better to have a mix of maps"<br /><br />I think that may be true. As long as you show services in a consistent manner, such as colour-coding a particular bus route the same way.Brent Palmerhttp://transitmapsetc.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18909424.post-28187560671400403412010-09-18T21:49:38.642+10:002010-09-18T21:49:38.642+10:00Jarrett - Route 401 is the service you're thin...Jarrett - Route 401 is the service you're thinking of - every 3 min or so between North Melbourne station and Melbourne Uni. It's Monday - Friday only. It could easily be added to the rail schematic map. <br /><br />You make a good point regarding artificial seperation between various types of high-service bus routes we have in Melbourne for reasons that don't make much sense to the passenger. <br /><br />Those that predate SmartBuses have almost tram-level service frequency and span, and in some cases (Footscray) are former tram routes and/or ex-Met services. Some are even run by the same parent company that runs some of our SmartBus routes. They are easily recognised by being the only bus routes with service much after 9pm Sundays. <br /><br />SmartBuses are the subject of a seperate government program and have tended to be promoted seperately with distinctive livery and signage. Their main distinction over the better ex-Met services is that they feature 100% low-floor running (although some ex-Met buses do as well). <br /><br />Those routes on my rail map presented are an even smaller subset of the SmartBus routes - only the 3 orbitals that join stations are shown. <br /><br />This leads us to the question of how much clutter is too much? <br /><br />And if you want to avoid clutter yet still provide detail you can do so by having seperate maps for different purposes (eg an on-train map could be a schematic showing the whole network, while stations could have several local and regional maps of various scales, including of course a frequent service map).Peter Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13413976934040474125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18909424.post-67316365315412846272010-09-18T21:12:51.384+10:002010-09-18T21:12:51.384+10:00I see no reason why you'd show SmartBuses and ...I see no reason why you'd show SmartBuses and not all high-frequency buses. Isn't there a very frequent east-west line between Melbourne Uni and one of the northwestern rail stations? (Forgive my vagueness. If Metlink weren't so secretive about it I'd understand this important link by now.)Jarretthttp://www.humantransit.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18909424.post-60667667789766624002010-09-17T20:30:34.548+10:002010-09-17T20:30:34.548+10:00Steamtostay - an interesting idea. But I suspect ...Steamtostay - an interesting idea. But I suspect it would add too much clutter - major interchanges might have 10 or 15 bus routes for example. <br /><br />I don't think you can expect one map to do everything, and clarity suffers if you try to. <br /><br />Better to have a mix of maps, including schematic 'big picture' network maps, local area maps, pedestrian scale maps and interchange maps.Peter Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13413976934040474125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18909424.post-73497964775397824622010-09-17T17:55:37.762+10:002010-09-17T17:55:37.762+10:00Perhaps as well as showing the orbital Smartbus ro...Perhaps as well as showing the orbital Smartbus routes, we could also replace the green tram and orange bus symbols with coloured text indicating the route; bold for services that meet minimum standards, with that defined in the legend, and regular font for the remainder?Steamtostayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10977064680702118964noreply@blogger.com