Kommentare zu: Wayfinding observations: Landmarks and cardinal directions

Von: Tom

Tom — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:24:52 +0000

Well, i know for a fact that London, as i live here, has a very good transport system. The use of “eastern” “western” “northern” and “southern” words to identify the general direction you wish to go. Also, most major tube stations have direction boards which take you to road names, or points of interest, via different exits.
The use of the free mini tube maps are a great help too, as they allow you to see roughly where you are, in relation to the Thames, not accurate of course, but enough so to give you a general idea.

Von: Oyvind Solstad

Oyvind Solstad — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:50:44 +0000

This is so true – good observation.

Here in Oslo, Norway it’s very confusing as there are stops on the lines heading west with the Norwegian word for east, (“øst” – and the stop Østerås) and with the word for west on the lines heading east (“vest” and the stop Vestl). So tourists trying to figure stuff out may be tricked going the wrong way.

Von: mekkablue

mekkablue — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:14:44 +0000

In defense of the wayfinding system presented here (even though I also would have done it differently):

THis is a classic case of selective perception. It is not true that ‘none of these information is given to me’. People usually refer to a subway map like this one: . These maps can be found virtually everywhere in the subway system. The city center, other places of interest, even the river, are on it. As a result, I usually know beforehand to which station I want to go, even as a tourist. I believe most people do. And on such a subway map, it’s very easy to find out in which direction you have to go.

This leads me to two conclusions: First, there is no need to find the subway lines on a topographic map. Plus, putting the directions on the boards usually is the only thing you need by the time you get to those boards.

So, why should all the information a tourist possibly could need be cramped into those overhead signs?

Von: Norbert Preining

Norbert Preining — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:03:55 +0000

Hi Ralf!
I have to disagree in some points: The underground is made not for tourists, it is made for the inhabitants of the city, and should help them foremost, while at the same time help tourists.
I myself being from Vienna (but living abroad) would have problems if at the underground station Stephansplatz there would be something else written but “Kärtnerstraße” and “Graben”, because this is what 90% of the passengers are checking for.
I agree with the cognitive map, I found myself recently in Tokyo subway (the stations there are way bigger than Vienna’s and like in Vienna the most useful thing is, what you seem to have missed: The “Umgebungsplan” (in Vienna), the map of the sorrounding. There the underground layout, plus the exits, plus the neighborhoods are shown, which makes it easy to find your way in and out.
Watch out for them on your next trip, they are the real safers.

One more thing: Putting NW or SE onto the map would be a complete waste. How many people have an imagination about cardinal directions and can think in them? Not many. OTOH, I agree that putting something like “City Center” on the direction would help, and AFAIR the newly made metro stops in Vienna give these directions (check out the new U2 stops and the U3 stops).

Still, very interesting to read.

Thanks a lot

Von: Perth

Perth — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:16:59 +0000

Great article Ralf, I always seem to get lost in London even though I have been there hundreds of times. For a tourist I can imagine this would be hell especially as their underground signage doesn’t accommodate large landmarks either.

Von: Name (required)

Name (required) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:39:47 +0000

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Von: ralfherrmann

ralfherrmann — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:25:48 +0000

@Bill: I agree that people navigate differently, but I also think it comes down to very few general principles. And a good wayfinding system should give access to all of them, instead of just one. Don’t you think?

Von: Bill

Bill — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:34:38 +0000

Interesting article but it sounds like you would have better served if you carried a compass rather than asking the city in question to add 10s of thousands of dollars, if not more, worth of improvements to it’s transit system. I am not trying to be a smart ass but everyone navigates differently and while cardinal directionals may have helped you it may have helped the next guy.

Von: ralfherrmann

ralfherrmann — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:10:34 +0000

And according to this article:
http://adactio.com/journal/1608/
the Thames, London’s most important landmark, has been removed from the tube map.

Von: ralfherrmann

ralfherrmann — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 07:08:41 +0000

I didn’t even noticed there was a subway system in San Francisco when I was there. I was busy enough to figure out the bus system.
See Erik Spiekermann’s observation: http://spiekermann.com/en/san-francisco-walks-1/