Free Wisdom Online: New York: Alternative Subway Maps

January 18, 2008

Alternative Subway Maps

I spent a week in NY around the New Years Eve, which gave me ample opportunities to complain about NY subway. Don't get me wrong, I wish San Francisco had something like that instead of the joke that we call "BART," but when I compare NY subway with real subway systems, like the one in Moscow, many flaws seem apparent. The main of those for me is utter lack of "user-friendliness." NY subway is with anyone but the first time user in mind. Consider, for example, that there are no maps in the stations, so you basically have to take your chances with a train, and then in the train find out that you got on an express. Not that the maps are any good. Which brings me to the main story. I mentioned my frustration with the NY subway map to a friend and he mentioned that one designer has been campaigning for an alternative.

It does seem to me that the "KICK" map since 2004. It's a big improvement, in my opinion, and brings a semblance of order to what at the base is a completely chaotic subway network.

Last night I run into an alternative map of Moscow subway on a Russian blog. The first below is a part of the official map, the second is the redesigned. Click on both images to see them full-size.

I agree with the author of the alternative diagram that his version is both easier to understand and is also more pleasing esthetically than the traditional "bike chain" version. As he says: "The diagram looks simple, clean and light. The subway appears to be what it should seem like to a person - a magic teleportation system."

So, I am glad the Moscow subway now also has a diagram worthy of being framed and put on a wall.

Filed under: USA 2007 , USA , Russia , New York

Comments

Quoth cheesebikini, on February 2, 2008 at 2:11 p.m.:

Yes the kickmap is MUCH better, I used it my whole time in NY last year... It sacrifices a LOT of accuracy in showing a station's location relative to the streets, especially for stations w/ lots of lines, but it's worth it for the other advantages.

But what's this "no maps in the NYC stations" business? There are definitely maps in the stations...

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November 12, 2007

Raspberry Caipirinhas

I've talked about passion fruit caipirinhas on the blog, as well as the various other fruits one can use. I forgot to mention in the latter post, but a focus group that we used to test caipirinhas made with lime, strawberry, passion fruit, kiwi, pine apple and persian lime concluded that Persian lime is the best fruit you can use. Persian lime is a bit larger than a "normal" lime ("key lime"), and is a less bitter. I've never seen Persian limes sold in US, the American readers are out of luck here.

That said, the Persian lime's position at the top did not last long. Having returned from Brazil in August and unable to find Persian lime (or passion fruit for that matter), I resorted to trying raspberries. And the conclusion is: nothing beats a raspberry caipirinha.

Filed under: USA 2007 , USA , New York

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October 21, 2007

New York

After California I went to New York to do a presentation at the American Sociological Association. While going from one place to another a day or two after the conference I snapped a few pictures just to prove I was there.

[slideshow] [complete album]

Filed under: USA 2007 , USA , New York

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April 18, 2005

Times Square

[slideshow] [complete album]

Filed under: New York

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April 4, 2005

9/11 Tiles

[slideshow] [complete album]

While walking around in Greenwich Village we came across a parking lot with a fence covered in tiles commemorating 9/11. The tiles seem to span a wide range of ideologies, from "Kill the Terrorist" to "Honor their Memory with Peace." The tile declaring the undying love between US and UK ("UK/US Always Together") was perhaps the strangest.

Filed under: New York

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Alternative Subway Maps

Raspberry Caipirinhas

New York

Times Square

9/11 Tiles