https://t.co/dHId63DwPE (direct link to PDF) and https://twitter.com/CyclingSurgeon/status/786137839838830592
It's almost illegible and a horror to look at. It is interesting and worth a brain-twisting squint though.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
The worst map in the world
(28 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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Its seems a bit like the Edinburgh cycle innertube map found that hopeless, these tube style maps are confusing unless for the tube
Posted 8 years ago # -
Don't think worst is an adequate word.
"
Scottish Government has designated the National Walking and Cycling Network (NWCN) as a national development in the latest National Planning Framework. The development of a strategic network of well-maintained long-distance paths and trails through Scotland will enhance visitor and recreation experiences for all users, as well as supporting active travel and improving health and well-being.
"
Of course such 'initiatives' should be welcomed.
"well-maintained" is exceedingly positive, but of course questions are - "by whom" and "who's paying".
As always the real danger is that, once again, the ScotGov can say 'look what we are doing for walking and cycling'.
Realistically this is not ActiveTravel or Transport.
It's tourism - good thing.
It's recreation - hope all the network is properly connected to nearest towns/cities (not just the nearest car park).
Meanwhile the real active travel infrastructure is just the responsibility of LAs - with a bit of ScotGov help via Sustrans.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I have cycled from Barra to Butt of Lewis. There's nothing but 175 miles of beautiful, remote, winding rural roads, breathtaking views, sheep and terrible drivers (including the not too infrequent homicidal maniac in a quarry tipper lorry or local bus). Not sure this should appear on a "get out on your bike" map.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"Not sure this should appear on a "get out on your bike" map."
But it's a quiet route on a network...
Posted 8 years ago # -
That map is grotesque. Apart from anything else, it's ungrabbable.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"miles of beautiful, remote, winding rural roads, breathtaking views, sheep and terrible drivers (including the not too infrequent homicidal maniac in a quarry tipper lorry or local bus)."
Sounds like most of Scotland outwith urban areas! :-)
Oh and the map is basically an amateur rip-off of the Scotrail network map. Unfortunately it bears little relation to actual geography: just look at the sections in Fife or the isles for example!
That said, "filling in gaps in the network" seems a worthwhile aim, but chdot's qualifications are noted.
Posted 8 years ago # -
There's something beautifully ironic in a diagram of Scotland's active travel infrastructure being itself unpleasant and difficult to use.
Posted 8 years ago # -
a diagram of Scotland's active travel infrastructure being itself unpleasant and difficult to use
That's it exactly.
Posted 8 years ago # -
A perfect summary, Dougal!
Posted 8 years ago # -
A point to point schematic, like a 'tube map', is only appropriate where there's no navigation skill involved in travelling between the two points.
Obviously there's no thinking when you catch a train, it takes you from A to B and you don't have to worry about navigation. Cycle routes need to be clear, direct and well signposted.
The Edinburgh Innertube designers clearly understand this, which is why they've not mapped fictional cross-city links (ahem, quiet routes). (link to their most recent map)
Hope they have an update soon to show the new St Leonard's link.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"In my opinion the Inner Tube map is well conceived because it restricts its information to routes that you can follow more or less without having to think. It's like coming off a motorway and navigating through a town to get to another motorway. As soon as you have to think how to use a route, or to get from one to another, either the map becomes cluttered with 'recommended routes' or you put signs everywhere so that people can work it out for themselves on the day."
(http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12143&page=12#post-146502 - which was a late contribution to a thread from the departed Mr Parker)
Posted 8 years ago # -
My problem with the Inner Tube map has been that I can't navigate by it. None of the place names mean anything to me. I travel the roads and see the landmarks of station, castle, meadows, parliament etc.
It's the same travelling by bus of course. Who among you hasn't helped a tourist get to the major landmarks because bus routes don't say things as obvious as "Princes Street"?
"Yes, these stops on Frederick Street, Hanover Street, etc are all actually Princes Street stops."
I'm sure the London tube map only works because people give addresses by reference to tube stops.
Posted 8 years ago # -
None of the place names mean anything to me.
I once asked Lothian Buses why they didn't put comprehensible names on the services instead of Clovenstone and Hyvots Bank and Greendykes. I live here and I've literally no idea where Clovenstone is and only a vague idea of the other two. What hope does a tourist have?
Turned out they have to put the terminus by law.
Same goes for the names of bits of the NEPN. I'm still not sure that Pinkhill isn't some obscure in-joke.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Posted 8 years ago #
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My problem with the Inner Tube map has been that I can't navigate by it. None of the place names mean anything to me.
I think one of the early intentions of the Innertube was to assign each "route" a colour, and refer to them as the "blue line", "red line" etc. I believe there was even funding in place for signage to match? (Or maybe it was just funding to explore as an option).
It was met with quiet derision as a not-to helpful branding exercise (Well, by me and a few others at least) as things like "Roseburn path" seem far more useful for navigation and placefinding than the "green line" or something like that.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Half the map's problems come in trying to forget the existing path names and he other half from the fact they just don't link together in real life either.
It's a nice proof of concept project that I hope can be revived properly in a few years once Meadows - Canal, Canal - Roseburn and Roseburn - City - Leith are finished. Then it'll have some value.
Posted 8 years ago # -
It's a path on a pink hill, but is it the Pinkhill path?
Posted 8 years ago # -
This map might be more useful -
https://mobile.twitter.com/ScotRail/status/786165508181753856
Posted 8 years ago # -
I printed mine as my first map of Edinburgh paths found it not so good, now that know the routes think it’s a good map if you already know the route
Posted 8 years ago # -
Can't quite decide which of the Scotrail map or the SNH map is the most ugly affront to cartography.
Posted 8 years ago # -
This is a better map, which while slightly schematised/simplified is still true to the actual geography.
(Source: National Planning Framework for Scotland)
Posted 8 years ago # -
Some recent Scotrail maps are starting to get really strange:
Posted 8 years ago # -
" I'm sure the London tube map only works because people give addresses by reference to tube stops."
To navigate your way round London you universally find out where the nearest tube station or overground rail station is. You then do your A to B thing using the tube and rail map which is superbly designed for its job. On arrival, for final navigation to your destination, back in the day, you get out your A to Z which everyone carried with them. Nowadays I'm sure there are more online apps for this bit but I still use the old-fashioned way if I need it.
The problem with the Edinburgh Innertube map is that you just don't navigate round Edinburgh like that especially on a bike. The names on the map are pretty meaningless and give you no idea if you're near where you want to be. You also need another map to get to your destination. Then there's the missing bits between "lines". How do you get from one line to the other? I respect any effort to help Edinburgh cycling, but honestly, there's no point in taking the Innertube map any further.
The best paper tool, is the Spokes map, excellent detail, and cheap. It's all you need.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Rail maps seem always to be a little weird as nobody can decide whether they should be geographical, schematic, include or exclude freight lines, how many lines actually exist on a given stretch, what stations are important enough.
Spotting a good map is easy. Actually drawing one is bloody hard.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I still take a pocket A-Z to London when I go, find it much more useful and responsive than a phone app.
Posted 8 years ago # -
oddly, the bike station's not much lamented inner tube map website now connects to Fopp ? https://www.fopp.com
Posted 3 years ago # -
oddly, the bike station's not much lamented inner tube map website now connects to Fopp ? https://www.fopp.com
A website that itself doesn't seem to have been updated much in the last couple of years. One of the "latest reviews" is for a J Mascis album which was released in 2018. Although I completely missed that at the time, so this was at least useful to me!
Posted 3 years ago #
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