Map or Just a Mess?

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority map of New York City, as shown in Figure 1, is one of the most iconic transportation maps in the world, in my very biased opinion. The map covers vast networks in a clear and easy way. It is designed with clear line representations, station markers, and color-coding for different subway lines. In addition, different routes are labeled with different letters and numbers causing little confusion when getting from point A to B. The MTA has even brought upon a societal culture amongst New Yorkers. You take the 6 train? You must be from the Bronx. You take the N train? What part of Astoria are you from? Although it is pretty clear, I do have a few critiques after learning about what important things we should consider when making transit maps. More so, what cities seem to be making better maps and how NYC can improve theirs.

Figure 1: MTA Map

To start, when looking at the map while taking the train, it can look overwhelming with all the overlapping lines. In print, especially in smaller fonts, it can be difficult to read certain details that can be very important. You can miss or even mistake stops from another train. Another issue is the lack of street detail. In a big city, transit routes may not provide enough detail about street-level geography, making it less useful for those needing precise street information. Alongside this, there are many exits to take from one specific train station. While it might clog up more room on the map, it’s important to clarify the different exits. Many people, including myself, often get off at the right stop but wrong exit. One big issue even New Yorkers face that can’t really be avoided is limited information it can provide on service changes. The MTA service changes by the minute! One second your train is going on its normal schedule the next someone pulls the emergency brake. The system is unpredictable! But there is always some fun in that in my opinion, unless you have a strict professor who takes attendance on the dot. 
While I love how the MTA map is geographical, it is not the most accurate geographical map. The London Underground map, as shown in Figure 2, uses a non-geographic, schematic layout that makes it easy for users to navigate the extensive network of tube lines. Another thing I admire is how interchange stations, where multiple lines intersect, are marked with large circles or ovals. These interchange points are crucial for passengers transferring between different Tube lines. The MTA just represents that with crowded lining which can just be overwhelming rather than helpful. The River Thames is a prominent feature on the map, providing a visual reference point for users to understand the orientation of stations in relation to the river, which seems relevant due to the overall lack of geographical information. One thing most New Yorkers could use that the Londoners got right is the inclusion of bathroom symbols on their map. In New York, we never rely on the train station to have a bathroom. That seems like a luxury. 

Figure 2: The London Underground Map

When making my Abu Dhabi Transit map, I had a really hard time figuring out what direction I wanted to go in. Stick to my amazing almost perfect MTA map, or go European? It was a very hard decision to make but I think I went for what the people wanted which is much more simple and straightforward. Especially with less things to cover in Abu Dhabi, I think the map I ended with is much easier to read and understand. It highlights the important routes and doesn’t need too many extra components. I think I have a lot more to learn. My map is definitely not the best I could’ve done but I think it’s due to my lack of familiarity with Adobe Illustrator. Hopefully the more I practice, the more abilities I attain!