Apart from one thing.
A new version of the iconic London Underground map has been redesigned by a university lecturer, who said it is better ‘in every way’.
Maxwell Roberts, who has lectured in psychology at the University of Essex for 30 years, created his own version of Harry Beck’s 1933 Tube map in 2013.
Mr Beck’s map, which is used by Transport for London (TfL), uses straight lines to represent the various different Tube lines.
But Dr Roberts, from Walton-on-the-Naze, opted for a different approach – using circles instead.
There was a time when I used the Underground extensively.
Discussing the 90-year-old Tube map which is still in use in an updated form, he wrote on LinkedIn saying: ‘The current state of the official London Underground map is lamentable for all sorts of reasons.
‘It has poor balance, simplicity, coherence and topographical accuracy. It fails by any criterion of effectiveness you can imagine and has been in a neglected state of decline for years.
It is simple to use, follows a logical layout and, importantly, it works. Newer isn’t always better. This one is an example. Going by the comments under the piece, no one is convinced by Mr Roberts’ ideas.
Ah, but Maxwell Roberts’ map will be officially adopted by TFL and the Labour Government will move the Tube Stations and lines to match the Utopian ideal. Probably renaming the stations in more politically acceptable ways.
The current Labour Government don’t like anything that is too organic and not designed ‘properly’.
From a few years back. Eerily prophetic except for the name …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbAvjjYBix0
It’s different and it got him the anticipated publicity – job done. Practicality or usefulness? Nah . . .
However, if he’d created a map of escape routes from Londonistan it would be of real value.
Wouldn’t it be nice if the government and various lesser authorities could resist the temptation to impose their opinions of what is best for everyone and just let nature take its course. If the new tube map really is superior then publish it and make it available on people’s phones. If it really is better it will quickly become popular and the old map will eventually fade from use. If it has endured for ninety years though, I suspect that it has something.
He has a rather high opinion of his map and I guess, therefore, of himself. It looks rather confusing to me. But to belittle something that has stood the test of time makes him seem immature.
But the new map does not show the depth of the real track.
So it is (lots of pseudo social science jargon) rubbish.
Does it show which stations at which it is definitely inadvisable to get off at?
Is Watford line on a three page fold out? Just for realism.