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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2011 14:30:40 GMT
Anyone seen these yet? Currently not available on the TFL website, but I saw these at numerous stations over the weekend. The obvious reason for the update is the DLR Stratford International extension, but they've made another notable change to the map in the process.
There are now two types of step-free access blobs on the map: the original blue one and a new white one. The blue blob now denotes "Step free access from street to train," whilst the white blob indicates "Step free access from street to platform." Certain interchanges, such as Kings Cross, West Ham and Stratford, combine a mixture of the two to a frankly rather messy effect.
These white blobs have clearly been introduced as a means of increasing the usefulness of the step-free access symbols, and on one level I'm actually sort of pleased that TFL have made an effort to make the controversial design feature informative rather than the token intrusion it seemed to be previously. However, I can't help but feel the white blobs now make the map seem even more cluttered, especially since they don't look dissimilar to the white interchange circles.
Any thoughts? I suspect that the current absence of paper/online copies of the new map might mean this thread might take a while to kick off.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2011 15:22:36 GMT
I consistently don't see the need for the wheelchair symbols on the main map; it's just clutter for the vast majority of people. What TfL should do instead is ensure wide availability of this map, which is considerably more informative for those who it concerns: www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/step-free-tube-guide-map.pdfThen we can have our standard map back
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2011 15:22:42 GMT
Call me silly, but I cannot work out the difference between the two meanings. Does "Street level to platform" mean you can get to the platform but cannot get onto the train? ;D
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Post by pib on Aug 29, 2011 15:30:18 GMT
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Post by norbitonflyer on Aug 29, 2011 15:35:42 GMT
Call me silly, but I cannot work out the difference between the two meanings. Does "Street level to platform" mean you can get to the platform but cannot get onto the train? ;D Well, you can, but there's a step. Whast the map doesn't tell you is whether there is step free interchange between lines. As already been mentioned, Diamond Geezer has covered this in considerable detail (yesterday's blog)
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Post by Dstock7080 on Aug 29, 2011 16:16:04 GMT
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Post by Deep Level on Aug 29, 2011 16:26:04 GMT
I'm sorry but what are they doing to our Tube Map? Ruining a once great piece of art.
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Antje
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Post by Antje on Aug 29, 2011 18:30:07 GMT
I also noticed the interchange style at West Ham: I didn't think that was the first time they used that...
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Post by abe on Aug 30, 2011 7:55:50 GMT
Another change is that the map no longer seems to be made of card - it's thinner now, and looks like glossy paper.
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Post by Dstock7080 on Aug 30, 2011 14:26:38 GMT
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Post by su31 on Aug 30, 2011 15:08:04 GMT
Bank DLR's lift is out of use for long-term works (and has been for a while I believe).
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Post by su31 on Aug 30, 2011 15:11:11 GMT
There's also another new poster variant of the old "London Connections" Map (Recently known as "Oyster Rail Services in London" It has had yet another makeover, this incarnation is now called "London's Rail & Tube Services" and now includes the National Rail lines in dotted line style, and they are each colour-coded to link with the franchise names.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2011 19:02:52 GMT
Oh no! Oh no! They've turned Westminster into two blobs. One step-free forward, two step-frees back indeed.
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Post by edwin on Aug 31, 2011 0:31:36 GMT
I also noticed the interchange style at West Ham: I didn't think that was the first time they used that... Pretty sure it was used for Paddington at some point, too.
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Post by abe on Aug 31, 2011 7:33:01 GMT
The Northern line trains that I caught this morning had new line diagrams and central area diagrams featuring both types of wheelchair symbol.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2011 15:58:58 GMT
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Post by chrisvandenkieboom on Aug 31, 2011 16:19:42 GMT
In my opinion, the white icons for wheelchair access from the street to the trains look ugly, or at least on my screen. (or whatever it is)
Might look better in real life though :')
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Post by Deep Level on Aug 31, 2011 17:09:23 GMT
When I click the links I'm still getting the old maps? Edit: Had to empty the cache
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2011 20:26:11 GMT
I may be being dim, but I can't understand (I can't see it on the key) the difference between the two different step free wheelchair symbols. Can anyone explain?
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Ben
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Post by Ben on Aug 31, 2011 20:41:58 GMT
Oooh, well spotted. Theres nothing on the .pdf tube map.
Well the white one shows its possible to get from the street to the platform without steps, and the blue one denotes is possible to board a train without a step.
The only conclusion to be drawn is that a lot of persons in wheelchairs are also avid train spotters; so avid, in fact, that its considered imperative to show which platforms they can access to watch trains from.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2011 21:12:38 GMT
It all looks a bit messy, doesn't it? Yikes.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2011 0:58:45 GMT
It looks better than having the intrusive blue dots to be honest
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Post by Hassaan on Sept 1, 2011 9:28:23 GMT
I better look out for one of these maps when i'm out and about later.
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Post by Chris M on Sept 1, 2011 11:12:59 GMT
It looks better than having the intrusive blue dots to be honest At first glance the white blobs are less intrusive than the blue ones, but they actually make it harder to use the map (keep it simple stupid). A single wheelchair symbol is easily interpretable (if irrelevant to most people), however with two you are left searching for a key to make sense of what they mean. Even after finding the key I had to read it two or three times to understand what the difference was (and I'm someone of above average intelligence who is familiar with the network and very good at reading maps). As many people have said what needs to be done is to make the standard map simpler, and produce and promote other variants that show step free routes and the like. People in wheel chairs are not the only people with disabilities either - I have a friend who cannot walk long distances or manage flights of more than about 10 steps, but who has no problems with escalators or the occasional one or two steps.
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Post by 21146 on Sept 1, 2011 11:42:50 GMT
Shouldn't Green Park now be shown as step-free, with three new lifts being commissioned last Monday?
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Post by 21146 on Sept 1, 2011 11:44:11 GMT
Oooh, well spotted. Theres nothing on the .pdf tube map. Well the white one shows its possible to get from the street to the platform without steps, and the blue one denotes is possible to board a train without a step. The only conclusion to be drawn is that a lot of persons in wheelchairs are also avid train spotters; so avid, in fact, that its considered imperative to show which platforms they can access to watch trains from. King's Cross Met is step-free from platform to train - as long as you wait for an S Stock.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2011 17:22:42 GMT
The new rail services map is gone. The old Oyster map is back. I liked the new one. And there were no wheelchair blobs.
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Post by 21146 on Sept 4, 2011 16:38:09 GMT
Picked up the new map at Mile End on the way home this morning.
So, at last, the truth is out! Despite for years peppering the map with blue wheelchair 'blobs', TFL has been forced to admit that around 80% of these stations are totally unusable for the independent wheelchair-user, since there is no level access from platform to train. Some of us have been pointing this out for years!
I guess the thought of the impending Olympics, and perhaps more so, the Paralympics; has forced some honesty at the top.
The spread of these blue blobs implied a system steadily becoming more accessible and inclusive; whereas it was mainly simply a quirk of fate or architectural design if a station had a ramp or a set of stairs. Thus at the east end end of the District, the LMS used ramps at its island platform stations and stairs at its side platform stations - but this had nothing to do with wheelchair-access! (Though they did have goods lifts at the side-platform stations - but all removed at the LU-owned sites now.)
A look at the new map reveals that around 90% of those stations/platforms deemed to have full level access are on the new-build DLR, JLE and LO sections; which doesn't say much for the adapting of the existing 'legacy' system!
The next boubt of truthfulness should be the removal of the new white wheelchair 'blobs' which indicate step-free access to platforms only, since these stations are clearly not suitable for most wheelchair-users.
There should perhaps be a symbol to indicate this, but certainly not using a wheelchair pictogram. I see TFL use other symbols on their step-free new lifts - a man with a stick and a mother with pushchair - though these could not be fitted into a 'blob' on the scale of the pocket map.
I think the ex-NR parts of LO retain the staff-operated yellow mobile wheelchair ramps mandatory on the rest of the rail network but LU are exempt from this requirement.
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Post by Dstock7080 on Sept 4, 2011 17:00:55 GMT
I think the ex-NR parts of LO retain the staff-operated yellow mobile wheelchair ramps mandatory on the rest of the rail network but LU are exempt from this requirement. Looks as if these are coming to LU too, have recently been held at several platforms for 'staff familiarisation' with these devices.
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Ben
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Post by Ben on Sept 4, 2011 18:11:21 GMT
Thats good. That was raised a few times in Transport comittee sessions, for a long time it seemed LUL were very resistant to it.
What about three colours for station names, say, Black for full level access, Blue for limited level access, and Red for no access? Only station with interchange, entry and exit to all platforms and trains would be black.
Its frustrating that its deemed to be necessary to show, but then again I'd say the same for zones.
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