Thames Clippers on the Tube Map

They're already full, the plan is to only double by 2030, and they want to put it on the map? They'd double in two years in that case, if they were allowed to be as crammed as tube lines.

Personally I think the Tube Map is too busy as it is. But they could make the boat icon bigger so as to be actually noticeable. Plus there are multiple River Bus routes providing 10-20 min frequencies* to get anywhere on the River Bus network, so showing individual routes is not critical.

*Providing the River Bus you want is not full.

Thames Clippers operates the River Buses on a concession from the Port of London Authority, but does so with minimal (or none now) subsidy.

Whilst Thames Clippers has an app that shows the routes, current status, next River Buses, methinks they should print a River Bus map, like the Tube Map, for handy reference.

There is more info on the River Bus network at www.londonreconnections.com/2017/londons-first-highway-part-2-surprising-success-river-buses/.

Christ, what's next - buses on the Tube Map?? Surely there's a limit to how much it can be polluted before becoming useless.

Well the maps already exist, although I've only seen them in print at piers:
content.tfl.gov.uk/river-services-map.pdf

If space can be found to include them practically then I'd be in favour of adding the river bus services only, not the tour services.

Why?
His mission was to transform confusion into clarity to aid the travelling public. If adding river services to his iconic map can be done whilst respecting his principles; what's the problem?

Beck's map was right for the time, we should have a map that's right for now.

You're perfectly entitled to your opinion, I just disagree with it!

Thames Clippers aren't responsible for the River Services map, which shows services operated by several independent and, in some cases, competing private operators. It's similar to the buses work - TfL coordinate, license and franchise private operators. They also do (or at least did) subsidise some services.
As I understand it, the river bus services are operated under a license from TfL which specifies a baseline set of services, some of which are/were subsidised (not just by TfL). These are supplemented on a commercial basis and from sponsorhsip.

TfL own the Woolwich ferry infrastructure and boats but the operation and maintenance is the responsibility of franchisee Briggs Marine. This is basically the same as the DLR's operational structure.

The tourist services are commercial operations, but require licenses from TFL to use the piers they manage - this is partly for safety standard regulation but also capacity management at the busier piers. Whether this is in conjunction with the Port of London or additional to their work I don't know.

All boats passing through Richmond and Teddington locks have to pay a fee to the operators (PLA at Richmond, Environment Agency at Teddington) - like a toll bridge on the road.

Publicity is a joint effort - TfL do some, including producing maps such as the one above, but each operator also does their own.

The purists certainly won’t like it, but we do have to accept that things do evolve over time. Years ago, it was almost impossible to find a map of BR services within London at underground stations, such was the disjointed thinking at the time. With Oyster abd Contactless, people freely move between different modes of transport and this has to be reflected in maps etc.

London was a very different place when Harry Beck designed his first map.

Personally, I use a paper map, as it actually works when underground. Most apps require an internet connection, but if there was a app that had layers, pre downloaded to your phone, that did not take up loads of space, then it would work I think.

The "Tube" Map (more like TfL map now) is effectively that, a TfL asset. Which regardless of simplicity and elegance must remain functional in order to appeal to those who wish to travel around the capital.

Nevertheless, the purpose of the "Beck" map has morphed over the decades from being about a clearer diagram of lines to the diagram of London services, and no, you probably couldn't squeeze the 500 or so bus routes that we have if TfL tried.

I don't think that there is any benefit these days to a tube lines only map. Certainly the DLR and Overground are integral parts of many journeys that also include the tube. For example today I travelled from Mudchute to Marylebone and back - there was no practical difference between the DLR and LU parts of my journeys.

I think post-oyster, all modes are seen as pretty much all of a muchness for intra-London travel (Which is a good thing IMO). Could you do it by frequency of use for journeys within London? (although what would happen if on of the tube lines was in danger of being voted off...)

in view of the subject matter, 4bph perhaps?

That would end up being the London Connections map wouldn't it? (ie with all the southern NR stuff on it).

Maybe the answer is to do a north/south split with zone one and only key portals beyond - after all, even if you are trying to go from say Morden to Osterly, you are likely to know one end or the other, and need the detail either in the squiggly bits where you change, or at the far end.

presumably you would at least either know that your lodgings are Mrs Terrible's boarding house (nearest station is Brockley South which goes to London Bridge) or that you are off to the Dog and Hammer (nearest tube station [ ], on the [line]). What you need is the bit in the middle - so if you knew how you were going in, but not how you were going out, you'd take the Z1+the north, but if you knew where you were going to, but not how to get there, you'd take Z1+South

(and possibly some better lodgings...)