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findus
Fire-eater
Joined: Feb 03, 2004
Posts: 2859
Status: Offline
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  Posted:
Nov 03, 2009 - 07:34 PM |
 
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| Post subject: Street maps on walls of metro stations |
OK, you're putting your card into/onto the turnstile to leave the metro and there's usually a map straight ahead of you on the wall.
Nice idea. Now, why would they go and design these maps at right-angles to north-south when it's not necessary or particularly helpful in all but a few situations, and WHY THE FCUK would they design a map that is rotated 180'???!!! I present Nanjing Lu East Station.
The only thing I can think of is the usual Chinese retardation in situations requiring empathy. Is there some other reason so important that overrides normal maps where north is presented as 'up' or as close to 'up' as logical?? |
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nuthatch
Talker
Joined: Mar 23, 2007
Posts: 104
Status: Offline
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Nov 03, 2009 - 08:24 PM |
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pantera624
Lurker
Joined: Sep 08, 2009
Posts: 25
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Nov 03, 2009 - 08:34 PM |
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T.I.C.
this is china |
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Seen
Reacher
Joined: Jan 14, 2009
Posts: 330
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Nov 03, 2009 - 08:49 PM |
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findus, I feel you. Once my dad took the metro to Hengshan rd station, looked at the map, and went the wrong direction. He then went back to the metro station and took a picture of the map which has North pointing downwards.
The only other time I've seen a map like that was in NZ - an upside down map of the world with the words "NZ at the top" or something like that printed across it in a souvenir shop which was rather amusing. |
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findus
Fire-eater
Joined: Feb 03, 2004
Posts: 2859
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Nov 03, 2009 - 08:56 PM |
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| nuthatch wrote: |
| Oh dear, had a bad day? |
Not at all  I was at that station for the first time in years and it actually gave me a good 'WHAT...THE...****...' laugh.
Yes, TIC, but I'm lookin for something more than that here... there must have been some thought process that went into the design of that map (and it seems the Hengshan Lu map). |
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Neville_Bartos
Reacher
Joined: July 22, 2009
Posts: 318
Location: Behind you
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Nov 03, 2009 - 09:06 PM |
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That word keeps appearing so often in threads... 'logic'. A word that is lacking in massive quantities here. |
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gooseinatree
Newbie
Joined: Nov 05, 2008
Posts: 3
Status: Offline
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Nov 03, 2009 - 09:16 PM |
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I totally understand your frustration - its the same at other stations too. When I first came to Shanghai I spent hours emerging from the wrong metro exit and heading in completely the wrong direction!!!! |
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Shangstar
Low Seater
Joined: Feb 07, 2008
Posts: 3398
Location: Spitland
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Nov 03, 2009 - 09:25 PM |
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many stations do have posters telling you which exits lead to what roads (although these aren't always accurate either). |
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Chrisse
SuperStar
Joined: Feb 25, 2009
Posts: 1323
Status: Offline
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Nov 03, 2009 - 09:28 PM |
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I haven't had this problem as I usually know to what street or where I want to go. I check the map for which exit I should take and then look for the signs to that exit, they are accurate. |
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zillahh
Raver
Joined: Jan 01, 2008
Posts: 375
Status: Offline
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Nov 03, 2009 - 09:33 PM |
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To add to the rant . . . how about a station sign that can be legably read while a train is pulling into the stop.
It seems to me that at all viewing angles available, seated or standing, plus train speed make it very difficult to read the station sign.
I've never been in a city that has a major metro system that is so hard to navigate.
Yeah, I could take the ear phones off and listen or pay rapt attention to each station as the train arrives at each destination, but . . . it kind of defeats the whole purpose of the Ipod. |
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Shangstar
Low Seater
Joined: Feb 07, 2008
Posts: 3398
Location: Spitland
Status: Offline
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Nov 03, 2009 - 09:36 PM |
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i agree that its difficult to read station signs whilst on board. For a new system, there's no excuse. You can also talk about escalator design - they knew how many people would be using it. At least in London, yeah the signs and infrastructure are rubbish, but we had the excuse that they were designed for a different era. |
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The Vatican is against surrogate mothers. Good thing they didn't have that rule when Jesus was born... |
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Bluebag
SuperStar
Joined: Sep 11, 2003
Posts: 1326
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Nov 03, 2009 - 09:42 PM |
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You DO realise that Chinese compasses traditionally have the marked end of the pointer to the south, right?
Welcome to mirror world.
However everyone else in the world does it is WRONG, of course... |
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Chris_S_UK
Reacher
Joined: June 02, 2009
Posts: 207
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Nov 03, 2009 - 10:09 PM |
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I noticed they're "trying" to implement the left/right rule here as well, with the lines on the escalators. All falls to pieces though when the first person (not always chinese!) just stands on the left and blocks everyone who wants to walk up the escalator. Try that in London and see what happens!
As for the maps, i've had issues in the past, but I put that down to my own mild stupidity. |
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victorinchina
Board Royalty
Joined: Jan 17, 2009
Posts: 7821
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Nov 03, 2009 - 10:30 PM |
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| findus wrote: |
| Yes, TIC, but I'm lookin for something more than that here... there must have been some thought process that went into the design of that map |
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prego2000
Reacher
Joined: Feb 27, 2008
Posts: 291
Status: Offline
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Nov 03, 2009 - 10:52 PM |
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| Shangstar wrote: |
| i agree that its difficult to read station signs whilst on board. For a new system, there's no excuse. You can also talk about escalator design - they knew how many people would be using it. At least in London, yeah the signs and infrastructure are rubbish, but we had the excuse that they were designed for a different era. |
Yes, frequently about a third the capacity of what should have been put in. And they're different at every station it seems. Most of the time I say screw this massive insane queuing at the bottom of the escalator and hop up the stairs in ten seconds. But sometimes there aren't any stairs. And sometimes there is no down escalator at all, so the people coming down to the platform are blocking my escape. (Not that that would stop some locals from charging up the steps through the mobs of descending peeps. I'm not that much of an a-hole.) |
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dr3x320
LoopKicker
Joined: Nov 21, 2006
Posts: 979
Location: Boston/NYC/Zhang Hai/Goteborg
Status: Online!
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Nov 03, 2009 - 11:18 PM |
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Apparently you didn't realize that China has 5,000 years of history and thats how they roll here. Alot of things don't make sense, or are misunderstood.
China wouldn't have it any other way, or take a smoking taxi/crowded bus/overpriced car/accident prone 2 wheel deathtrap to work.
And of course, Welcome to China. |
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BenJ
Reacher
Joined: July 08, 2009
Posts: 237
Location: France, Lyon - PRC, Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Nov 03, 2009 - 11:36 PM |
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Isn't it the same system in Japan ? |
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chingiskhan
Wonder Wit
Joined: Apr 24, 2007
Posts: 3676
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Nov 03, 2009 - 11:44 PM |
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I've never really had a problem with the metro maps. I just look at the map work out which street I want to go to and take the nearest exit so it really isn't important which way north is. So for example, yesterday I was at Jing An station, wanted to get to Hua Shan road, so took the nearest exit to Hua Shan according to the map. |
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Ykai
Barker
Joined: Sep 14, 2009
Posts: 198
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Nov 04, 2009 - 01:42 AM |
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| chingiskhan wrote: |
| I've never really had a problem with the metro maps. I just look at the map work out which street I want to go to and take the nearest exit so it really isn't important which way north is. So for example, yesterday I was at Jing An station, wanted to get to Hua Shan road, so took the nearest exit to Hua Shan according to the map. |
I love how you illustrate that with an example Thanks, really cleared things up for me!
The north pointing south thing... I noticed it too, not long ago. Then I walked to the bookstore insid Jing'an station and asked for the China Daily, but they only had a few copies of last week's paper, and would be getting more next week. Then I walked out and found that there was no more bread in the bakery, only sushi. Then I walked home and was unable to cross a single road, with green lights, without cars trying to run me over. Ah, TIC. |
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EssPea
Reacher
Joined: Oct 11, 2008
Posts: 215
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Nov 04, 2009 - 01:53 AM |
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The maps are angled to match what the ground above you looks like. If you are facing south to look at the map, south will be up. If you are facing North to look at the map, north will be up. Same goes for slightly rotated maps. Not only does this help you orient yourself with the ground above you while underground, it should make taking the right exit easier. |
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Medea
PopStar
Joined: May 05, 2008
Posts: 1158
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
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| Posted:
Nov 04, 2009 - 03:05 AM |
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| Chris_S_UK wrote: |
I noticed they're "trying" to implement the left/right rule here as well, with the lines on the escalators. All falls to pieces though when the first person (not always chinese!) just stands on the left and blocks everyone who wants to walk up the escalator. Try that in London and see what happens!
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Oh, and don't forget the 现下后上 signs on the platform .... |
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"Disappointment is anger for wimps" - House talking to Wilson |
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miss_t
Reacher
Joined: July 20, 2009
Posts: 297
Location: Shanghai Via Essex
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Nov 04, 2009 - 09:44 AM |
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| zillahh wrote: |
To add to the rant . . . how about a station sign that can be legably read while a train is pulling into the stop.
It seems to me that at all viewing angles available, seated or standing, plus train speed make it very difficult to read the station sign.
I've never been in a city that has a major metro system that is so hard to navigate.
Yeah, I could take the ear phones off and listen or pay rapt attention to each station as the train arrives at each destination, but . . . it kind of defeats the whole purpose of the Ipod. |
It seems to me that at all viewing angles available, seated or standing, plus train speed make it very difficult to read the station sign.
[\quote]
Lol I think this on a daily basis!! I too sit there with my earphones in desperately not trying to belt out a Beyonce number and it does get annoying having to stop and listen for the announcements as you simply can't see where you are sometimes! Especially if you've been lucky enough to bag a seat in rush hour, all you can see is Chinese midriffs.
I don't understand how the metro is modern so they must have consulted other countries with an effective subway and taken ideas from there? I still think they should print the tube station on the side wall of the station like in London so if you have you back to the platform when the train stops you can still see where you are without having to pull a muscle.
And yes I could pay more attention, but after years of commuting on the tube in London (and living atvtge end of the line in some cases) I've naturally built up a routine where the music goes on, the eyes go down and you get lost in your own thoughts until you suddenly realise you've no idea where you are! |
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Andreas
Board Legend
Joined: Feb 27, 2004
Posts: 10156
Location: s/v Waratah
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| Posted:
Nov 04, 2009 - 10:54 AM |
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| EssPea wrote: |
| The maps are angled to match what the ground above you looks like. If you are facing south to look at the map, south will be up. If you are facing North to look at the map, north will be up. Same goes for slightly rotated maps. Not only does this help you orient yourself with the ground above you while underground, it should make taking the right exit easier. |
And that sounds like a pretty good explanation to me. Did not think of that. |
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bbc74
Raver
Joined: May 08, 2009
Posts: 375
Location: Pu-Jersey Shanghai
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Nov 04, 2009 - 12:22 PM |
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I pointed that out to a friend of mine a while back when he was complaining about how north should always point up. I am one of those people who turns a map in a car when reading directions though. Maybe shouldn't feel too superior.... |
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Andreas
Board Legend
Joined: Feb 27, 2004
Posts: 10156
Location: s/v Waratah
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Nov 04, 2009 - 12:31 PM |
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Yeah, it's the same with a GPS or chart plotter screen. Some people prefer 'North up', other prefer 'course up'. |
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Time is the very substance of life; its golden minutes are the only stones we have with which to build. That spiritual building, not made with hands. |
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