Transit Maps, What Do We Know About It?

Transit map (TM) is one of the essential things needed by public transit users to plan their journey. TM is very handy in either pre-journey, on the wayside, during journey (inside the bus or train) or post-journey. Some information that you can obtain from TM are:

• Your current location (Usually they put sign "You Are Here" on the map)
• Bus/Train route 
• Location of nearest bus stops/train station/taxi stand.
• Pedestrian route to access nearest transit stations.

Some TMs even show additional information like fares, transit frequency,and park & ride location. Generally, TM exists in form of static signage and printed which you can found it at most transit stops, inside the train/bus and mobile applications/websites.

In this article, we will share with you the review on all types of TM that can be seen around Klang Valley. A simple comparison between them also will be showed. Lets move on to first type of TM:

1. U-Shaped Map.

This map is also referred to as "Thermometer map"  since it has a resemblance with thermometer in terms of shape. From origin stop, the route inside the map travels in a U-shaped until the destination, same place as the origin. It is the simplest type of map available in which one map suits for one bus route only. The more route served at the station, the more U-shaped map need to be installed. Basically it is common with bus routes and you can find it at most bus stops along the served route, and also the operator's website.

What information it shows to us?
Origin, stops along the route and destination.

 

Example of U-Shaped bus route on website [Source : Here]

 U-Shaped Bus Route At Station

 

2. Schematic Map.

Like U-shaped map, schematic map also shows the same information, but with different means. Schematic map can fit multiple routes into one space, thus only single map is needed in every transit station. The advantage of schematic map over U-shaped map is it is geographical-oriented, which makes users convenient in determining their current location and destination. Schematic map also shows a number of intersection points between two or more routes / lines

Example of schematic map of rail network in Klang Valley

3. Actual map.

Geographical map is more accurate in terms of showing you the location of transit stations. This is because geographical map contains elements that can be treated as natural landmarks such as hills, rivers, lake, trees and forests. In addition, this type of map also shows real image of buildings. Google Map is known for providing the transit route on the actual map.

 Actual Map on Google Map

You can see the "You Are Here" sign on this map at Rail Station

What information it shows to us?
Origin, stops along the route, destination, natural landmarks, physical buildings, and bus stops/train station signs along the route.

Future Map Type

Currently researchers from around the world are working to improve the quality of transit map so that it is more understandable by passengers / customers. One of the map type is Frequent Route Map (FRM). It uses either schematic or actual map type but it shows the transit frequency.

Example Of FRM in Cincinnati, US [Source: Here]

Know the type of the map and do not hesitate to ask for assistance from transit staffs around should you got the problem to understand the map.

Happy Traveling!!