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Interface Hall of Shame Entry 03: Uncomparable Maps

Maps of individual bus routes do not allow passenger to choose optimal bus line

Maps of individual bus routes have no context to allow comparison to adjacent routes. The passenger cannot determine which line to ride based on maps of individual lines.
2001 Mar. 20
Taken from VTA website
Reasons for award:
  1. Potential passengers cannot determine which bus route is closest to them.
    Choose a location in northern Santa Clara county.
    What bus routes would you suspect are close to your position ?
    Assume that routes 824 and 826 are closer to your location than are other routes.
    Which of these bus routes, 824 or 826 is closer to your position ?
    Note on the VTA site, you cannot even compare two routes on the same web page, but need to find one route, find the map for that route, then BACK, BACK ... find another route, then find the map for that route. You never can get a side by side or even a back and forth comparison.
    Note that these maps do not show bus stops; to find stops listed (but not shown on a map), you need to find the ADA version the route information on the VTA website.

Offending Sample:

Route 824 Route 826

Proposed Solution:

Show multiple routes on a map, colour coded to uniquely identify them.
Maps courtesy of ACERider.org

Click on map to enlarge

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