New TravelWest bus maps

[-Colly405-]

mods note - split from this thread

New TravelWest bus maps

mods note - split from this thread https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/new-west-of-england-bus-maps.285944/ This isn't about First WoE, but about the new West of England Combined Authority (WECA) maps - there doesn't appear to be a relevant thread... Has anyone else seen these? Here...

www.railforums.co.uk

This isn't about First WoE, but about the new West of England Combined Authority (WECA) maps - there doesn't appear to be a relevant thread...

Has anyone else seen these? Here: https://travelwest.info/bus/network-maps/

What in the world of all that is awful have they done? The worst set of maps I've seen in years!!!

The Bristol City Centre one has a nice map, but doesn't go as far north as the Cabot Circus "M32 routes" stops on Bond St, or as far south as Anchor Road or Temple Meads, and it cuts Old Market roundabout in half. Oh, and there is absolutely no mention of any bus route numbers or what service stops where. Just a nice map with all the stops lettered.

The Bath City Centre one similarly gives absolutely no bus route numbers.

The Park & Ride one has a rail line from Temple Meads to Yate, and from Temple Meads to Parkway North (complete with double arrow "station" logo). But not Parkway to Yate.
Buses are shown from the City Centre to both Parkway North and to Lyde Green, but buses to UWE only from Parkway North, not from Lyde Green.
Yate to Parkway North by bus (the Y6) but not by train.

The Norton Radstock, Yate and Keynsham ones having the most godawful diagonal stripes for the two Westlink zones.

But the worst, possibly the worst map I've ever set eyes on, has to be the new West of England Travel Guide. The "simplified" map seems to have taken the London approach of straight lines - horizontal, vertial or at 45 degrees, and made the worst spaghetti of it ever seen. With buses, railways, ferries, cycle routes, Westlink, Westscoot and Westbke all on one map...
Perhaps a handful of good examples are...
- Aztec West to Bradley Stoke is only via Parkway and Stoke Gifford
- Winterbourne to Parkway is either via Bradley Stoke & Stoke Gifford or bus via Hambrook & UWE to Filton Abbey Wood then train to Parkway.
- Keynsham to Hanham or Longwell Green only via Temple Meads.
- Keynsham to Stockwood having a direct service.

They are all valid unitl August - let's hope there is some sense in those offices before the net set are published.

 

[WibbleWobble]

What's worse is that it is a regional map with no mention of what bus routes go where! How is that even remotely useful to anyone wanting to use the bus?

As for the local maps, the stripy background makes them rather difficult to read. They should have gone for solid coloured backgrounds but with a softer colour shading palate. It also makes the text / lines rather harshly coloured.

 

[buslad1988]

Totally not surprised by the shocking publicity/maps - they’re exactly what I’d expect a local authority to produce instead of clear, easy to understand maps like First used to have.

No colour coding so you’re having to follow route numbers on lines which are all the same colour and the regional network map looks like it’s attempting to be gimmicky and replicate the London Underground.

It’s a total step backwards and does nothing to encourage or make buses simpler to use… which goes against the whole purpose of attempting to bring buses back under local authority control?!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I can only agree with the other posters. The all singing map is both full of "stuff" and is cluttered without any clarity and yet fails to convey any information. Meanwhile, the town plans could be useful but the format is appalling (the stripey background is not helpful) and as for Bristol city centre being shorn of its northern edge...

It is absolutely pointless. You wonder what on earth they were trying to do and, more importantly, looked at how information is conveyed in public transport? The latter, clearly didn't happen.

 

[nick291]

I can only agree with the other posters. The all singing map is both full of "stuff" and is cluttered without any clarity and yet fails to convey any information. Meanwhile, the town plans could be useful but the format is appalling (the stripey background is not helpful) and as for Bristol city centre being shorn of its northern edge...

It is absolutely pointless. You wonder what on earth they were trying to do and, more importantly, looked at how information is conveyed in public transport? The latter, clearly didn't happen.

It's someone at WECA trying to justify their job no doubt. I just look on Google Maps or First's website if I need bus info/a route map. I am aware that isnt an option for everyone though, so WECA at the bare minimum could have made it clear and easy to understand.

 

[Russel]

Agreed on the West Of England map, it would have been better if they hadn't bothered producing one at all!

Bad information is worse than no information.

 

[-Colly405-]

That WoE one looks to be appearing on bus stops now too... (certainly on metrobus ones...)

 

[Citistar]

This isn't about First WoE, but about the new WECA maps - there doesn't appear to be a relevant thread...

Has anyone else seen these? Here: https://travelwest.info/bus/network-maps/

Words fail me, but given that operators aren't allowed to criticise or suggest improvements to WECA's inexperienced staff who deal with information, i'm not surprised by how bad this nonsense is at all. The point of a strong corporate image (which is what WEST is supposed to be) is that it's backed up by rigorous proof reading, good design and relevant information. This material fails on all three. WECA are employing so many consultants with so many degrees, yet all are seemingly incapable of producing meaningful and effective public transport information.

From even just a fairly cursory initial glance, the Norton/Radstock area guide has several errors and is very misleading about some sections of route. The Yate guide is missing the 41 altogether and the actual routes of several services are completely unintelligible.

For what it's worth, i had asked via WEBOA meetings for at least five years for some meaningful spider maps on bus stops to be produced for town centre locations, clearly showing which buses go where.

I also conclude the working relationship with Pindar has come to an end as i believe all the previous colour coded maps were produced by them.

 

[-Colly405-]

For what it's worth, i had asked via WEBOA meetings for at least five years for some meaningful spider maps on bus stops to be produced for town centre locations, clearly showing which buses go where.

Feels like you've got your wish, just without the "meaningful" or "clearly showing which buses go where" parts

 

[Whiteway215]

I looked on the WECA West of England Public Transport Network map.

According to that, in Bath Odd Down and Combe Down seem to have swapped places. But I can assure everyone they haven’t!

 

[htwestern]

Wow, what a downgrade. Are they not producing separate leaflets for each council region any more? I was looking forward to replacing my Sept 24 map of N Soms but I think I'll pencil in the route number changes myself instead...

 

[TheLastMinute]

Another highlight is the X10 route between Sheepway and Cribbs Causeway/Southmead Hospital which they just simply haven't bothered with, resorting to a "towards" arrow even though the whole area is on the map.

 

[stuu]

Oh dear, that's horrendous. No obvious hierarchy of services or destinations and I spent a few seconds trying to figure out where the airport was, despite knowing where it is and what goes there. The concept isn't bad as such, but the implementation is appalling

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

(Moved from FWoE thread) - Love the British Rail symbol for Midsomer Norton station... only been removed from the national rail network since 1966.

Other issues in the MSN one... the 184 is shown heading along Chilcompton Road and, by implication, that Withies Park is the 173/4 when the opposite is the truth. And what about the Old Mills "shopping area".... That would be Tesco unless we're now suggesting that Timpsons in the Tesco car park and a nearby branch of Wickes now constitutes a shopping area.

 

[Citistar]

(Moved from FWoE thread) - Love the British Rail symbol for Midsomer Norton station... only been removed from the national rail network since 1966.

Perhaps the new Mayor (DON'T MENTION THE OLD MAYOR - Ed) is proposing to reopen that to regular passenger traffic amongst all the other skypie proposals.

Other issues in the MSN one... the 184 is shown heading along Chilcompton Road and, by implication, that Withies Park is the 173/4 when the opposite is the truth. And what about the Old Mills "shopping area".... That would be Tesco unless we're now suggesting that Timpsons in the Tesco car park and a nearby branch of Wickes now constitutes a shopping area.

184 does serve both Chilcompton Road and Wivvies, but that area in one in particular that highlights the shortcomings in their chosen format. Routes are unclear and the fact that 174 only operates via Chilcompton Road on Sundays and Bank Holidays is absent. There are so many misleading and unclear aspects of the MSN area map, along with several outright errors that the whole thing ought to be taken offline before it gets anywhere near confusing the public. It certainly shouldn't be put on paper.

As somebody who has produced bus maps of the area on a budget of sod all and using software that was the best part of ten years old at the time of creation, i can't help feel that the wrong people are doing this job in or on behalf of WECA.

 

[stuu]

(Moved from FWoE thread) - Love the British Rail symbol for Midsomer Norton station... only been removed from the national rail network since 1966.

Perhaps for the heritage railway? I have seen the symbol used to just mean railway on other maps. Not that it's a good idea

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Perhaps for the heritage railway? I have seen the symbol used to just mean railway on other maps. Not that it's a good idea

Oh, it’s deffo the heritage railway but it’s a daft idea to use the BR logo!

184 does serve both Chilcompton Road and Wivvies, but that area in one in particular that highlights the shortcomings in their chosen format. Routes are unclear and the fact that 174 only operates via Chilcompton Road on Sundays and Bank Holidays is absent. There are so many misleading and unclear aspects of the MSN area map, along with several outright errors that the whole thing ought to be taken offline before it gets anywhere near confusing the public. It certainly shouldn't be put on paper.

You’re right. I meant it suggests the Chilcompton Road is predominantly the 184 whereas the 173/4 is Withies. Good point about the occasional route variations. Same with the 424 along Frome Road.

 

[Citistar]

I can sadly report that the region map is making it's way on to bus stops as i had plenty of time to examine the Bath-bound stop at Castle Park today whilst waiting for a cancelled 172 and then the following journey.

 

[Andyh82]

I picked up these maps yesterday and have also seen them in bus shelters in Bristol and I agree they are possibly the worst maps and worst ‘travel guides’ I’ve ever seen.

As others have said they don’t convey any information at all. Very basic general information like an idiots guide to using the bus for the first time, and a map that shows everything and nothing at the same time.

If I remember, there used to be some decent ‘all operator’ maps in the bus shelters in Bristol, what happened to those?

 

[Citistar]

I picked up these maps yesterday and have also seen them in bus shelters in Bristol and I agree they are possibly the worst maps and worst ‘travel guides’ I’ve ever seen.

As others have said they don’t convey any information at all. Very basic general information like an idiots guide to using the bus for the first time, and a map that shows everything and nothing at the same time.

If I remember, there used to be some decent ‘all operator’ maps in the bus shelters in Bristol, what happened to those?

I think WECA decided they no longer wanted to pay for Pindar to design proper maps and that they could do fine on their own despite a complete dearth of knowledge or ability. It's a mentality that seems to dominate in that organisation.

 

[Megafuss]

Having picked up a copy of some of the maps, I have to say they are the worst public transport maps I've ever seen.

Not only do they make little geographic sense, they don't even tell you what bus route runs on each line.

I can only assume they are part of a puzzle you have to solve yourself. Did they just forget to turn the route numbers layer on??

 

[Stan Drews]

Having picked up a copy of some of the maps, I have to say they are the worst public transport maps I've ever seen.

Not only do they make little geographic sense, they don't even tell you what bus route runs on each line.

I can only assume they are part of a puzzle you have to solve yourself. Did they just forget to turn the route numbers layer on??

Yet someone clearly sat in a meeting and thought they were excellent!!

 

[buslad1988]

If they’re throwing X amount of money at this then why not ensure the publicity is up to scratch - it’s just as important as the bus/route itself.

Saving a few pennies by not using an experienced public transport organisation such as Pindar will really backfire on them.

Demonstrates that people in councils really do lack the ability on what running a bus service is all about.