Tunnel vision

Web Treasure Hunt often features websites which have recently been added to the Gateway to websites. Obvious really – once they’re on the Gateway, show them off and get people using them. Reviewing the last year’s additions, I started to check out how they had stood the test of time. Here’s one which caught the eye again…

Metro magic

You know how it is. You’re jetting off for a weekend city break, you’ve managed to cram your stuff into a bag the size of a crisp packet to satisfy both Mr O’Leary and the security checker, and you start browsing the guides (print or online) to get the most out of your trip.

One of the keys is to crack the local transport system. You know your city has a metro system, and the guide book tells you which ticket is the best value. The book even has a map. The problem is that you don’t have 20/20 vision, the station names are printed in 4-point type, and the stop near your hotel is just outside the central area shown. You could try the local transport undertaking’s website – often a less-than-rewarding experience – or you could go straight to Subway Maps.

It does exactly… This clever, utterly simple website, has collected the subway/underground/metro maps from cities around the world. From Glasgow’s "Clockwork Orange" to Tokyo’s breathtakingly-complicated pile of subway spaghetti, they’ve got them. A glance at London will demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of the presentation.

The site uses a standard graphic system to show the systems, not the maps used locally. In many cases, the standard version is much better than the dog’s breakfast you see on the platform. In the case of London, the Subway Maps version serves only to remind you how clear and elegant is Frank Pick’s "official" map.

So if you’re staying in London, pick up a map as you pass a tube station. If you’re off to Bilbao or Bangkok, though, Subway Maps is worth a look.

(From the Gateway to websites, select "Transport & tourism". Subway Maps is under "Other Links/Rail".)

Picture credit: n-k-teko/morguefile.com