Comments on: When the signs don’t say what to do http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/01/22/when-the-signs-dont-say-what-to-do/ A New York City Subway Blog Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:09:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: A video primer on the emergency brake :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/01/22/when-the-signs-dont-say-what-to-do/#comment-71665 A video primer on the emergency brake :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:13:35 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4873#comment-71665 [...] Who would have thought that the emergency brake — a fixture of subway cars for decades — could generate such attention? Over the last few weeks, I’ve burned quite a few pixels opining on the problems with the way Transit labels its emergency break. The dialogue started late last month when we explored how, in case of emergency, riders aren’t supposed to pull the brake and continued with a look at how the emergency instructions don’t say when to pull the brake. [...] [...] Who would have thought that the emergency brake — a fixture of subway cars for decades — could generate such attention? Over the last few weeks, I’ve burned quite a few pixels opining on the problems with the way Transit labels its emergency break. The dialogue started late last month when we explored how, in case of emergency, riders aren’t supposed to pull the brake and continued with a look at how the emergency instructions don’t say when to pull the brake. [...]

]]> By: Andrew http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/01/22/when-the-signs-dont-say-what-to-do/#comment-70732 Andrew Tue, 26 Jan 2010 04:21:06 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4873#comment-70732 It was a temporary out-of-system transfer with paper tickets. It was a temporary out-of-system transfer with paper tickets.

]]> By: Jonathan D. http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/01/22/when-the-signs-dont-say-what-to-do/#comment-70491 Jonathan D. Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:41:37 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4873#comment-70491 There doesn't have to be anything wrong fact-wise. The signs that are in stations now are a big improvement over the signs that were in stations a few years ago (finding a picture of the old signs would be worthwhile). The fact of the matter is, there is always room for improvement with regards to information design. In some stations, it might just be figuring out how to post service changes in other languages. In other places, it might be the greater use of maps. The newer signs using maps to describe 2,3,4,5 service when the MTA was finishing South Ferry last year, or the great maps in the Heights about the two shuttle buses serving the A when it's not running past 168th are a good example of more meaningful design. Those are the kinds of options the MTA needs to explore. There doesn’t have to be anything wrong fact-wise. The signs that are in stations now are a big improvement over the signs that were in stations a few years ago (finding a picture of the old signs would be worthwhile). The fact of the matter is, there is always room for improvement with regards to information design. In some stations, it might just be figuring out how to post service changes in other languages. In other places, it might be the greater use of maps. The newer signs using maps to describe 2,3,4,5 service when the MTA was finishing South Ferry last year, or the great maps in the Heights about the two shuttle buses serving the A when it’s not running past 168th are a good example of more meaningful design. Those are the kinds of options the MTA needs to explore.

]]> By: Eddy http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/01/22/when-the-signs-dont-say-what-to-do/#comment-70480 Eddy Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:47:26 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4873#comment-70480 "Emergency brake" is just too vague. If the E-Brake is really meant to be used to save someone from being dragged to death, why not just call it that? "Brake to Prevent Dragging Death" - it's only 16 characters longer. Then that convoluted Emergency Instructions could be simplified to say "Notify train crew immediately" across all categories and include any other pertinent info as appropriate. “Emergency brake” is just too vague. If the E-Brake is really meant to be used to save someone from being dragged to death, why not just call it that? “Brake to Prevent Dragging Death” – it’s only 16 characters longer. Then that convoluted Emergency Instructions could be simplified to say “Notify train crew immediately” across all categories and include any other pertinent info as appropriate.

]]> By: Marc Shepherd http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/01/22/when-the-signs-dont-say-what-to-do/#comment-70477 Marc Shepherd Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:36:55 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4873#comment-70477 Yes, but it's not at all clear from the photo that there was anything wrong with those signs; it just seems to have been taken in a station served by a lot of different lines, and many of those lines had planned service changes. Yes, but it’s not at all clear from the photo that there was anything wrong with those signs; it just seems to have been taken in a station served by a lot of different lines, and many of those lines had planned service changes.

]]> By: Scott E http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/01/22/when-the-signs-dont-say-what-to-do/#comment-70476 Scott E Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:32:14 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4873#comment-70476 They're not service advisories, but <a href="http://forgotten-ny.com/SUBWAYS/subwayerrors/subwayerrors.html" rel="nofollow">Forgotten-NY</a> shows lots of permanent subway signage that will guide someone the wrong way. As an example of a confusing advisory, how about the one a couple of weekends ago, which spoke of the downtown #2 train being diverted and terminating at South Ferry, advising riders headed to Brooklyn to take the "Free out-of-system Transfer" to the #4 at Bowling Green. We never really found out how this free transfer worked, if it worked, or if it works every day. I'd have been skeptical. They’re not service advisories, but Forgotten-NY shows lots of permanent subway signage that will guide someone the wrong way.

As an example of a confusing advisory, how about the one a couple of weekends ago, which spoke of the downtown #2 train being diverted and terminating at South Ferry, advising riders headed to Brooklyn to take the “Free out-of-system Transfer” to the #4 at Bowling Green. We never really found out how this free transfer worked, if it worked, or if it works every day. I’d have been skeptical.

]]> By: Jonathan D. http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/01/22/when-the-signs-dont-say-what-to-do/#comment-70472 Jonathan D. Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:17:36 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4873#comment-70472 There's a good picture from Walder's Report. There’s a good picture from Walder’s Report.

]]> By: Benjamin Kabak http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/01/22/when-the-signs-dont-say-what-to-do/#comment-70468 Benjamin Kabak Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:37:43 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4873#comment-70468 Clearly. It's just meant to be a humorous photo :) I'll see if I can find one of the truly wordy and confusing service changes signs. Clearly. It’s just meant to be a humorous photo :)

I’ll see if I can find one of the truly wordy and confusing service changes signs.

]]> By: Kid Twist http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/01/22/when-the-signs-dont-say-what-to-do/#comment-70466 Kid Twist Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:34:36 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4873#comment-70466 Actually, I call BS on the picture. The photographer probably posed the signs that way. Actually, I call BS on the picture. The photographer probably posed the signs that way.

]]> By: Marc Shepherd http://secondavenuesagas.com/2010/01/22/when-the-signs-dont-say-what-to-do/#comment-70465 Marc Shepherd Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:10:08 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=4873#comment-70465 Your post is long on complaints, but short on solutions. The R Train signs pointing in three different directions are funny, and obviously a mistake. But in general, the signs announcing service advisories do precisely what they are meant to do. The reason there are so many of them is that the city has so many subway lines, and practically all of them are being worked on at any given time. Stations served by many lines are naturally going to have a lot of these signs. Sometimes, the service changes are inherently complicated, because an important section of track needs to be taken out of service, and riders still need a way to get around. The only alternatives are <em>not</em> to repair the system, or <em>not</em> to inform the rider. I, for one, <em>do</em> read those signs when they’re on a line that affects me. Your post is long on complaints, but short on solutions.

The R Train signs pointing in three different directions are funny, and obviously a mistake. But in general, the signs announcing service advisories do precisely what they are meant to do. The reason there are so many of them is that the city has so many subway lines, and practically all of them are being worked on at any given time. Stations served by many lines are naturally going to have a lot of these signs. Sometimes, the service changes are inherently complicated, because an important section of track needs to be taken out of service, and riders still need a way to get around.

The only alternatives are not to repair the system, or not to inform the rider. I, for one, do read those signs when they’re on a line that affects me.

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