Woyciechowicz and Shliselberg – WAYFINDING IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION 2004

Description

This paper describes a method developed for the Israeli Ministry of Transport to evaluate and improve the legibility of the Tel Aviv metropolitan bus network as part of a redesign to boost transit use. The authors synthesize cognitive wayfinding theories (survey, procedural, and landmark knowledge) with Kevin Lynch’s urban form qualities to create quantitative measures that assess inherent network clarity prior to adding maps or signs. Survey-based measures include repeating route patterns, correspondence between service type and road type, and system simplicity; procedural measures include route symmetry, continuity along corridors, and use of arterial roads; landmark-based assessment measures transfer opportunities at prominent landmarks. Each cognitive approach is weighted equally in the overall score, with individual indicators assigned specific weights; the paper discusses application examples, critiques, and suggested refinements (e.g., GIS automation, thresholding). The tools apply to whole networks, sub-networks, and individual routes and aim to make transit systems easier to navigate, lowering barriers to use and potentially increasing ridership.