Show us your City Transit Maps!

[antsel 841]

Looking good Timmie! I see you've changed the colours of some of the lines, wise choice. I do like your tram logo, looks real sharp. I would only maybe suggest you keep a white background for the names of the stations rather than the gray background.

[Zeddic 3]

Looking quite nice. I actually like the gray background behind station names. However, from a network point of view there are a few things that could use fixing, mainly regarding transfers between lines.

• A shared stop on lines 3/4/5 where they multiplex seems like the only logical conclusion in that arrangement. As it is it just looks incomplete.
• There's no direct connection between lines 1 and 3/4 where they cross. This makes the southern end of line 1 more difficult to access than it needs to be.
• Line 6 also ends a bit short of 1/2 creating a similar 'missed opportunity', unless De Kunst and Argentinië are so close to each other (<100 m or so) that walking between them to transfer is a non-issue. If so, it should probably be indicated on the map somehow. It might also be a good idea to simply extend it to Industrie Noord, unless the track there is already at full capacity with three lines.
• Similarly, you could extend 5 to Bloemenhof.
• Line 4 doesn't stop at Fortuna. With no other stops in the vicinity, someone coming from the western end of line 4 would have to transfer to line 5 for just one or two stops or walk a long way to get there even tho their own tram goes right by the stop. This is unnecessarily inconvenient.
• As noted above, is there a particular reason for the long gaps between some stops? Most notably line 4 between Europa and Smetana but also lines 5 and 6 around the same area and the southern end of line 2. The 'missing' stop in the first point is also one.

And the obligatory nitpicking about details:

• Termini. De Kunst and Vrede have circles inside the elongated shape of multi-line stops. This looks a tad messy, especially as you also have the perpendicular line indicating a terminus. F Roosevelt, Industrie Noord and Erasmus do not have them, either.
• All curves even on single-line bends aren't entirely identical. Most noticeable on line 3 in the east.
• The diagonal lines of the logo aren't the same width unless my eyes seriously deceive me. Also, the "TRAM" below it is maybe typed with a slightly too thick font, looks a bit messy. The design is nice, anyway.

As always, this is intended as constructive criticism.

[timmie 988]

Looking quite nice. I actually like the gray background behind station names. However, from a network point of view there are a few things that could use fixing, mainly regarding transfers between lines.

• A shared stop on lines 3/4/5 where they multiplex seems like the only logical conclusion in that arrangement. As it is it just looks incomplete.

A station there is not possible, as there is an avenue that crosses the tracks. In real life, it would be possible, in SC4 it isn't.

• There's no direct connection between lines 1 and 3/4 where they cross. This makes the southern end of line 1 more difficult to access than it needs to be.

Yes, you're right, I might place another tram station on line 3/4, so the passengers would have to walk less.

• Line 6 also ends a bit short of 1/2 creating a similar 'missed opportunity', unless De Kunst and Argentinië are so close to each other (<100 m or so) that walking between them to transfer is a non-issue. If so, it should probably be indicated on the map somehow. It might also be a good idea to simply extend it to Industrie Noord, unless the track there is already at full capacity with three lines.

De Kunst and Argentinië are quite close to each other indeed, I could indicate that on the map. I also thought that with three lines, the track was already at full capacity.

• Similarly, you could extend 5 to Bloemenhof.

I think it doesn't need to be extended, as the only purpose of that would be residential to residential traffic. They both start in a residential neighbourhood, then line two goes through a commercial area, and they both stop in the same industrial area.

• Line 4 doesn't stop at Fortuna. With no other stops in the vicinity, someone coming from the western end of line 4 would have to transfer to line 5 for just one or two stops or walk a long way to get there even tho their own tram goes right by the stop. This is unnecessarily inconvenient.

A station on both lines would be more convenient, indeed, but there simply is no place. If there were nice diagonal stations available, I could place two stops there.

• As noted above, is there a particular reason for the long gaps between some stops? Most notably line 4 between Europa and Smetana but also lines 5 and 6 around the same area and the southern end of line 2. The 'missing' stop in the first point is also one.

Yes: between Kouter and Smetana there are switches and there is little development. Also is there a tram to elevated rail transition. Between Europa and Smetana, also: the transition, little development at the end and you can't put stations on diagonal pieces, alas. You're right about the southern end of line two, I will add a stop there.

And the obligatory nitpicking about details:

• Termini. De Kunst and Vrede have circles inside the elongated shape of multi-line stops. This looks a tad messy, especially as you also have the perpendicular line indicating a terminus. F Roosevelt, Industrie Noord and Erasmus do not have them, either.

The circle indicates it is a terminus for only one line.

• All curves even on single-line bends aren't entirely identical. Most noticeable on line 3 in the east.

I find it hard to make identical curves, I'm still learning how to work with Inkscape.

• The diagonal lines of the logo aren't the same width unless my eyes seriously deceive me. Also, the "TRAM" below it is maybe typed with a slightly too thick font, looks a bit messy. The design is nice, anyway.

The logo isn't mine actually, it's from the Barcelona tram (I suck at logos). 'TRAM' is not in text and therefore it is rather difficult to edit in a proper way (but you're right: it is too thick).

I appreciate your constructive criticism

As always, this is intended as constructive criticism.

[antsel 841]

I am attempting to make Google Maps for the urban areas in my region. I'm starting with one large city tile. Here is what I have so far for Fortune City:

[timmie 988]

Nice map!

[Adrianor 628]

Great job at mimicking Google maps!

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Yes!I'll try that!

[Mikeaut1 261]

Wow what an awesome map Selles! I've been messing around with Photoshop too to try and create Google-inspired maps. Do you use paths in Photoshop or just plain brush tool?

[antsel 841]

I'm not really good enough with the path tool, or any of the other vector tools to make use of them. I used to use the brush tool, but this time I just use the select tools (rectangular marquee, circular marquee). For vertical streets, I open a new file 4x1320, C&P into the map for every vertical street. I do the same (1320x4) for the horizontal streets, then I go through and delete the streets where they shouldn't be, and add the random streets in by hand, also using the select tools and fill. For winding roads I use a circle, and then crop the inside by the appropriate amount of pixels to make a thick, round line. For odd shapes I use the line tool. In order to get the outlines on the transit networks, I use the blending options for each layer.

Hope that makes sense.

I've been working a little more on it, here's a preview. It's not done yet, I'm still deciding on how much detail I'm wanting to put in this. Also, I'm running out of names for parks and streets lol. The height of this image is the length of one large city tile.

The scale should be accurate.

  Edited March 31, 2011 by selles  

[Mikeaut1 261]

That does make a lot of sense, thank you so much for your reply! Awesome addition to your map as well, I love the scale!

[Benedict 3,119]

@ Selles: Great to see you here with some Fortune-related transit maps. Looking good, and would love to see the completed version. As for the google map - stunning! Street names? Leaf randomly through the phone book.

@ Hermannleicht: that thing is huge! Do you have names for everything?

@ Nathanthemayor: nice map for BRTL, although the bottom left outer curve on the green line needs some work. Also, 'holidies' is misspelled. The map for UCCRL looks MUCH better without the bozes and underlining of the station names.

@ Tarkus: wow, so much detail - that must have taken you forever to compile.

@ mrtnrln: both maps are very realistic - nice work.

@ Timmie: nice looking map.

This is part of something that isn't really a useful map exactly, more of a fun 'arty' thing to try. Can anyone guess what it is?

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Flat map of Pheonix Mountain

[mentarman 14]

Great maps, Selles. That's what I set out to do with my original thread on this (see below two images), but my ADHD mind moved on to other things.

Benedict, it looks like a map of shared stops or pedestrian connections between stops?

  Edited April 5, 2011 by mentarman  

[antsel 841]

Thank you guys for your comments!

@Mentarman, that is a very nice map! I really like your transportation layout too, how the tip of the peninsula has a random street layout and the rest is mostly regular grid. It really reminds me of Manhattan. Love it!

@Benedict, I don't know why, but reminds me of a lolcat. Regardless, it's a pretty sweet map!

[Mikeaut1 261]

@Mentarman - Wow that is some awesome work!! It's so detailed and layed out perfectly. Great job!

[Joe 90 358]

Been playing out in the country again...

Actually, benn doing that a lot. Hopefully I'll move into the city soon!

[Benedict 3,119]

@ joe 90: another amazing piece of work. I still absolutely love your number shields for the roads.

@ Nathanthemayor: out of curiosity... I was just wondering why north is at the bottom of your map?

@ Selles: that's pretty funny. I rotated it a bit - and it does look like a face of sorts.

@ mentarman: correct, it is a map of the shared stops in a network... if I add one of the lines in, does it look familiar yet?

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

@ Nathanthemayor: out of curiosity... I was just wondering why north is at the bottom of your map

I think that's because the SC4 pic I took as a reference was facing north because there are mountins at the top of the map.

[antsel 841]

Take pics of your transportation data views. Makes map making a lot easier.

[Shadow Assassin 336]

@ mentarman: correct, it is a map of the shared stops in a network... if I add one of the lines in, does it look familiar yet?

Moscow subway system?

I remember seeing a similar map for that.

[MandelSoft 2,775]

A few of mine:

Maps of Imaginia (road map and height map:

And speed limits in Schellingen:

• 
  
  Speed limits:
  
• Very light red: No speed limit (adviced limit: 130 km/h)
  
• Light red: 130 km/h (6h-20h)
  
• Red: 130 km/h (24/7)
  
• Dark red: 110 km/h
  
• Blue: DynaMax (dynamic speed limit (50-70-90-110-130-unlimited km/h))
  

Best,

Maarten

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Nice maps there!

[antsel 841]

Very nice maps Maarten! The relief map is definitely my favourite.

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

2D Map of Paridise Island

Full resolution

[Benedict 3,119]

@ maarten: Great maps!

@ ShadowAssassin: it's not Moscow (Moscow's ring line is colored brown on maps).

Here are the rest of the lines:

[Mikeaut1 261]

Wow Benedict, nice work and great job everyone else!!

[mentarman 14]

It's obviously the subway lines on the Death Star.

No?

I really have no idea.

[Aldini10 14]

It's all entirely hand drawn since September 2009. I still have not finished yet. Sorry for the size of it, I can't edit pictures yet.

  Edited December 21, 2014 by Aldini10  

[Mikeaut1 261]

It's all entirely hand drawn since September 2009. I still have not finished yet. Sorry for the size of it, I can't edit pictures yet.

[removed image to preserve quote box size ]

WOW! What impressive work!! Excellent job with that, looks like a lot of hard work and time put into it! Are you recreating it in SC4?

[AdoxxBE 289]

It's all entirely hand drawn since September 2009. I still have not finished yet. Sorry for the size of it, I can't edit pictures yet.

[removed image to preserve quote box size ]

WOW! What impressive work!! Excellent job with that, looks like a lot of hard work and time put into it! Are you recreating it in SC4?

Very nice job, I wish I had the patience to do that