London Banter - View Single Post

David Cantrell · August 22nd 12, 10:30 AM posted to uk.transport.london

On Tue, Aug 21, 2012 at 11:21:55AM +0000, d wrote:
On Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:57:15 +0100
David Cantrell wrote:
If you'd actually used a journey planner, you would know that you are
talking about something completely different. A mere map can't include
all the buses, or know how frequent they are, and how frequent all the
trains are, or which lines are open, and so be able to find the best
route for you across all modes of transport and tell you how long it'll
take (kinda important for when you have to get from your hotel to the
station to get your train home), taking into account your preferences
for number of changes, how far to walk etc.
You're assuming any information you'll get on your phone will be up to date.

It has been every time I've used the application I recommended, and if
it turns out that, for example, the Northern line is closed, then I can
just tell the application to not use it.

Add to that travelling in a foreign country, where you might not be able
to read things like "this station is closed at weekends" or "北京地铁",
and you will see that an application running on your phone in your
language is clearly better than a map.
Fine, but that means you're relying on a device that could be lost

That's your own stupid fault

stolen,

As is that, usually.

have no connection

Not likely in any place with a significant transport network.

or a flat battery.

I forget when was the last time I was foolish enough to let my phone's
battery run out when I needed it. Years ago, at any rate.

Then what? Pidgin english with the
nearest local who looks like he might know when the next bus shows?

Sure. That might even work when *you* are lost abroad and don't speak
the local language, because so many people speak English to some
degree. It won't work when a Chinese tourist who doesn't speak English
is lost in London, where no-one (yeah, yeah) speaks Chinese.

--
David Cantrell | Reality Engineer, Ministry of Information

Compromise: n: lowering my standards so you can meet them