London Underground Map

Accessible public transport is essentail to general accessability. The underground map we all know is a celebrated piece of graphic design, but is it great graphic design according to everyone? Many visually impaired users are surprised to find that is is available in braile, audio, tactile and large print form. A black and white version in which the colour-coding of lines is replaced with a series of patterns, is available for colourblind users.
Tactile version:



The most inclusive available development is the Tube Access Guide. It is useful for a wheelchair user, someone pushing a pram, and a visually impaired person alike. It identifies which stations have elevators and gaps between trains and platforms, and the ease of interchange from one line to another. Although clear print guidelines state that print of no less than 12pt should be used, a compromise of 10.25pt had to be used for ease of handling. The large x-height of Johnston means that it is more legible than many serif fonts would be at equivilent sizes.

Over 3,000 posters will advertise the new map. Not a brilliant poster i dont think, and, well, will the people who are being advertised to be able to see these? I would have suggested a more audio medium.


Although this has highlighted the general inaccessability of the London Underground it means that now, steps are being taken to improve the system, with 100 stations becoming accessable by 2020.