So I always posted as a guest, but apparently I can't do that anymore, despite never making anything but serious comments, and I think that anonymity is a good thing, even if you get crank comments... but I digress...

DIRECTIONS:

I can't believe no one else has said this, but it's worth noting that since the Manhattan grid is, more or less, on a North-South axis, all you have to do to determine which direction you are face is to look up to the sky and find the sun. If it's morning, that's east. Midday is south. Afternoon and evening is west. Seriously. Learning to use the sun as a compass is a pretty basic thing that your supposed to learn as a kid, no matter where you grow up.

And yes, I realize this idea fails at night, since we can't see the big dipper. And when it's cloudy. But just ask someone directions.

So, essentially, I'm not sure whether I like sidewalk compass proposal, but it's definately a bad idea to put it at the entrance/ exit.

MAKING IT

Freshly landed strivers,

Whether adult or a pup,

Have one question only:

Which direction to Up?

@tien:

http://gothamist.com/2006/03/29/how_to_find_you.php

Great idea - I hope it works.

I have lived here many years, but don't often use the subway and have bad eyesight. It would be nice to see which direction I'm pointed, especially at night when I can't navigate by the sun.

Just a thought: How about this to make it easier to get around town?

More trains that run faster.

But at least the tourists are happy.

Interesting design, but I think it'd be more visually appealing (and probably more longer-lasting) if it were metal (copper, maybe, given the color shown) and embedded in the sidewalk rather than a decal.

I am in!! Beautiful design too. Especially downtown we need this. Though born and bred NYer that I am. I do get confused sometimes. Or maybe it is just me? Whatever.

I like it.

this city is medieval in so many aspects

Every station in Lower Manhattan should have these. I've seen an old, partially missing compass embedded in the ground outside one of the Rector Street exits, and wondered why such a good idea wasn't applied everywhere else.

That is true, the "know the avenues" system isn't always applicable, but it's still a good thing to learn.

I think these signs are a good idea, but are best for the outer boroughs.

This is a great idea! I have walked the wrong direction, only to have to backtrack the whole avenue again, one too many times!

@bkylnd: I try to remember the direction the train was headed, but for the spatially challenged, gets quite tricky when the subway exit involves multiple twists and turns!

But what if you're in a neighborhood without the main Manhattan Avenues or numbered streets? I've wandered around Queens one too many times.

You know, where the streets have number signs, I usually follow a simple mnemonic. EEOW. Even streets go East and Odd streets go West (except 60th, which goes west). So, all I need to do is look up street number and remember EEOW. That takes care of all my compass needs :)

I've lived here all my life, and I still get it wrong, so this is great for me. But I admit, I'm directionally retarded.

And TK, "just ask"? You do realize this is New York, right, where locals purposely give you f'd up directions?

@tien:

http://www.backspace.com/notes/2006/03/28/x.html

and

http://www.backspace.com/notes/2006/03/05/x.html

One of the most valuable thing any new resident can do is memorize the direction of the avenues. Once you know that 1st Ave goes up, 7th down, 8th up, etc., you will never be disoriented when emerging from the subway.

I think it's a great idea. I like the design too.

this could be great. maybe they'll go somewhere that people see while walking up the stairs so they'll have a few seconds to consider in which direction to walk. otherwise everyone will stop at the top and try to figure out where they are.

i feel like i've seen spray painted directions before outside some stops. but i can't remember where.