Gothamist: Step Out of the Subway and Know Which Way is Which

Potosi

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 14:25:47 -0500

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.

Leon Freilich

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 17:23:51 -0500

MAKING IT Freshly landed strivers, Whether adult or a pup, Have one question only: Which direction to Up?

john

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:22:25 -0500

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

ProfessorVonNostren

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 11:24:33 -0500

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.

Tim N.

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 10:45:38 -0500

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.

JMH

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 10:22:05 -0500

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.

MarygraceNYC

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 10:14:29 -0500

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.

Kevin Bracken

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 22:32:03 -0500

I like it.

Amanda Harlech

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 21:47:02 -0500

this city is medieval in so many aspects

dchui

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:27:03 -0500

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.

rulebook

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 18:24:35 -0500

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.

druz99

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:46:25 -0500

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!

MidC Frank

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:46:01 -0500

It's hard to explain, but it's almost instinctive if you grew up here (although I grew up in Mass, but my grandparents et al were here, so I partly did.) But even after 30 years in Mass, my mother still gets it right away when she exits a train -- even in a new area. Let's just say I would actually welcome any directional signs if we coudl lose all the chain stores!

Jen Chung

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:39:50 -0500

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.

satishk

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:37:58 -0500

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 :)

Rocknrope

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:25:45 -0500

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?

djacobs

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:24:06 -0500

@tien: http://www.backspace.com/notes/2006/03/28/x.html and http://www.backspace.com/notes/2006/03/05/x.html

rulebook

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:10:52 -0500

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.

MidC Frank

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:04:08 -0500

Losers -- old NYer's always know which way to go when they get out of the subway. But I msut concede: now that every corner is another confluence of Starbucks/Chase/Duane Reade -- it is getting a bit confusing.

crozette

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:55:59 -0500

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

fivealive

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:54:10 -0500

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.

tien mao

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:51:05 -0500

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

S.D.

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:48:27 -0500

Assuming the Sticker is at least a foot across: Won't someone stand on them?

burgerdeluxe

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:45:28 -0500

They should go for signs like some tube stops in London have -- a list of popular locations nearby and numbered exits. For example: Grand Central Terminal - Exit 1 Lexington Ave - Exit 2 Madison Ave - Exit 3 Then you simply look for the right exit number, and you're on your way. I think the subway in Tokyo does something similar. Too many people (even locals) aren't sure of north/south/east/west especially when you're somewhere like Lower Manhattan or parts of Queens and Brooklyn, with non-numbered streets.

JenChungsBra

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:43:44 -0500

Testing..... I am so overloaded.

Jen Chung

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:37:09 -0500

bklynd, I do try to remember which way the subway was going, but sometimes there are stations that are deeper underground, with stairs going in a number of directions. Some/many stations do have maps, but they don't exactly explain what's going on outside the entrance you're exiting out of. But I see your point, TK, it might cause pile-ups.

SikBug

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:34:00 -0500

I get thrown off when I get off on the UES sometimes when it looks like there is green both east and west.

TK

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:25:18 -0500

i admit these could help, but i see them causing more congestion on the sidewalks when people stop and look. if you dont know where you're going, just ask!

bklynd

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:19:54 -0500

Meh, just remember which way the train is pointing when you get off.

hendrx81

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:59:43 -0500

East Broadway. 'Nough said.