Client
MA Graphic Design - Information Design Project
Brief
Create a map for cyclists in London that clearly communicates information they will find useful.
Approach
As a cyclist, I felt I was well placed to understand this audience's requirements. However, I supplemented my firsthand knowledge by conducting additional qualitative research on other cyclists to find out what they required from a map. This included:
- accident hotspots
- elevation and location of steep hills
- locations to securely lock a bike
- bikes shops
- high pollution areas
While Transport for London (TfL) does publish maps with official cycle routes, they are not necessarily the safest routes. For example, the various London bridges contain bike lanes, but are notoriously dangerous. So, I wanted to supply cyclists with the location of accidents so that they can make their own informed decisions.
Using data supplied by TfL, I plotted the location of accidents and fatalities on a map, including whether they occurred during the day or night. Incidentally, the majority of accidents took place at junctions and involved a HGV turning left.
Please note that this map is a work-in-progress:
- as data on cycling accidents and fatalities is constantly changing, this version only contains data up to 2006
- I'm developing a dynamic version which will use real-time data and allow users to upload their own statistics/incidents.
Currently, you can download a larger map and print it out. Please feel free to contact me with feedback or comments.
