![i really liked this webpage depicting ‘subways at scale’ (i.e., the larger the image, the larger the actual land mass dedicated to the rail system), but obviously i would. the above is madrid.
EDIT: someone asked me why i would “obviously…like[] this webpage” and that perhaps i should explain myself. i like them primarily because they are evocative of urban form in a way that a straight-up aerial image isn’t. the madrid example demonstrates pretty clearly a kidney-ish ring circling what is likely the densest part of the city. the extending lines and the oddly china-shaped ring are probably dense around the stations along the lines, and stepping down in density from there. contrast madrid with atlanta:
it is again clear, in an elegant way what is (or rather is not) going on. you have 3.5 lines all stretching out relatively far from the nodes where they meet. the lack of connections suggest either the lack of political will to build more rail lines (undoubtedly part of the problem) or, more accurately, an unsustainable land use character for rail-based transit. oh, and a shitload of roads. most north american rail systems are lacking (with the exception of NYC, chicago, and DC), again, obviously. and finally, my personal favorite, paris:](http://4.media.tumblr.com/tXU9t86KAnrmiyzjsy1rScMQo1_400.jpg)
i really liked this webpage depicting ‘subways at scale’ (i.e., the larger the image, the larger the actual land mass dedicated to the rail system), but obviously i would. the above is madrid.
EDIT: someone asked me why i would “obviously…like[] this webpage” and that perhaps i should explain myself. i like them primarily because they are evocative of urban form in a way that a straight-up aerial image isn’t. the madrid example demonstrates pretty clearly a kidney-ish ring circling what is likely the densest part of the city. the extending lines and the oddly china-shaped ring are probably dense around the stations along the lines, and stepping down in density from there. contrast madrid with atlanta:
it is again clear, in an elegant way what is (or rather is not) going on. you have 3.5 lines all stretching out relatively far from the nodes where they meet. the lack of connections suggest either the lack of political will to build more rail lines (undoubtedly part of the problem) or, more accurately, an unsustainable land use character for rail-based transit. oh, and a shitload of roads. most north american rail systems are lacking (with the exception of NYC, chicago, and DC), again, obviously. and finally, my personal favorite, paris:
