No Google Maps is not the answer!!!

 

Wayfinding (that is public information being readily available to help you find your way) and public loos – something Auckland really lacks in and consequently does not help the transit experience one little bit no matter how seasoned you are in travelling.

In two recent Urban Geography field exercises (one in Transform Onehunga, the other as a meeting with a Place Making leader for Transform Manukau) a certain topic was brought up very quickly in post exercise discussions. No it was not Auckland Transport’s level of service when it came to transit provisions (not this time any way) but rather where to go once you have left a train or bus to get to your destination efficiently and smartly. That is how is the level of Way-finding to sign post that last mile trip to your first destination (and first mile on the return trip)?

 

Well for both Transform Onehunga and Transform Manukau it was pretty dismal and by the looks of it an afterthought from Auckland Transport.

 

Both a lack of clear way-finding and what provision there was being rated as poor user experience does not instil confidence into transit or even active mode users no matter if they are seasoned or first time visitors on the route. A clear example of this was while I was at Onehunga Station on Saturday and a train came in offloading passengers wanting either Onehunga Town Centre or Dress Smart (also in Onehunga Town Centre):

A visiting family (all had HOP cards) got off the train and wanted to go to Dress Smart. Problem? Did not know how to given there are three different ways in getting there as the upcoming pictures will show. The first thing they look for? Way-finding signs. They found them only for them to point to the Town Centre and some bus stops, no Dress Smart and no map (that is not found until you get to the bus stops on Onehunga Mall). To make the user experience even worse the main way-finding sign is on the left side of the station (the visitors were at the right hand side of the station where they disembarked from the train) and up a four metre high pole with often the sun striking you right in the eyes. In the end I pointed out where Dress Smart was and they were very happy to be on their way.

However, their user experience has already been soured and it should not take another person to do the job Auckland Transport should be doing with some decent way-finding signage (given people who might know are not always around).

Finally just to make the user experience even more off-putting for these visitors trying to cross Princess Street that has no pedestrian crossings as well as trying staying on course (no secondary way-finding for those en-route to their destination).

 

The above picture is of Onehunga Station and its immediate surrounds. At the top is Onehunga Town Centre and the bottom Neilson Street. The blue line is the main path (supposedly) from the station to Onehunga Town Centre while the red lines is the secondary path/exit and the more direct ways to Dress Smart. The yellow line is the detour to the bus interchange where you can catch your bus although the 380 Airport and 309 services also stop outside the station too (good luck getting across Onehunga Mall to the uncovered stop on the other side of the road)

 

Three different routes (plus the detour to the main bus interchange) to Dress Smart none of which have any way-finding (the Town Centre and the bus stops/interchange have poor way-finding as well) – meaning lost visitors and poor user experience.

 

Way-finding does not need to be overly expensive but it does need to be regular (that is at frequent intervals but not causing street clutter) and suited to the urban geographic environment it will be located in. That is it is inappropriate for five metre high way-finding totems to be placed everywhere while smaller 2.1m high way-finding totems are not going to quite cut it if you need an anchor landmark for people to lock onto to get to a station.

 

For me I divide way-finding into three set classes each suited to their respective urban environments. I drew some rough sketches while out in Onehunga last Saturday reflecting these three classes of way-finding:

Primary Way Finding or Centralised Post

This class of Way-find that would be found at large stations/interchanges (so Onehunga and Manukau) is two-fold:

1. Six metre high totem which people can lock onto to make their way to the station
2. Large 2.1 by 2.1m digital screen that has information like:
   1. Maps to key destinations
   2. Advertising
   3. Events
   4. Civil Defence information in an emergency

If you wanted to go one better the digital way-finder could also include a touch screen map like the ones seen in Westfield malls to help people find a specific path to their destination. Digital way-finders can also be updated offsite as well very easily. This class of Way-Finding would also be backed up by the following class which is the next size scaled down:

 

Intermediate Way-finding

2.1m high totem posts that include basic maps and key destination indicators such as public toilets, busses, police or anchor point (say a mall). These Way-finding posts have two uses:

1. Supplement the Primary Way-Finding Digital Screens and Totem in large stations
2. Used at intersections when there is multiple destination paths

 

 

Tertiary Way-finding

Again 2.1m high totem poles stripped right back to provide a couple of key destination indicators such as toilets, the station or an anchor point. This class of Wayfinder is used for “en-route” travel routes, that is placed every 50-75m between two Intermediate Class or a Primary Class Wayfinder to keep people on course to their destination and back. This is particularly useful if the user can not see their end point from their line of sight.

 

Public Loos

Briefly – we need more public loos and more paid showers in our public spaces. Nothing worse having to hold on trying to find a loo that might be some 100 metres or more away especially when it involves kids. Showers you say? Station especially larger stations should have paid showers especially as biking becomes more prevalent in Auckland. You can for an extra one dollar have shampoo and conditioner dispensed and for $5 a towel that you get to take home. Loos and showers give people some basic dignity including our homeless population.

 

So what are we waiting for Auckland Transport and Panuku?

Let’s improve our user experience through better way-finding and also give some basic dignity through better provisions of public loos and public showers!