Investigating five existing cycling maps
Take in mind that even cartographers have difficulties reading maps.
The project group started with an investigation into the suitability of five different maps that are often used in the Netherlands for recreational cycling. One of these maps is no longer available.
The five existing cycling maps that were investigated are:
- Dwarsstap Fietstochten op de Veluwe at scale 1 : 50,000 published by ANWB
- Kaart voor vakantie en vrije tijd made by ANWB and Suurland Falkplan at scale 1 : 50,000
- Toeristenkaart Veluwe at scale 1 : 100,000, published by ANWB
- Landelijke fietsroutes published by Buijten & Schipperheijn at scale 1 : 150,000
- Toeristenkaart made by Smulders Kompas at scale 1 : 150,000 (this map is no longer available)
Try to find the differences when you look at four cycling maps at once.
Methods of research
Five different maps were selected out of a larger number of maps that are used for recreational cycling in the Netherlands. The effectiveness of these maps was investigated with the help of 70 cartographers who attended the 1996 cartographic conference of the NVK in Helvoirt. They were asked to map out an attractive cycling tour of about 15 kilometres from the conference venue with the help of one of the five cycling maps given to them and to actually cycle that tour afterwards with the help of the same map, and so they did. The participants were given a questionnaire in which they were asked to comment on the map. The aim of this research project was to make some first recommendations for the improvement of the maps investigated and to make a first step towards the development of general criteria for an ideal cycling map in the Netherlands. It was hoped that (potential) producers of cycling maps might take advantage of this.
Results
Although the group of respondents was not large and not representative for the real users of cycling maps in the Netherlands, some interesting results came out of the investigations. For example, it became clear which scale would be preferable. For a short recreational cycling tour in the Netherlands the scale 1 : 50,000 is suitable for orientation and for getting an impression of the route to be followed. Such a scale allows the inclusion of a lot of topographic and tourist information which is of interest to touring cyclists. For cycling a small tour the number of maps to be used will be limited at this scale.
At larger scales too many maps would be needed and cyclists would lose the overall view of the route to be followed. At smaller scales (e. g. 1 : 100,000) fewer landmarks may be included. But the advantage of a smaller scale is that a cyclist will not ride off the map so quickly and that he or she will have to refold the map less often. Moreover, a smaller scale provides a better overview.
But the respondents indicated that a scale of 1 : 150,000 or smaller is not suitable for use on short cycling tours. Too much information is lacking, as a consequence of which one misses the nice little roads while planning the route and one has orientation difficulties whilst cycling.
Comparing four cycling maps
Zoom in if you like.
Dwarsstap Fietstochten op de Veluwe 1 : 50,000 (ANWB)
Kaart voor vakantie en vrije tijd 1 : 50,000 (ANWB and Suurland Falkplan)
Toeristenkaart Veluwe 1 : 100,000 (ANWB)
Landelijke fietsroutes 1 : 150,000 (Buijten & Schipperheijn)