[Talk-transit] towards values (was: NAPTAN database)

[Simon Ward]

On Sat, Feb 21, 2009 at 08:00:53PM +0000, Thomas Wood wrote:
> [Roger wrote:]
> >                  .... and in some locations I can think of, the concept
> > of "towards" would be totally confusing because stops are used by services
> > which are heading to quite different destinations

Then either “towards” is not suitable for these locations, or should
allow for multiple values.

I did come across at least one sign in Bradford listing multiple
destinations[1].

[1]: http://bleah.co.uk/~simon/photos/osm/white-abbey-road-stop.jpg

> >                                        (and the same destination
> > can be served from stops which are opposite each other).  In the case
> > referred to it may be that all three listed services do go to Levenshulme -
> > but that is often not the case

In Manchester, the “towards” information given is a single destination
that is often not the final destination, and not always the destination
of all buses that stop at that stop (the road continues towards
Levenshulme in the case I referred to, but the 53 service actually
takes the next right and goes towards Longsight).

> > (and if you are to include this information,
> > how are you going to handle service-specific "towards"?

> I have not considered this yet, I'll let the mailing list handle the
> discussion of that.

I would consider “towards” advisory information at best, and not try to
handle service‐specific towards at all.  Handle the aforementioned cases
where the information is indicated on the sign, but once you start
having to look at timetables to get the information you’re probably
going too far into service information territory.  Leave that to the
service information providers.

Simon
-- 
A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a
simple system that works.—John Gall
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