Campaign For Harry Beck-Style Cycling Map

Rachel Holdsworth
By Rachel Holdsworth Last edited 134 months ago
Campaign For Harry Beck-Style Cycling Map


Harry Beck's tube map diagram is one of the most iconic, and easily understandable, pieces of design in the world. Now there's a campaign to bring the same approach to cycle routes.

Cycle Lifestyle would like a simplified map of all London Cycle Network routes, produced together for the first time. Simon Parker has created the map you can see above, in central and greater London versions. The main problem is that, unlike being underground, you have to follow the route yourself, so there would need to be decent signage to indicate which coloured and numbered route you were on. The cost of this is thought to be around £500k – compared to the £140m cost over six years of the cycle hire scheme, that's nothing. Cycle Lifestyle suggest it could be covered by sponsorship.

This isn't a new campaign but it's been given a fresh boost by TfL's forthcoming Cycle Vision strategy (which, according to a load of press, was supposed to be published last November but we can't find any evidence of it). Thoughts, opinions?

Last Updated 03 January 2013