It is useful for the geography to be at least close-to-correct, because step 1 of navigating a transit map is deciding if transit is the best way to go. The tube map is well known for having spots that make this deceptive, e.g. tourists would take the tube from Bank to Mansion House, although it would often be faster to walk.
latexr|1 year ago
I agree. I don’t think the point in the documentary was that geography in subway maps is irrelevant, just that it is secondary to connection clarity. When in doubt, prioritise for the latter.
Additionally, I remember they made this comment specifically about the London Underground map, it wasn’t a blanket statement for all subway maps.