Glancey posits that we need a visionary in the Beck mould to work up a new map, somebody who can "make clear, graphic sense of so many routes and different modes of transport". He suggests that TfL launch a competition to design a new one (our Mayor does like his transport-themed competitions, after all).
The trend for tube map simplification (which recently reached its logical conclusion) is an understandable one, and the guide's complexity will only deepen as the years progress, when the likes of Crossrail join the map. But the best solution might just be to keep the different modes of transport on different maps where appropriate. Currently, the 'London Connections' (PDF) map, which depicts the overground lines that run into the capital, can be found at stations, alongside the more traditional-looking Tube map. Both have their uses, but it's a mistake to think that a one-size fits all approach to mapping the capital's transport networks is the best approach.
