• Jakarta
• Wed, May 17, 2023

Work It Right is a weekly column that provides practical and insightful advice on navigating the complex areas of work culture, career development and professional management.

A well-designed and well-executed wayfinding system helps make walking, cycling and public-transport journeys seamless and easy.

Work It Right is a weekly column that provides practical and insightful advice on the complex area of urban transportation.

Ever heard of the book entitled Why Men Don't Listen, and Women Can't Read Maps? by Alan and Barbara Pease?

This book discusses social stigmas regarding each gender that appear in society, especially in the business world. The author then reveals through various scientific studies and research that men and women are indeed different, but not in the context that one is better or worse than the other.

However, I will not discuss this book more deeply in this article. Instead, one part of the title intrigued me, "Women can't read maps", because I am one of those women who cannot read maps.

I do not know how many times I (formerly) got lost taking public transportation because I could not "read" the orientation of where I was. Even after Google Maps became a reliable application, I still needed help. I missed a turn or exited a toll gate when driving a car. I just got lost on my bicycle to a different location because I just realized there were two minimarts near my new residence, and I picked the one in a more remote area. I almost cried when I realized I had not reached my destination after a 15-minute ride. I can only memorize the route to and from the office, the only route I regularly take every day.

Since deciding to be car-free six years ago and using public transportation everywhere, I have gotten used to planning trips and learning to navigate. Plus, the station officers can always be asked if I need clarification about continuing my journey. However, I still need to make my public transportation trip smoother.

For example, I still need information on how to reach the nearest public transport stations and or bus stops from my house: which gate to enter the stations by, at which door to wait for the bus or train to arrive. Or, when I arrive at a destination I am unfamiliar with, I need information about where I am now and how to get to the destination point.

These pieces of data can be accommodated in a wayfinding system, which sadly was still not a familiar concept even in Jakarta until a few years ago.

Thankfully, in 2021, with more public transport modes operating in Jakarta, such as MRT and LRT, the city started standardizing the wayfinding system via the Governor's Decree, which was legitimated in 2022.

In general, the wayfinding guidelines regulated the design rules of public transport and point-of-interest iconography, service nomenclature and wayfinding typologies that are simple and easy to understand.

Wayfinding improves walking experience and seamless trip in the city

A well-designed and well-executed wayfinding system helps make walking, cycling and public-transport journeys seamless and easy. Based on the study conducted in London after implementing wayfinding standardization, wayfinding helps to reduce the walking duration by 33 percent.

In Jakarta, ITDP Indonesia also conducted a social experiment comparing two groups who were given the exact same instructions where one group took the journey before guerrilla signs were installed, and the other, after. The latter group reached their destination six minutes faster, as the first group spent more time looking for the right direction.

Other than the design aspect, curating which point of interest to be displayed is also important to ensure pedestrians can handle the necessary information. Based on ITDP’s Urban Transport Discussion participants, landmarks and directions are the two main items of information that pedestrians, cyclists and public-transport users need to help them navigate the city.

An accessible wayfinding system can improve the inclusivity of an overall walking journey. One apparent issue for people with sensory disabilities is their access to information while commuting. The deaf community relies a lot on visual information, which can be difficult when there are changes and adjustments in services. Real-time updated information is often only available through station staff, but they must be trained to communicate using sign languages, gestures or written communication.

The other way around goes for people with visual impairments; guiding blocks are among their navigating tools. Hence, it must be continuous, well-planned and accompanied by audio information or braille and tactile maps. Implementing inclusive wayfinding cannot be done without involving the actual users during all stages: planning, design and implementation.

The implementation of an ideal wayfinding system in Jakarta is certainly still a long way from perfection. But women (and men) do not necessarily need to read the maps to navigate the city.

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The author is a senior communications and partnership manager at the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy (ITDP).