The directional signs in Cities – pretty much in any city in the world, are put in place by the people who live there. These sign-placing-people have knowledge they don’t realize they have to share. This results in their leaving out crucial bits of information when placing the signs on the street. You follow blindly and get part way to your destination and then the thread breaks and you are at a bend in the road, wondering which way to go. To those that put the signs in place, it is somehow obvious, but not to the tourist. Try it in your city. Pretend you don’t live there and try to navigate by following the signs alone. No phones allowed. Went to Boston; arrived by bus. The bus station is next door to One of the city’s train stations. Of course pre-Googled where I wanted to go after arriving; printed out directions. Boston has a rail system formerly known as the MTA, [remember the song?] now referred to as the ‘T’. But there is also another train running, referred to as the ‘Commuter Train’. It shares some of the route with the T but runs on a rigid schedule. Google didn’t make the distinction. Most thankful to the SYT* trying to save my soul via the “Watchtower” because she gave the clearest of directions. [Perhaps she gives clear directions because she is clear about her message- certainly some comparison can be drawn.] And the auto machines for tickets. Never could read how much money was on my card, as every time I tried to enter via the turnstile the little screen read, ‘insufficient funds’, so I added a wee bit more. Have card at end of trip with no idea how much is left.
Another astounding event was the adverts in the train station, through which I had to pass to get to the T. They were so overbearing, the information for the T was completely overshadowed. This, I believe would not happen in a foreign rail road station. The US is so bottom line focused, that the money of adverts it more important than leaving the purpose of the train station to one primary function. Please supply examples to the contrary if I am misinformed.
*sweet young thing