TfL Strange Journeys
 

TfL's Journey Planner can be very useful but it can also come up with strange
results. I think I've now solved the frustrating problem of repeatedly being
told there's an "internal error" and my session has "expired" - the trick is
not to click on the one journey time details, but take the batch at the end,
even if you remove some ticks.
(sounds like an insect control procedure).
But strange results can still occur. I tried to check a route from my road to
the British Library's Colindale site. Having first ascertained which part of my
road I was coming from (not that it makes much difference), the Tfl came up
with a journey to "Graham Park library, Colindale". Not sure this is what I
want, I thought I'd check the journey end map to see what it showed. Click on
end map
Up came a map showing me a walking route from the British Dental Association
museum at Marylebone to Kings Cross station, Thameslink.
Is this an application of "Post-Modenism" to software programming?
Well, I suppose it's interesting. I did not even realise there was a dental
museum. Do they keep famous people's teeth? I suppose it could be more
interesting than looking at a load of boring old newspapers at Colindale, if
your imagination's so inclined.
Have other list members had similarly strange TfL experiences?

TfL Strange Journeys
 

I agree that the Journey planner is a bit wierd - pick an end
destination that is very specific and it can give you very strange
routes.

For example, I work in Victoria and wanted to go to a friend's after
work who lives just off the main road past Hackney Town Hall (he
actually lives right on the 277 bus route). If I key in his road as a
destination, rather than "Hackney Town Hall", Journey Planner gives me
a route with the Victoria Line to Highbury (!) and then a loooong
journey on the 277.

Now, some people may know that the 38 bus goes from Victoria station
straight to Hackney Town Hall - does this come up as a possible route
with "38 bus and then a 5 minute walk"? Nope :-\ Journey planner is
worse than useless IMHO...

TfL Strange Journeys
 

In article ,
(CharlesPottins) wrote:

But strange results can still occur. I tried to check a route from my
road to the British Library's Colindale site. Having first ascertained
which part of my road I was coming from (not that it makes much
difference), the Tfl came up with a journey to "Graham Park library,
Colindale". Not sure this is what I want, ..

It isn't. This is just Barnet's local library for the Grahame Park
Estate. Not that far away though.

I've always found it very easy to get to BLNL Colindale - it's right
next door to Colindale Underground station.

--
http://www.election.demon.co.uk
"The guilty party was the Liberal Democrats and they were hardened offenders,
and coded racism was again in evidence in leaflets distributed in September
1993." - Nigel Copsey, "Contemporary British Fascism", page 62.

TfL Strange Journeys
 

wrote:
I agree that the Journey planner is a bit wierd - pick an end
destination that is very specific and it can give you very strange
routes.

For example, I work in Victoria and wanted to go to a friend's after
work who lives just off the main road past Hackney Town Hall (he
actually lives right on the 277 bus route). If I key in his road as a
destination, rather than "Hackney Town Hall", Journey Planner gives me
a route with the Victoria Line to Highbury (!) and then a loooong
journey on the 277.

Now, some people may know that the 38 bus goes from Victoria station
straight to Hackney Town Hall - does this come up as a possible route
with "38 bus and then a 5 minute walk"? Nope :-\ Journey planner is
worse than useless IMHO...

Does it come up with the 38 if you only tick the Bus option? Or if you
tick the "Least number of interchanges" option?

The default settings are to find the fastest route; the Victoria Line
suggestion may well be that.

It's a bit harsh to say it's "worse than useless". It does its job
pretty well IMO, much more so than any other UK journey planner.

--
Dave Arquati
Imperial College, SW7
www.alwaystouchout.com - Transport projects in London