Transit Maps of the World Available from Ball State University Libraries

What’s New in the GRMC: Transit Maps of the World

The GIS Research and Map Collection on the second floor of Bracken Library continually acquires new resources for research and learning. One of the newest acquisitions to the Collection is the book, Transit Maps of the World: The World’s First Collection of Every Urban Train Map on Earth. The book by Mark Ovenden was published in 2007.

The book cover describes Transit Maps of the World as “the first, and only, comprehensive collection of every rapid-transit system map on earth. Using glorious graphics, Mark Ovenden traces the history of mass transit—including rare and historic maps, diagrams, and photographs, some available for the first time since their original publication.”

The author includes a short history of urban rail transportation around the world and narratives on the history of the nearly 200 cities in the book. For some cities, the book includes up to 20 transit maps, some dating back to the 19th century. Six zones divide the cities in the book, including Berlin, Tokyo, New York, Boston, St. Petersburg, Guangzhou, Santiago, Manila, and Tunis.

Graphic designers, city and environmental planners, transportation enthusiasts, history buffs, and travelers will find this collection of maps invaluable. Transit Maps of the World is available as a reference item in the GIS Research and Map Collection.