I bet you have at least one friend whose phone is always at 5 percent or under. If that same person enjoys riding bikes, they might be into this Boulder Bike Map from graphic designer Zach Lee.
Or maybe you're a bit more like me and annoyed by the proliferation of gear that seems to seep into every ride longer than 3 miles. A $9 pocket map that spans Nederland, Longmont and Boulder is far less of an investment than a $500 Garmin.
I'll admit, I was a bit skeptical at first of a map that orients west up, and draws on the design of the London Tube and ski resorts. It felt too clever by half. But sure enough, it looks pretty easy to read and clicks into my mental map of Boulder. Plus, there's signage for where to find food and water.
Here's Lee's pitch, from the about section of the map's site:
It’s simple. Once you know where you are and where you’re headed, you can enjoy your surroundings. Think of a subway map. The work of Harry Beck for the London Underground Tube Map and Massimo Vignelli’s NY Subway Map became the starting points of a universal system and style. A method of over simplified communication to describe complex networks. I mean, do you really need to know all the geographical accuracy in every twist and turn in the road?
I certainly don't. I do however need all five percent of my phone battery to call for a pickup sometimes.
