Markonthemaps (Mark Ovenden)
@markonthemaps.bsky.social
🌈 Author, broadcaster and lecturer in design, cartography, typography and architecture around public transport. Partner of ND 🌈♾️ person. Pro-Transit 🚆 🚃 🚋 🚟🚌 and ‘in transit’ from X as @markovenden.
The new scalable British #NationalRail maps are live from today. Very clever idea in many ways, you zoom in or out for more or less detail. Have a play #rail, @transitmap.net and #map fans! railmap.nationalrail.co.uk#/mapview
November 28, 2025 at 11:37 AM
The new scalable British #NationalRail maps are live from today. Very clever idea in many ways, you zoom in or out for more or less detail. Have a play #rail, @transitmap.net and #map fans! railmap.nationalrail.co.uk#/mapview
Reporting on tonight’s show from the #TransitMappingSymposium in #HongKong. Impressed by the range of young, enthusiastic & talented designers from around the world…(& some of their guérilla tactics to improve design & #wayfinding)! Check it out now: www.vectisradio.com/podcast/catc...
November 21, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Reporting on tonight’s show from the #TransitMappingSymposium in #HongKong. Impressed by the range of young, enthusiastic & talented designers from around the world…(& some of their guérilla tactics to improve design & #wayfinding)! Check it out now: www.vectisradio.com/podcast/catc...
Whenever you hear anyone spouting racism, and spreading misinformation: this what they are desperately trying to deflect attention from. The billionaires are the real problem.
November 20, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Whenever you hear anyone spouting racism, and spreading misinformation: this what they are desperately trying to deflect attention from. The billionaires are the real problem.
#typography lovers: some more #FascinatingFontFacts from my recent #HongKong visit. Not only are the double-decker #trams unique (I think) outside #Blackpool and #Alexandria, but check out the vehicle number typeface: a fair representation of #London’s #Johnston lettering. Handpainted too it seems.
November 18, 2025 at 3:15 PM
#typography lovers: some more #FascinatingFontFacts from my recent #HongKong visit. Not only are the double-decker #trams unique (I think) outside #Blackpool and #Alexandria, but check out the vehicle number typeface: a fair representation of #London’s #Johnston lettering. Handpainted too it seems.
Lovely to see that most road signage in #HongKong uses the #TransportMedium #typeface for English language directions. Pictograms also from the 1960s hand of #MargaretCalvert. Plus they drive on the left which makes border crossings interesting!
November 17, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Lovely to see that most road signage in #HongKong uses the #TransportMedium #typeface for English language directions. Pictograms also from the 1960s hand of #MargaretCalvert. Plus they drive on the left which makes border crossings interesting!
Wonderfully clever 1980s advert for UK's InterCity rail service.
November 13, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Wonderfully clever 1980s advert for UK's InterCity rail service.
Sad to leave Honkers after meeting so many old and new friends in #transit #mapping world. What an incredible diversity of transit from light rail to heavy, metro to streetcar. Major congrats to Jug Cerovic and @richardarchambault.com for getting us together to discuss wayfinding and design.
November 9, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Sad to leave Honkers after meeting so many old and new friends in #transit #mapping world. What an incredible diversity of transit from light rail to heavy, metro to streetcar. Major congrats to Jug Cerovic and @richardarchambault.com for getting us together to discuss wayfinding and design.
Greetings from the #transitmapping symposium in #hongkong. A superbly informative day looking at transit hubs and wayfinding. Bravo to organisers @richardarchambault.com and Jug Cerovic for gathering so many transit map designers from around the world. :-)
November 6, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Greetings from the #transitmapping symposium in #hongkong. A superbly informative day looking at transit hubs and wayfinding. Bravo to organisers @richardarchambault.com and Jug Cerovic for gathering so many transit map designers from around the world. :-)
Could the next step for @tfgmbeenetwork.bsky.social #Manchester #transit to start building an #underground metro to supplement trams, buses and trains? This guy thinks yes. www.newcivilengineer.com/opinion/does... Have been saying so for decades (my map from 2005ish) versus their suggestions.
November 1, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Could the next step for @tfgmbeenetwork.bsky.social #Manchester #transit to start building an #underground metro to supplement trams, buses and trains? This guy thinks yes. www.newcivilengineer.com/opinion/does... Have been saying so for decades (my map from 2005ish) versus their suggestions.
Always a pleasant surprise to see a large golden cock…eral close up. This one adorned the top of #Chichester cathedral for 300 years. Actually fascinating to see that it retained some of its detailing despite the weathering and presumably fairly salty marine breezes!
October 29, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Always a pleasant surprise to see a large golden cock…eral close up. This one adorned the top of #Chichester cathedral for 300 years. Actually fascinating to see that it retained some of its detailing despite the weathering and presumably fairly salty marine breezes!
Thanks to Quentin for spotting this.
It makes a good bedspread too!
It makes a good bedspread too!
October 27, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Thanks to Quentin for spotting this.
It makes a good bedspread too!
It makes a good bedspread too!
Author and broadcaster Andrew Martin explains his childhood fascination with trains and how he went on to write many railway related books and programmes. He's now the host of Reading On Trains, a #substack with a superb range of topics. www.vectisradio.com/podcast/catc...
October 24, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Author and broadcaster Andrew Martin explains his childhood fascination with trains and how he went on to write many railway related books and programmes. He's now the host of Reading On Trains, a #substack with a superb range of topics. www.vectisradio.com/podcast/catc...
Has anywhere else seen a spurt of late blooming autumn sunflowers round their way? 3 different locations here across #IsleofWight all come up in last few weeks. Beautiful, but unusual? :-)
October 19, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Has anywhere else seen a spurt of late blooming autumn sunflowers round their way? 3 different locations here across #IsleofWight all come up in last few weeks. Beautiful, but unusual? :-)
Meet the guy who wasn’t happy with existing #transit diagrams and wanted to design his own! Short video below and full interview here on the CATCH-cast: VectisRadio.com/podcast/catch-cast-with-mark-ovenden/
October 18, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Meet the guy who wasn’t happy with existing #transit diagrams and wanted to design his own! Short video below and full interview here on the CATCH-cast: VectisRadio.com/podcast/catch-cast-with-mark-ovenden/
Fűrage wants US style “health insurance” in the British NHS. Let’s just be clear what that means.
Image from Quora.
Image from Quora.
October 16, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Fűrage wants US style “health insurance” in the British NHS. Let’s just be clear what that means.
Image from Quora.
Image from Quora.
Delighted to have received from some kind anonymous benefactor this extremely clever piece of art: a composite of six vintage #TubeMaps. Thanks to whoever took the time to post it and look out for more by “subline_london” (on instagram). Just 250 of these apparently sneaked into general circulation!
October 15, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Delighted to have received from some kind anonymous benefactor this extremely clever piece of art: a composite of six vintage #TubeMaps. Thanks to whoever took the time to post it and look out for more by “subline_london” (on instagram). Just 250 of these apparently sneaked into general circulation!
How many #maps have there been on album covers? Cartographer Damien Saunder knows! His wonderful new book Maps On Vinyl: An Atlas of Album Cover Maps shows over 400! He explains how he collected them, and the joys of putting together his superb new book here: www.vectisradio.com/podcast/catc...
October 11, 2025 at 7:25 AM
How many #maps have there been on album covers? Cartographer Damien Saunder knows! His wonderful new book Maps On Vinyl: An Atlas of Album Cover Maps shows over 400! He explains how he collected them, and the joys of putting together his superb new book here: www.vectisradio.com/podcast/catc...
In words of Laura Linney (#TrumanShow): “DO SOMETHING”!
Labour leadership must turn 180 degrees. Re-embrace socialist values rather than pandering to big businesses/persecuting poorest. Where’s action on utility bills? Where’s the wealth tax? Why no Green deal? Wake up or RacistReform will triumph!
Labour leadership must turn 180 degrees. Re-embrace socialist values rather than pandering to big businesses/persecuting poorest. Where’s action on utility bills? Where’s the wealth tax? Why no Green deal? Wake up or RacistReform will triumph!
October 10, 2025 at 7:47 AM
In words of Laura Linney (#TrumanShow): “DO SOMETHING”!
Labour leadership must turn 180 degrees. Re-embrace socialist values rather than pandering to big businesses/persecuting poorest. Where’s action on utility bills? Where’s the wealth tax? Why no Green deal? Wake up or RacistReform will triumph!
Labour leadership must turn 180 degrees. Re-embrace socialist values rather than pandering to big businesses/persecuting poorest. Where’s action on utility bills? Where’s the wealth tax? Why no Green deal? Wake up or RacistReform will triumph!
Millions of people do not agree with these dreadful, divisive creatures. Embrace diversity!
Do share!
Do share!
October 8, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Millions of people do not agree with these dreadful, divisive creatures. Embrace diversity!
Do share!
Do share!
Most American urban areas are difficult to navigate without a car. Benjamin Schneider considers the North American built environment in his new book The Unfinished Metropolis. And he joins us from New York City to explain how things could improve. www.vectisradio.com/podcast/catc...
October 4, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Most American urban areas are difficult to navigate without a car. Benjamin Schneider considers the North American built environment in his new book The Unfinished Metropolis. And he joins us from New York City to explain how things could improve. www.vectisradio.com/podcast/catc...
Extremely sad to read news of passing of the most excellent actress Patricia Routledge. One of funniest and finest.
October 3, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Extremely sad to read news of passing of the most excellent actress Patricia Routledge. One of funniest and finest.
Wonderfully eclectic mix of signage era’s at #ClaphamJunction railway station today, starting with the #GillSans of post 1948/pre 1965 period, through #RailAlphabet, SWR’s resigning, to newest RA2. Will #GreatBritishRailways address this? Probably, eventually (but be nice to see some preserved)?
October 1, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Wonderfully eclectic mix of signage era’s at #ClaphamJunction railway station today, starting with the #GillSans of post 1948/pre 1965 period, through #RailAlphabet, SWR’s resigning, to newest RA2. Will #GreatBritishRailways address this? Probably, eventually (but be nice to see some preserved)?
In a change of post tone: some #mushrooms from our garden. Right big buggers too!nearest is approx 20cm (8inches) high! With a most bulbous head!
October 1, 2025 at 11:24 AM
In a change of post tone: some #mushrooms from our garden. Right big buggers too!nearest is approx 20cm (8inches) high! With a most bulbous head!