Urban Navigation

[TeeDee]

Change of pace from Rural to Urban environments.

What common indicators of direction ( N.E.S.W ) are there in cities and urban environments ?

I can think of Two easy ones but interested if there are more and or do you have any navigation hacks or habits when in an unknown city either here or elsewhere.

 

[bearbait]

I always carry a compass in strange cities: it helps orient oneself rapidly when arriving back at ground level from a subway / underground railway / station that has multiple exits. Ditto then to head the right way down the street after emerging therefrom. Or even from an above ground multi-story car park with multiple exits. Also makes finding the car relatively easy again in the multi-story car park: I was on the NE side on the 7th floor...

 

[Tantalus]

Satellite dishes point south in northern hemisphere, because the ideal geostationary orbit for fixed position satellites is near the equator.

 

[demented dale]

Change of pace from Rural to Urban environments.

What common indicators of direction ( N.E.S.W ) are there in cities and urban environments ?

I can think of Two easy ones but interested if there are more and or do you have any navigation hacks or habits when in an unknown city either here or elsewhere.

weather cocks often have NWES beneath them. churches run east west, solar panels on houses always face south,. theres 3
i did 7k miles round europe in my van. All I had was a compass and map. From the arctic circle in Sweden I followed south all the way to Gibraltar. I got lost only once in the center of Turin. I was headin west and used the compass takining every left turn I could to go south. I got out in less time than if I actually knew the way. great fun x

 

[Pattree]

Same old drum I’m afraid.
Navigate anywhere, rural or urban using ///w3w. A lot of places in towns and cities are using it in their literature. Never mind the coffee shop, it will get you to my table.

I’m not good at navigating cities. I can’t keep the angles in my head. Google maps, w3w and an AtoZ make it possible.

 

[slowworm]

I should have had a compass the other night when I tried to get out of Brighton. I forgot there was a war on so all the road signs had been removed.

 

[Broch]

Time and shadows work just as well in towns as in the country.
Knowing the weather forecast and watching cloud movement can be useful.
Ask a policeman

 

[Pattree]

Long ago in London I asked a bloke the way to a specific building. He froze, and looked straight ahead as I explained what I wanted to find - then he relaxed and sort of talked to me just pointing on an A to Z.
I was very conscious that I’d scared this man as he was just walking about town. It hurt me.

 

[TeeDee]

Time and shadows work just as well in towns as in the country.
Knowing the weather forecast and watching cloud movement can be useful.
Ask a policeman

Police OFFICER Broch...

< Really... do I need to get HR To book you on that course again??? >

 

[Broch]

Police OFFICER Broch...

< Really... do I need to get HR To book you on that course again??? >

I've forgotten everything I learnt last time

 

[demented dale]

Change of pace from Rural to Urban environments.

What common indicators of direction ( N.E.S.W ) are there in cities and urban environments ?

I can think of Two easy ones but interested if there are more and or do you have any navigation hacks or habits when in an unknown city either here or elsewhere.

what were the two easy ones you thought of? x

 

[TeeDee]

what were the two easy ones you thought of? x

Churches ( as you've mentioned ) and satellite dish direction.

Interested to see if there are any more - maybe things conducted in industry or planning.

 

[demented dale]

Churches ( as you've mentioned ) and satellite dish direction.

Interested to see if there are any more - maybe things conducted in industry or planning.

place and street names, gloucester has east and westgate for example x

 

[demented dale]

Change of pace from Rural to Urban environments.

What common indicators of direction ( N.E.S.W ) are there in cities and urban environments ?

I can think of Two easy ones but interested if there are more and or do you have any navigation hacks or habits when in an unknown city either here or elsewhere.

where is the rural navigation thread. i want to look please.

 

[TeeDee]

where is the rural navigation thread. i want to look please.

I don't think we have one thread that covers alot of the rural /wild indicators.

Maybe an opportunity to start one??

The books of Tristian Gooley are worth a read if you can get your hands on them,

Tristan Gooley Written works - Bing

Intelligent search from Bing makes it easier to quickly find what you’re looking for and rewards you.

www.bing.com

 

[TLM]

What is wrong with a map?

 

[Broch]

Coming out of a London tube station, where there could be N,S, E or W exits, a map is of little use unless you can orientate yourself first

 

[TeeDee]

What is wrong with a map?

If you have one , nothing is wrong with them.

 

[Tantalus]

If you have one , nothing is wrong with them.

Simple enough just to use one of the maps on a mobile phone nowadays.

 

[TeeDee]

Simple enough just to use one of the maps on a mobile phone nowadays.

Yes = again no doubt.

In the same way if in a rural setting there is no ingrained benefit from recognising and using all the natural indicators of nature. Its just a nice 'skill' to be able to coordinate with what one can see if one doesn't have anything more specific to hand - like a.... Map