It's hard to resist redesigning even great subway maps. Here is the Washington, DC, system, via one designer's vision.

It’s hard to resist redesigning even great subway maps. Here is the Washington, DC, system, via one designer’s vision.

There’s something about the incredible imagination that goes into mass transit that makes the whole thing fascinating and impressive.

What I mean is, just consider the wide variety of tools needed to conceptualize how to move large numbers of individuals across large distances with the least amount of disruption. That is simply impressive and even evocative.

That evocative nature extends even—or maybe necessarily—to the transit maps of many cities. I hope you agree that “subway map” could be its own artistic niche, so impressive are many of them.

That’s why on this Change of Venue Friday I invite you to read this article about how people simply cannot resist tweaking and transforming the subway map. As Emily Badger writes in the Washington Post, the need to reinvent is a powerful one.

Subway map of Tokyo.

Subway map of Tokyo.

Among the real and imagined maps the article displays, which are your favorites? As for me, it’s hard not to smile when you see the imagined map for Madrid, Spain.

Madrid's subway map, reimagined.

Madrid’s subway map, reimagined.

And in case there was not enough evidence that people love their subway systems, here is a brief story sharing “the best subway map tattoos.” Yes, it’s a thing.

Skin in the game: The Seoul subway map, via tattoo.

Skin in the game: The Seoul subway map, via tattoo.

Have a terrific—and track-inspired—weekend.