A way to write down driving directions.

I have used this system for at least 30 years, and finally decided I should write a description.

Most people when trying to give directions say something like: "Go to Something then do something then . . ." Unfortunately, this is often confused with a lot of hand waving and explanation. I want to say:
"The facts. Just give me the facts."

My "short hand" is based on the use of arrow symbols: ↑, ↓, and →.

1. We need to know which way to turn before we make the turn.
   • Put the landmark after the arrow.
2. We read and write from left to right, thus:
   • A right arrow → means "straight ahead past".
   • "Turn to the left at" is an up arrow ↑
   • "Turn to the right at" is a down arrow ↓
   • A U-turn is rarely needed but if it is use a ←
3. Generally it is a mistake to have an instuction that tells you to do something before you get to ???? unless it is very obvious. When it is I use the short: B4.

Examples

Read the above as: Proceed past two Stoplights, turn left onto Quail St/Road, and proceed to the 2nd house on the right.

With this system you can usually write down directions as fast as someone speaks. I have found it wise to read the directions back, sometimes you have to make insertions or changes.

Written in this form, directions are easy to follow. Unfortunately, the Arrows are not easily entered from a Windows computer keyboard. (I don't know about Mac's.) It is not easy to use this notation for directions in "Word" documents for example. However, for web pages HTML has a relatively simple coding for many symbols and characters beyond the common ASCII set. It was not difficult to create this web page.

E-mail me or Click the phone block to call or get link to my BIO page.

Go to: My Home Page

Go to: This page TOP