Every day people walk into the map store and say “I’m looking for a good map of…”

No one ever asks for a crummy map, or even a so-so one.

I never thought about this more than I do about other bits of habitual verbal filler.  “Good for what?” I usually ask, in order to be helpful.  I might mention that I try not to deal in bad maps at all unless there is no alternative for that particular coverage, in which case even a poor map can be the Best Map.

Today I realized that customers who ask for a good map are those who actually want to read the maps!  They want to do more than decorate the wall.  They go on to complain about an inadequate map they already have, or more often these days, some electronic “solution.”  These are customers who seriously plan to learn from their map, or to help others learn.

(Please do not think I want to turn away customers who are only in the market for sofa sized art).

You know times are changing when you find yourself in a line of smoothly flowing traffic – of bicycles.  A line of only three, but still:  All were pedaling along in well practiced morning commute fashion, and not on a bike path, painted lane, or one of Providence’s less than totally helpful new Bike Routes.  They had converged on a zigzag route from the upper Hope Street area to downtown that neatly avoids traffic, minimizes hills, and is as short as any alternative.  Brewster St. > Summit Ave. > Ivy > Forest > Camp > Brown > Halsey > Congdon or Pratt.

The new signs denoting “Bike Route Downtown” as well as google maps (walking or by car) would have directed them straight down Hope to Angell, along with hundreds of cars and buses, and up past the charming Ladd Observatory which happens to be the highest elevation for miles around.

I like to see people thinking for themselves.  They might even have figured it out by looking at a plain old map.

To enter the contest just post a comment telling what you do or want to do with map tacks.

Two winners will be chosen:

Winner #1 will be chosen from entries that include the obvious: “Stick them into a Map.”  You may want to describe what the tacks represent, the intended audience of the display, or the good things that happen when people look at your map.

Winner #2 will be chosen from entries, the stranger the better, that have nothing to do with inserting tacks into a map. (Family friendly, please)

The prizes: This attractive, up to date Rand McNally Laminated World Map.

The winners will be selected when 25 comments on this post have been published.  Comments will be published and prizes awarded at the sole discretion of the owner of this site.  The winner will be notified by email. Contest is open only to residents of the United States and void where prohibited.

Here is the kind of story I might invent, but no need, this one is true.

Readers Digest organized a 989 mile, three car race with twelve obscure waypoints across Britain.  One team had to rely on satnav (as GPS is  called Over There), one team had road maps, and one team had to stop for directions.

Which team had the most fun?  Thanks to those of us who were raised to be self reliant and not importune others unless absolutely necessary, the average person is not yet weary of being asked for directions. Indeed, when a stranger asks for directions nearly everyone puffs with local pride, eager to help.  There may be no better way to initiate an amusing chat and learn firsthand about people and places as we travel!  I should do it more often.

Which team came away with marvelous souvenirs of their unique adventure?  Those maps, perhaps a little dogeared and marked with pencil or highlighter will always awaken memories and make them easier to share.  Whether those travelers want to return to an inviting little spot they had to hurry past, or resolve forever to avoid a certain district, the means will be at hand.  If the trip is to be repeated, the team that studied the maps will be best able to apply what they learned toward evaluating alternate routes to shave time, choose nicer scenery or any combination of goals.

The GPS team came in last, did not get to meet any local characters, and will have trouble remembering where they saw what.

The team without maps won the race.  That’s OK.  The lesson is:  Read maps AND get out of your car and talk to people. You will arrive first (if you want to) and gain lasting enrichment from your travels.