Between the folds: Why maps are awesome

By Bonnie Paine
KDOT Administration Specialist 

If you rely on your Google Maps, MapQuest, or other online mapping software to get you to your destination, then you’re probably in the majority.  However, as surprising at it may seem, there are still many, many of us who prefer a good ol’ paper map.  

Why do we like them, you ask, because we can fold it into whatever configuration we need to see where we’re going? Plus, the only misdirection I may encounter will be because of my own, or my navigator’s sense of direction.

While online directional software is convenient and offers a pleasantly stilted voice telling you when and where to turn, a paper map is often used by a friendly travelling partner and adds the “human element” of companionship missing in software.  It should be noted that both online and traditional paper map users can make errors in the directions provided.  

This should be taken in stride by the driver and handled in a calm, responsible manner. 

Drivers should either reprogram the instructions given to the software or take a look at the paper map for himself or herself.  However, all drivers should use caution to avoid being distracted by either studying the map or arguing with their navigator. 

So, let’s talk about paper maps -- my personal favorite.  One important aspect of my position with KDOT is to mail (snail mail) many thousands of paper maps.  They’re free of charge and may be obtained by going to either http://www.ksdot.org/maps.asp or calling 785-296-3640.  

So far this year, I've mailed out more than 28,000 maps to individuals, businesses and schools. 

A common misconception is that only “old folks” still use a paper map.  On the contrary, many, many schools use them to teach students, not only how to read a map, but to illustrate distances, points of interest, scenic roadways, and a multitude of other features found on paper maps.  And people of all ages – from both in-state and out-of-state -- request paper maps. 

Many hotels, chambers of commerce, visitor centers, tour groups and clubs keep supplies of Kansas maps. And get this, no internet is necessary to read a paper map. Plus, if you read them in daylight, you won’t need a battery-powered device to read it either.

Here are just a few of the comments I’ve heard from people requesting paper maps.

• I just love a map I can hold it and see what’s coming up down the road. Maybe I’ll decide to take a side-trip to check out something that looks interesting. Online mapping won’t give you that kind of friendly information.
• I’m fascinated by maps, in fact, I’d like to study cartography.
• I have great memories of my Dad teaching me how to use a map and follow our path as we vacationed when I was a kid. That’s probably why I still prefer a paper map.
• One of my best memories of elementary school was the fourth-grade lessons on Kansas when my teacher, Mrs. Adams, gave each of us our own map and we learned how to find all sorts of things.
• There is so much to see on a paper map that it makes traveling much more interesting.

No matter what you use to navigate the safest, most expeditious route, be sure to check

www.kandrive.org to learn what current road conditions and constructions projects may be occurring on the route you choose.

New 2019-2020 Kansas transportation maps available

Whether you want to find the closest airport, discover new places of interest or travel along a Scenic Byway, the new 2019-2020 Kansas Official State Transportation Map has it all.

The map, published by the Kansas Department of Transportation, highlights numerous tourist and scenic locations, including state parks and lakes, as well as the recreation areas across the state.

City/county indexes and a distance map allow motorists to pick the best route to their destination. Visitor resources, helpful phone numbers/websites and locations of museums and hospitals are also provided.

On the back of the map are inset maps of Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka and 13 other cities. There is also road condition information and details on how to get roadside assistance.

Maps will be available at various travel information centers, attractions and other locations across the state. They can also be requested on the KDOT website at http://www.ksdot.org/maps.asp.

Kansas maps provide opportunities for education and exploration

By Tom Hein,
Wichita Metro Public Affairs Manager 

Current State Official State 

Transportation Map

Maps are historical references that are both interesting and informative. Besides the biennial State Transportation Map that is widely available, KDOT produces specialty maps for traffic counts, bicycles, aviation, rail, bridges, interchange designs, pavement condition, roadway functional classification, cities and counties, school districts and more.

Current Kansas Bicycle Map

Zoe Manderson, co-founder of Alpaca Travel, a travel and tourism website, wrote, “For some people, maps awaken an insatiable desire to explore, reminding them that life is a big adventure and there is so much to see.”

A cartophile is someone who appreciates and enjoys looking at maps. The KDOT website has such a large variety of maps that someone who enjoys reading them could spend hours traveling through the map list.

For instance, a great map to review is the 1918 Kansas State Roads map. It charts the Cannonball Highway, Rock Island Highway, the Bee Line, the Blue Line, the Golden Belt, Midland Trail and the King of Trails.

Kansas State Roads Map from 1918

The KDOT map website also includes the Kansas Memorial Highways, Bridges and Interchanges map, which shows highways that have been dedicated to the memory of an individual or group, like the Amelia Earhart Memorial Highway. This map also identifies the Submarine Veterans Memorial Highway, Home on the Range Highway, Turkey Wheat Trail Highway, Prairie Parkway, The Road to Oz and the Lewis & Clark Expedition Route.

Photo of a map of historic sites and trails.

And one of the most interesting maps, available in photo form at this link, is the map of trails and historic sites. This map is located at one of our many rest areas. It pinpoints the geographic center of the 48 states, Castle Rock, Monument Rocks, Point of Rocks, Pawnee Rock, the George Washington Carver homestead site, the highest point in Kansas, battle sites, rivers and major creeks. It also shows the Santa Fe Trail, Oregon Trail, Chisholm Trail, Kiowa Trail, Great Osage or Black Dog Trail, The Pony Express route, Coronado’s 1541 route and many other historical sites.

Do you want to explore these maps for yourself? Visit  http://www.ksdot.org/maps.asp to see the entire list of great maps. Beware: you may lose track of time and you just might become a cartophile.