MOTORIAN New Altitude Diagrams

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29221, 3 June 1960, Page 9

MOTORIAN New Altitude Diagrams

QVER a long period of years automobile associations in New Zealand have guided local motorists and tourists over the roads of this country not only by one of the most comprehensive systems of signposting to be found anywhere in the world but also by the issue of maps and loose-leaf itineraries.

The itinerary sheets contain a route map of the particular road covered and also a running narrative giving mileages of all intermediate points on the road and their height above sea level. Steep inclines and declines are noted but even with this wealth of information many motorists have sought more specific advice on how roads climb or fall over certain distances.

From time to time consideration has been given to the feasibility of showing road gradients in the itineraries but this has

always been ruled out on two counts. In the first place it would be well nigh impossible to record full details of the varying gradients in the space available; and second it is felt that they would be understood only by a minority of motorists.

As a solution to the problem, the Auckland association from whom the Canterbury association draws its supplies of itineraries, has now devised a system of road altitude diagrams for display on the reverse sides of the itineraries. One of the first of these showing the altitude of the road mile by mile from Christchurch to Lake Lyndon over Porters Pass is illustrated above. Itineraries containing this new feature will become available progressively and should prove a valuable addition to what is undoubtedly a very popular association service.