Amman’s Unofficial Transport Map (Khutoutna)

Amman’s Unofficial Transport Map (Khutoutna) is an innovative mapping initiative to streamline Amman’s formal and informal public transportation system.¹ It is a visual tool that enables residents to see Amman’s transport system in its entirety.² The initiative is the first of its kind in Jordan, as it shows most of the routes that are being used by large and small buses as well as some service taxi routes in the urban center of Amman and its suburbs.³

The project aims to make access to Amman’s public transportation system easier for residents and visitors ⁴and help them plan their trips efficiently. ⁵ It offers an accurate and easy way to use information on transport routes in Amman.⁶ It also seeks to be used as a tool to address the different authorities responsible for the transportation system as a baseline map, enabling them to intervene effectively and guide future development of the system. ⁷

The implementation of the project was done through the following stages: ^{8 9}

• Data Collection: From May to November 2015, a group of volunteers, including students , used public transportation to track its routes and stations. These findings were systematically documented using Google Maps.
• Stakeholder Engagement: The volunteers interacted with bus drivers and passengers to gather insights. It was found that many drivers were unaware of all the available routes, while passengers expressed a clear need for a map to help them plan their trips effectively.
• Route Mapping and Classification: A total of 76 transport lines were documented and incorporated in the map. To improve user navigation, a color-coding system was introduced, classifying the lines based on their general directions and making it easier to follow a specific route.

The process of designing the map involved several key phases:¹⁰

• Establishing the Base Grid by creating a foundational grid upon which all elements of the map would be layered. This began with analyzing Amman’s major highways, streets, intersections, and its iconic traffic circles (roundabouts). These elements were abstracted into a strict geometrical system to form the primary structure of the map.
• Incorporating Neighborhoods: Building on the grid, the design team mapped out Amman’s neighborhoods, many of which are defined by the city’s famous hills, providing a spatial context that reflected the city’s unique topography.
• Highlighting Landmarks and Green Spaces: Public parks and well-known landmarks were then added to the map to enhance its usability and provide key reference points for navigation.

The app provides users with tailored travel options based on their entered destination. It offers suggested routes, walking distances to access transport points, and available buses and taxis along the route.¹¹ The map is available in both print and online, the latter on the Maan Nasel website and as an app for Android and iOS.¹²

The design of the map, including its details, symbols, and visual elements, was based on input from the collective expertise of the project’s volunteer team, which was composed of transport specialists, urban planners, and activists. Additionally, insights were drawn from a rich collection of online case studies. The design process underwent no fewer than a dozen iterations, ensuring a final product that met the team’s high standards of functionality and usability.¹³

The map was launched by Maan Nasel (Together We Reach), which is a national advocacy group calling for better organized and safer public transportation in the capital.¹⁴ The map was designed by SYNTAX design. ¹⁵