Newsgroups: tor.general
Path: utzoo!utgpu!howard
From: howard@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca (Howard Lem)
Subject: CAA maps & Books (Was: Tourist mis-information)
Message-ID: <1990Feb5.155733.23725@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca>
Organization: UTCS Public Access
References: <1990Jan12.010029.19025@mcmi.uucp> <385@sickkids.UUCP> <1990Jan29.235112.9014@eci386.uucp> <33817@watmath.waterloo.edu>
Distribution: tor
Date: Mon, 5 Feb 90 15:57:33 GMT

In article <33817@watmath.waterloo.edu> rbutterworth@watmath.waterloo.edu (Ray Butterworth) writes:
>
>The CAA maps are handy for planning the global aspects of a trip,
>but really quite useless for the fine details of actual navigating.
>e.g. you would use it to decide to take higway A to city B and then
>switch to highway C, but don't rely on it to tell you how to get from
>A to C once you have arrived at B.
>
  You must be talking about the 'triptiks' ?sp) here.  I agree, but it's used 
only to get you from one place to another.  I use them to get from one 
major centre to another.  When you get there, you should use local maps.
>
>The usual test for this type of thing is to get their information
>for an area you are already familiar with.  For instance, their
>Ontario map is nowhere near as good as the free one issued by the
>Ministry of Transportation.  Look at their guide book for your
>city and tell me if those are the restaurants and attractions
>that you would consider visiting if you were a tourist in your
>own town.
>
  I can't speak for other outlets of CAA, but I use the one @ 2 Carlton St.
in Toronto, and when I asked for a Map of Ontario, they hand out the same
one the MOT hands.  Other maps that you can get are regional, prov. and state
maps, and map for most major cities in Can & US.  Many of these maps are the
same as those available at major books stores here.
  Their guide books should really serve a starting point for info.  You should
always try and supplement it with books from the library or info obtained
from the chamber of commerce or tourist office of your destination.
>
>Most provinces and states have tourist information centres on the
>main highways as you enter them.  Their maps are usually much
>better than those from the CAA.  In particular, the CAA maps
>don't usually show useful details such as exit numbers on the
>major highways, and the symbol shapes for the various highway
>numbers don't correspond to the shapes on the road signs.
>e.g. you look out your car window and see two different highways
>labelled 9, one on a square sign and on a state-map shaped sign,
>but the one on the CAA map is in a circle.
>
  Ah yes, Sounds like you should check the maps in advance and
be sure to read the Legend for the map.  Each map has one and one
needs to read it before you try and decode the info on the map.
Signs on the highway can't be duplicated on the map alot of the time.
Exit numbers, I'm afraid you been spoiled by the Ontario Govt.'s Map
> ...
>On the other hand:
>- The free CAA material is good for initial trip plans.
>- If you are doing a lot of touristy type things,
>  the discounts offered by some attractions will save you a few dollars.
>- If you need travellers cheques, the CAA charge is great (i.e. 0%).
>- If your car ever breaks down and you need assistance getting it started
>  or towed, that will more than pay for the annual fee.
    Agreed, CAA membership is a very good deal.  Much better than most/all
of the other auto clubs.

    (The only association I have with CAA is that I am a satified member.)
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