Now that everyone, including the former head of the state Department of Transportation, is riding Metro, can some savvy Seattle ad agency please put some thought into campaigns that revitalize an under-used resource? I'm talking about those dreary, pathetic interior overhead advertising rack cards. Can it really be that the only paid advertiser in town is Jobdango?
The ad cards are beyond stale. When they're not reminding you of the ancient dot-com era, they feature public service filler announcements reminding cretinous riders to wash their hands and to keep their voices down when they blab into their cell phones (yeah right). Or we're treated to poetry by 6-year-olds.
Surely there's an enterprising agency or client that can figure out a creative campaign or two to catch the eyes of a captive audience of eco-minded urbanites who are packing themselves onto Metro buses in record numbers and whose eyes have to turn somewhere when they don't have a window seat or aren't watching Lost on their iPhone. I'm sure Metro can use some extra dough to to cover all that high-priced fuel they're burning.
If not, Metro should consider turning the rack cards over to citizens so they can either become like mobile utility poles plastered with band posters, or maybe even a kind of Craigslist for folks who want to sell stuff. Surely, we can improve on staring up on a daily basis to see who was named Vehicle Maintenance Employee of the Year.
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Comments:
Posted Fri, Jun 27, 1:06 p.m. Inappropriate
I'm with ya brother!: It's not only that it's the maintenance employee of the year, it is that it is the maintenance employee of years gone by.
The outside of the bus gets wrapped in plastic adverts so I can't see out. Those stuck in the traffic of their own making have a better view of my bus than I do. Of course I understand that more people will see the Stop Freekin' Call Beacon sign plastered on the butt of the bus than they would on the inside, but no advertising on the inside reinforces the image of bus riders as less than fully engaged citizens who don't have the funds to buy anything.
Oh my, what am I saying -- I'm actually arguing in favor advertising - quick stop the economy, I want to get off.
Posted Fri, Jun 27, 2:54 p.m. Inappropriate
Building upon existing infrastructure: http://www.loe.org/shows/shows.htm?programID=08-P13-00016
I highly recommend that Knute and others check out this link to the NPR Living on Earth program that has an interview with Jaime Lerner that former Mayor of Curitiba, Brazil - world famous for it's amazing bus system and sustainable city planning.
It is an excellent 10 minute interview where Jaime speaks out against the 'purveyors of complexity' extolling simpler solutions. Whether you agree with light rail or not, the bus system is the most flexible public transportation system for connecting the majority of the population. There is tremendous potential in this already existing system to improve the transit experience, expand routes and invest in a mini-bus system (modern-day misquito fleet) to serve within neighborhoods.
At the end of the day, huge public infrastructure projects (sometimes very much needed) are always considered more sexy and lucrative than building upon what we already have. America is already vastly overleveraged with debt - the days when we had the luxury of always choosing the most expensive solution are coming to an end.
Posted Mon, Jun 30, 8:20 a.m. Inappropriate
bus ads: how about pro/con info on upcoming issues in the legislature, general
statistics on the changes going on in Seattle, bilingual info on greetings in
several languages - no end to educational/civic opportnities.