Tuesday, March 03, 2015

Bus passengers get wet after fronts of shelters are removed so motorists can see adverts better

A Birmingham city councillor says bus passengers are being soaked, splashed and left windswept just so transport chiefs can make money from advertising. Front windows on bus shelters, which protect passengers from wind and rain are being gradually removed by transport authority Centro so drivers passing by can see the giant poster adverts more clearly.

Councillor Jerry Evans is now calling for the screens to be replaced after residents in his Springfield ward complained about the issue. Councillor Evans said: “Centro has removed the fronts of many of their shelters so passengers can be splashed in rain by passing traffic and benefit more from the breeze - just so advertisers’ posters can be seen better. The comfort of passengers ought to take priority over advertising revenue.”



Regional transport authority Centro, which is responsible for the majority of bus shelters in the region, said that it is looking to raise money to offset the impact of public sector cuts. A spokesman said: “In the current financial climate we have to look at ways of raising money from non-public sector sources and a very important stream of revenue comes from the advertising on Centro’s 5,000 bus shelters to provide essential services.” He said that money raised pays for cleaning and maintenance of shelters and new shelters.

“It is possible to increase advertising revenue by modifying the shelters so adverts are more prominent, which is similar to London where no shelters are enclosed. This has involved removing the front panels from 273 of those shelters across the West Midlands. However we recognise customers may have concerns and we monitor their feedback but since the scheme began there have been only a limited number of cases where this has had any adverse effect on people using the shelters and we have taken remedial action.”

2 comments:

Barbwire said...

Why don't they put the ads on the outside of the windows and leave them in place?

Patty O'Heater said...

The mantra of Local Government. - Looking after ourselves at the expense of the community.