On Buses, Metro Promotes Cars.

Today at noon, Pam from Santa Monica is pushing the false idea that Metro wants you to go car-less. But once on board, one stands a good chance of having to watch the promotion of private motor vehicles and auto shows. What gives?And how many of Metro's execs take the very public transportation they actively promote, and how frequently do they take it?

But back to the problem at hand. It may not be "active denigration" per se, but one need not have to have read Thorstein Veblen's book, The Theory of The Leisure Class, to understand that the nature of public transportation in Los Angeles is so dismal as to appeal to no-one, which means that nearly anyone who can get off the bus forever will do so. The remaining captive audience is thereafter forced to endure lengthy stretches of TransitTV promoting the thrills and girls attracted by those who not only own private motor vehicles (i.e., folk who do not have to ride the bus like the bums, working class schmucks and other little people what have no choice) but are further enraged—or should be!—by the fact that their taxes have been stolen to repair Freeways, offer assistance to private motor vehicles and to pay for the vehicle on which they are presently having to watch how they are nothing less than losers for having no money to buy their own car and get off the god-damned bus forever.

More kvetching plus some vids after the jump. . .

In a legal fashion, it is not as bad as when Auto Trader usta buy spots on bus shelters with an ad that stated, ". . . or you can take the bus." Beneath that glaring challenge was a shot of Auto Trader's latest cover. The syntax clearly "denigrates" the public transit system. I am only sorry that I do not have a better picture than the one I published in the mid-1990s. Yet the intent remains no less clear. When was the last time Motor Trend, Peterson Publishing or Lowrider did a spread on busty broads and the buses they ride? On the other hand, Metro is trying to get into the 20th Century with their campaign. Does anyone know where I can contact Three Stooges Media?

For those of you on Skid Row—or in the Olde Bank District—wondering what is all that squealing shit on Sixth south of San Pedro this week (09-13 June 2008), it is the latest sequel of "The Fast and The Furious." Tens of souped-up motor vehicles screaming through the streets in the small hours and preventing the hourly Metro 60 as well as the 16, 18, 53, 62 and 720 from making its route through that area. As Seen On TV!

Contains images, copy or concepts that actively denigrate public transportation; or. . . 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Garrett]

This is so retarded. If people want to see cars they can just look out the windows. lol. Are those screens on EVERY Metro bus? I haven't rode a Metro bus in years (they were less appealing back then), I take Foothill Transit, thankfully, I don't think they have submitted to that type of advertising yet. That is sooo unreal! You would think it is going to be cool at first but then you start thinking about how invasive it is. Please don't tell me all these screens show is commercials? That would be horrible. lol.

[johnk]

If they want to increase ad revenues, they should improve service. More affluent people would ride, and, ad rates could be raised.