This Sheffield bike lane billboard was redecorated...

I love my bike wrote:

Don't tell anybody, but in Basingstoke you can push your bike through the private pedestrianised centre of town, from the train station to the old town, including through the covered shopping centre. You can do this even late at night, when the shops are closed. Should you want to eat or whistle, I'm sure you won't be stopped.

Right, that's it. Pack up the car, darling. We're moving to Basingstoke.

brooksby wrote:

Quote:

Turner said to road.cc: "It beggars belief to be honest. ...  It's almost as if our most fundamental public space, our pavements, are up for sale to the highest bidder.”

There is no "almost" about it - our public spaces in urban areas are all gradually being  privatised.  Google "business improvement districts" and "BID".

An area in Bristol city centre which used to be a car park (yes, I know) got refurbished so that it was pedestrianised and all the parking got removed, and the buildings around all got done up and turned into shops.  And in all fairness it looks so much better than it did.  But in the process the land got privatised, so there are now hi-viz clad security guards wandering around, and cycling and skateboarding are all banned, and cameras are banned, and mobile phones can be tracked (for market research purposes), etc, etc...

There's an area in London, so I hear, where you are not allowed to eat sandwiches or run 

You're spot on. See also Liverpool One, and countless other private developments in cities all over the UK. Read Paul Kingsnorth's "Real England" if you have a specific interest in this issue.

brooksby wrote:

Quote:

Turner said to road.cc: "It beggars belief to be honest. ...  It's almost as if our most fundamental public space, our pavements, are up for sale to the highest bidder.”

There is no "almost" about it - our public spaces in urban areas are all gradually being  privatised.  Google "business improvement districts" and "BID".

An area in Bristol city centre which used to be a car park (yes, I know) got refurbished so that it was pedestrianised and all the parking got removed, and the buildings around all got done up and turned into shops.  And in all fairness it looks so much better than it did.  But in the process the land got privatised, so there are now hi-viz clad security guards wandering around, and cycling and skateboarding are all banned, and cameras are banned, and mobile phones can be tracked (for market research purposes), etc, etc...

There's an area in London, so I hear, where you are not allowed to eat sandwiches or run 

Yup, that'll be the southbank area round City Hall. All owned by More london. Flying a kite, or carrying any kind of banner is also prohibited. The Garden bridge monstrosity will be the same.

alansmurphy wrote:

You have to question the marketing teams as well - is this all subliminal and brand reputation?

 

Who here has ever wandered down the street, seen such an advertisement and rang BT to change their broadband?

If it didn't work, they wouldn't do it.  It's not cheap.

vonhelmet wrote:

alansmurphy wrote:

You have to question the marketing teams as well - is this all subliminal and brand reputation?

 

Who here has ever wandered down the street, seen such an advertisement and rang BT to change their broadband?

If it didn't work, they wouldn't do it.  It's not cheap.

Marketing teams consider return on investment?

You'll have to get them out of the ideas jaccuzzi first!

vonhelmet wrote:

alansmurphy wrote:

You have to question the marketing teams as well - is this all subliminal and brand reputation?

 

Who here has ever wandered down the street, seen such an advertisement and rang BT to change their broadband?

If it didn't work, they wouldn't do it.  It's not cheap.

That isn't necessarily true.  One of the ways that companies in markets that are carved up between a few major entities ensure it stays that way is by investing a lot in advertising.  It isn't to get new customers or entice customers from the main competitor.  It is to make it bloody expensive for a new entrant to the market, who would have to match the advertising spend.

That is also the reason for FMCG companies to produce multiple different brands.  Kelloggs and cereal, Lever Bros and washing powder, etc.

However, Marketing for Dummies doesn't anywhere say that a good strategy is blocking a cycle path.   Although Clear may own the sign, I bet BT aren't too happy about being associated with it.