From My Bottom Step

Here’s a follow-up to my previous (”It’s the Wrong Message“) post about commercial advertising along the city’s bicycle paths.

In a report to the 2008/11/10 CAPS committee, William Coxhead (Director, Parks & Rec) reports that there are “no plans to continue or expand advertising on the pathways or the parks system at this time.”

I believe that it’s important to remind people how important it is to register your opinion about governance decisions (especially local ones).

In this particular instance, I believe that the decision taken by staff was really fortunate, since the report revealed that only “a small number of emails” were received about the Egg Marketing Agency’s campaign.

Mind you, part of the reason that there wasn’t more feedback may be that the City was so quiet (ie secretive) about what was happening.

It’s now been disclosed that the City received $5000 for allowing 20 logos to be stencilled on the paths for a period of 90 days, and that thoses revenues “helped fund” a newsletter to inform Londoners “about all of the amazing recreational activities, facilities, and benefits of recreation that London has to offer.”

I can’t help but be curious about the decision to spend the revenues in this way. Since it was pedestrians and bicyclists who were targetted, might it not have been more appropriate for them to benefit directly? Perhaps by adding that revenue to the budget for construction of sidewalks/pathways?