As we near tomorrow's WMATA Bus Conference (Conference Gives Buses Needed Emphasis, November 25, 2006) our friend Richard Layman at the Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space blog reminds us that simple marketing techniques can go a long way toward enhancing bus systems (More on bus marketing in Pittsburgh, November 11, 2006). In a comment to our post, like us, he wonders why these things aren't on the Bus Conference Agenda. Using Pittsburgh, Portland and Seattle as examples, Richard's November 11 post discusses using a systems own buses as billboards for "out-of'-home" advertising," the importance of maps and schedules at bus stops, and the importance of providing basic "how to ride" information. He also provides a link to an interesting article of a few weeks ago in the Richmond Times-Dispatch (Would you know how to take the bus if you couldn't drive?, November 6, 2006) which discusses why this will be increasingly important to Baby Boomers. We'll try to fill you in on what we find out at the conference. (Picture: is an Arlington Pike Ride spinny tube bus stop information unit.)
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