CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!

Active travel advert

(30 posts)
  • Started 12 years ago by Morningsider
  • Latest reply from allebong

  1. Morningsider
    Member

    Just caught the Scottish Government's latest TV advert trying to encourage people to walk short journeys. I know I (or you) aren't the target audience - but it is truly awful. To think this is costing hundreds of thousands of pounds (at least), which could have been used to provide some much needed infrastructure - which might actually encourage people to leave their car at home.

    If the Government can't do anything useful, I suggest they buy all regular cyclists a nice cake with the cash rather than line the pockets of advertising companies.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. chdot
    Admin

    Cake sounds good.

    Ad is actually worse than "truly awful"!

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    http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2013/05/Activetravel07052013

    Another related website

    http://www.greenerscotland.org/greener-travel

    And an app

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    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. chdot
    Admin

    "I know I (or you) aren't the target audience"

    Yes, but it's hard to imagine who the target is imagined to be.

    Even harder to imagine anyone changing anything after seeing the ad.

    If anyone is - hard to imagine them admitting it...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. wee folding bike
    Member

    I quite like "Not Far, leave the car" as a slogan.

    At least there is nobody using a fish as a phone this time but I don't think we will remember this as we do with Petunia, Charlie and Reginald Molehusband.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. chdot
    Admin

    "as we do with Petunia, Charlie and Reginald Molehusband"

    Who??

    "

    we have to report that there is still no joy in our hunt for a copy of the Reginald Molehusband film

    "

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4756334.stm

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. chdot
    Admin

    "

    But as an exercise in conveying information clearly and memorably these films are works of art.

    "

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4743384.stm

    Posted 12 years ago #

  7. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    I actually quite like the telly advert... Though I don't think it will change any attitudes.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  8. SRD
    Moderator

    "I quite like "Not Far, leave the car" as a slogan."

    The slogan's not bad, but the gorpy voice behind it would turn anyone using it into a laughingstock.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  9. Min
    Member

    I rather like it too!

    The people being dragged though a hedge backwards to get them to walk rather than drive along to the postbox is so true!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  10. chdot
    Admin

    "The people being dragged though a hedge backwards to get them to walk rather than drive along to the postbox is so true!"

    Well yes.

    But as that's not going to happen, basically waste of money.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  11. Instography
    Member

    People unthinkingly, absent-mindedly bipping the car are wrenched away by the urging of their legs, which want to drag them down the pavement with such force that they end up walking, Monty Python style. After they've made their walk they rub their legs like Vic and Bob used to at Ulrikakakaka, and marvel at the pleasant sensation created in muscle unused to light exercise.

    To get that across in 40 seconds in a way that captures people attention when they might otherwise change channel or turn to their second screen, that isn't preachy or hectoring, nannying or bullying, is a tough job. Not a bad effort.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  12. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I saw an advert on the back of a bus this morning that said only "try praying". I assumed this was Cycling Scotland's new campaign for better infrastructure.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  13. SRD
    Moderator

    "After they've made their walk they rub their legs like Vic and Bob used to at Ulrikakakaka, and marvel at the pleasant sensation created in muscle unused to light exercise."

    Is *that* what was going on? thanks for explaining!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  14. PS
    Member

    @K LOLZ ROFL etc :D

    Posted 12 years ago #

  15. steveo
    Member

    "try praying"

    Isn't it just general advice for sharing the road with Wurst Bus?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  16. DaveC
    Member

    I hope the adverts work!! I see my neighbour driving from her house to the local papershop and back as I sit waiting at the bus stop occasionally. Its all of 150m in a straight line, which you can do, as at the end of our road is a wide cut through to the shops!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  17. crowriver
    Member

    Is the voiceover chap not Arthur Brown, the (alleged) comedian who used to voiceover the Arnold Clark car dealer ads in the 1980s/90s? I think it is, he's just older.

    I thought the ad was quite good, in an over the top "HEY EVERYONE, THIS IS A COMEDY, HA, HA!" kind of way. Not subtle, but memorable nonetheless. Good for a 'general audience'.

    The app is aimed at the more at the 'I must do something about my beer gut/fat bum' (sub)urban professionals who are walking around staring at their smartphones all the time... Could work.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  18. Kim
    Member

    Scot Gov could do much to encourage active travel and fund infra improvement by the simple expedient of encouraging LAs to tax work place parking spaces.

    It is interesting just how many high end, high value, high tech companies (the type we are all being told bring inward investment) are opting for offices with very little or no parking. These companies recognise that employees arriving by active means are more productive and take fewer sick days...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  19. chdot
    Admin

    "It is interesting just how many high end, high value, high tech companies (the type we are all being told bring inward investment) are opting for offices with very little or no parking. "

    Do you have a list?

    Name and praise?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  20. MeepMeep
    Member

    "try praying"

    Isn't it just general advice for sharing the road with Wurst Bus?

    I've had few problems with them over the past year or so that I can recall.

    On the other hand, the black Volvo saloon that tailgated me 6" from my backwheel, revving his engine, giving me a mouthful of abuse last night at 7pm from the top of Chesser Avenue to round the s-bend under the railway bridge... All for having the audacity to be in front of his car.

    Try praying. You may end up at your destination in one piece, despite the state of the roads and the intentions of other road users.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  21. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Coming back from Rosewell last night, we (myself and 5 significantly faster roadies) were revved at, peeped and then given an aggressive and close pass by a silver Ferrari.

    The horn on this multi-thousand pound phalus extension sounded so toy-like and lame that it did make us giggle.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  22. crowriver
    Member

    Sorry Arnold Brown, not Arthur.... D'oh!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  23. bdellar
    Member

    I quite like it. It's a bit funny, and it might make a few folk think, and question their constant car use.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  24. bdellar
    Member

    And to be quite honest, infrastructure for walking is pretty good, at least here in Edinburgh. I regularly walk across town and it's very pleasant. Nice segregated pavements, no fighting with cars and buses, it's all there if you want to walk.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  25. chdot
    Admin

    Looks like the optimists are in the majority here!

    Still like to see the figures for number of people converted/car miles not taken.

    And a cost per mile...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  26. chdot
    Admin

    http://www.scgpr.com/41-stories/half-the-money-i-spend-on-advertising-is-wasted-the-trouble-is-i-dont-know-which-half

    Posted 12 years ago #

  27. chdot
    Admin

    "I quite like "Not Far, leave the car" as a slogan."

    Yes.

    But -

    "Next time: Listen to your legs."

    ??

    Posted 12 years ago #

  28. chdot
    Admin

    Posted 12 years ago #

  29. kaputnik
    Moderator

    seen this evening on the board outside the zoo

    Posted 12 years ago #

  30. allebong
    Member

    I quite like the ad, particularly the message behind it, seems someone up there in politics actually 'gets it' to a degree. With the best will in the world it's not really possible to convince casual people to do 10 mile daily commutes all through winter and darkness or get dressed up in full roadie gear to go round the corner for some milk. Short journeys are where the most benefits can be gained in town at least. I think most people upon choosing to take the bike or walk instead of drive will suddenly gain a new perspective on things and that's what we need.

    Posted 12 years ago #

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