PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Clear Channel "Ad Shells"
by hamsun Wednesday, Apr. 05, 2006 at 1:46 PM
hamsun@gmail.com

Pittsburgh sells out to Clear Channel.

Without any public discourse (as far as I know) the city of Pittsburgh entered into a contract with Clear Channel to erect advertising driven bus shelters around the city. How did i discover this? Well, standing in one the other morning I noticed a sticker asking the public to report any vandalism to the "Clear Channel Ad Shell" to Clear Channel (another sticker points out that you are being video taped at all times within the shell). I had already noticed the ads leaned heavily toward Fox "News" and talk radio, but did realize the shelters were actually erected by Clear Channel. The city must have (or certainly should have) known that Clear Channel is a controversial entity, one that is loathed by music lovers, and adored by those who favor media monopolies. I am writing this just to raise awareness, as I had no idea myself until I read that sticker. I am of course stating all this as a negative, but i leave you to decide for yourselves...

Clearchannel says "no schedules on the shelters", too!
by af Wednesday, Apr. 05, 2006 at 8:45 PM

Plus, since the city doesn't own the shelters, they can't put up bus schedules with useful information like when the busses come and where they will go.

Maybe that's just fine with the bus company, since otherwise people would actually know when the bus was late!

new in town?
by cut the bosses, not the busses Thursday, Apr. 06, 2006 at 9:26 AM

Clear Channel put those up three or four years ago, because the port authority only had money to build masssive parking garages for bougie t-riders, and couldn't spare money for regular bus riders.

re: new in town?
by hamsun Thursday, Apr. 06, 2006 at 11:04 AM
hamsun@gmail.com

no, i'm not new in town, i just did not know the origin of the shells. it's not like the city went out of it's way to inform the public..

corporate coverage
by boss cutter Thursday, Apr. 06, 2006 at 11:41 AM

http://www.post-gazette.com/neigh_city/20010324shelter5.asp


Apparently they are owned by an outfit called 'adshell'.

Maybe they requested input, but it would have been for show. Even a ballot referendum such as the one that stated the will of the people in regards to public funding for stadiums was ignored. Politicians (as evidenced by the spy cameras) do what they want.

Redecorate the shelters yourself.

Redecorate the shelters yourself
by hamsun Thursday, Apr. 06, 2006 at 11:50 AM
hamsun@gmail.com

"Redecorate the shelters yourself"...i in no way would discourage that. when i said raise awareness i really meant sharpies...

don't worry
by stupid bus rider Saturday, Apr. 08, 2006 at 5:57 PM

Don't worry about the bus shelters. Within a year or so they will likely be nothing but a reminder that once upon a time there was public transit in allegheny county.

Some thing far more ugly to me than any "clear channel" bus shelter is the car. Cars are moving shit. Cars need re-decoration. I have often wondered why the grafitti artists who go after the buildings in our city don't go after the cars.

garfeedy writer
by yinz Monday, Apr. 10, 2006 at 2:23 PM

anytime you ask someone why they don't "go after" something ask yourself the same thing.

too bad...
by cut the bosses, not the busses Monday, Apr. 10, 2006 at 6:59 PM

it's a damn shame that the fight for transit can't be tied to the futile 'impeach bush' fetish.

because
by sbr Sunday, Apr. 16, 2006 at 1:35 PM

good point yinz. to be honest i am biding my time until that day when the buses are no longer running. then i expect to go after the private car but i ain't no artist.

Mass Transit a must
by Electric Bob Monday, Jul. 24, 2006 at 3:47 PM

All major cities especially thriving and growing metropolitan cities have mass transit, but more importantly electric light rail. If we are to compete in this century for families, businesses and jobs we need an effective mass transit system. Here is the irony. While we complain and denigrate PAT, others who come to our region for education and employment find the system, buses clean, the routes effective and the fare affordable. So I suspect all the bitching and moaning is coming form those who propably to not ride the bus or use the "T" or those who are not objective, maybe a little spoiled.