The city council would appreciate your views on how advertising space in city-centre and on main arterial routes is planned. This includes asking whether discounted advertising rates should be available for council messages and advertisements. The consultation details can be viewed here, and you can voice your opinion on the survey link on that page.

Consultation runs to 19 June 2015.

Push Bikes' comments:

Push Bikes is concerned about distraction created by advertisements and by the physical obstacles presented by advertising boards on pavements.

Advertisements are designed to attract attention, and as such may potentially distract motor vehicle drivers. We feel that due consideration should be made as to the surrounding conditions, and that vulnerable road users should not be put at increased risk due to distraction caused by advertisements. In particular, we are concerned that moving advertisements may present more of a distraction risk, and their use should be limited.

Where advertising boards are installed on pavements, they narrow the useable width of the pavement and block line-of-sight for people using the pavement. This is a major issue on shared-use pavements, where users are unable to see each other and cycles may be travelling faster than pedestrians expect. Push Bikes feels that it is important for pavements to be treated in the same way as the carriageway, so that the needs of pavement users are considered above the use of the pavement space as somewhere for general clutter that wouldn't be allowed in the carriageway. Minimum width standards should be respected, and street furniture only used where adequate widths can be maintained.