TRUWinnipeg.org

Today we got an e-mail from Brian Newton, Supervisor of Facilities Maintenance telling TRUWinnipeg to stop pasting our pamphlets to their transit shelters, and that any pamphlets found on their shelters will be removed immediately.

It’s interesting to note that Winnipeg Transit has not made a peep about this issue until this week. The last time we posted our pamphlets was last week — at the University of Manitoba Transit Terminal. Perhaps Transit is upset because they don’t want University students knowing about rapid transit plans other than the one for BRT?

A bit of a background to this.

Since late June of this year we have distributed close to 1,000 copies of our pamphlet, which was designed to get the word out about our group and to spread the word about the original and best rapid transit plan for Winnipeg.

I have spent countless hours this summer handing these pamphlets to passengers waiting for the bus, placing them into the Take One slots of buses, and pasting them to Winnipeg Transit shelters.

About 8 of every 10 people that we’ve handed out pamphlets to have been open to finding out more about us and the Wilson subway. The other two just don’t want to listen to any sales pitch, no matter how good it is. They’re just closed minded.

I believe in quality and so when I see others posting their indie concert notices to hydro poles and using extravegent amounts of tape, making it very difficult to remove and reducing the quality of the urban environment.

When I have been posting the pamphlet to the shelters I have use just enough tape to secure the page, usually one small strip at the top and another on the bottom of the page. If there has been a strong wind like we had last week, then I’ll put extra tape to the sides.

The pamphlets have generally not been removed until 2 or 3 days later, which gives plenty of time for passersby to notice them.

TRUWinnipeg does not have deep pockets. We paid for the pamphlets out of our own pockets. We are not like the suburban sprawl industry and their media mouthpieces. Therefore we need to find creative ways to spread the word about the Wilson subway.

The other issue, now that Winnipeg Transit has brought it up is public space. It is CBS Outdoor that owns the actual shelter. Winnipeg Transit just leases them from CBS. But the actual space inside the shelter itself? Shouldn’t that be considered as part of public space like the sidewalk?

The warm season is almost over until next spring and once the snow begins to fly, TRUWinnipeg will hold off posting to the transit shelters until next Spring. That still leaves about six to eight more weeks to get the message out.

Until then, we’ll keep doing what we’re doing.

See also:

Full colour version of the pamphlet (PDF)