I ain't saying it doesn't happen, but - What's the evidence that these postings are more prevalent in "the poorer sections of town and near colleges and universities," let alone being targeted in those areas? The link offers a single photograph. Are there any actual data to back this up, or just gut instinct?

T-totaler

By John-W on Fri, 07/29/2011 - 3:04pm.

So, what stretches of the T go through areas that have no poor people or University populations? Basically the Riverside Line of the Green Line. Orange Line north of Wellington? The Braintree end of the Red Line? We're kind of rife with students and working class folks within the T's reach. I guess the Legal Sea Food ads were put up because we're also rife with wise-asses....present company excluded, of course.

This is about stationary ads in bus shelters

By Ron Newman on Fri, 07/29/2011 - 3:22pm.

not in vehicles

ok

By John-W on Fri, 07/29/2011 - 3:29pm.

So how many T stops are in areas not in proximity to university or poor populations? (split hairs why don'tcha.)

The bus shelters are NOT

By cybah on Sat, 07/30/2011 - 12:53pm.

The bus shelters are NOT managed by the T. So the advertising isnt managed by the T either. It is done buy whoever owns the bus shelter (i.e CEMUSA, The Wall, etc).

So its not the T's fault at all.

My thought too...

By anon on Fri, 07/29/2011 - 6:44pm.

West Roxbury has quite a few of those ads. It's not a poorer section of town nor is it near a college or university.

also, who chooses where the ads go?

By jen on Fri, 07/29/2011 - 3:00pm.

I can't imagine the T sits down with all of next month's ad buys and decides where to put them - don't the advertisers say, "I want to pay you for ad space in XYZ stations or ABC bus lines? The T's website is nonspecific about how it works, but I can't imagine advertisers being all, "Eh, put it wherever!" They're buying ad space where they think their customers are. So what you really want is for the T to stop accepting these kinds of ads for places where they'll be seen by certain kinds of people. Good luck with that.

MarTni?

By Roslindalian on Fri, 07/29/2011 - 4:23pm.

Um, when last I checked the MBTA doesn't sell booz. They sell advertising space, some of which is purchased by people who sell booz. To the extent that these ads are really targeted at one area or another, it is probably because of the advertiser's purchase of those spots based on their perception that they will reach a target audience. If they are putting up pictures of booz near BU and BC they must have hired a poor advertising agency, as everyone knows that those students are too drunk to be able to read advertisements.

T-blame game

By anon on Fri, 07/29/2011 - 5:34pm.

The T gets blamed for everything but this is absurd. The T does not own these bus helters the city does. Why we are at it why not blame the T for unsafe streets, poor schools, homelessness and the foolishness at the Golden Dome.
Whitey will probably claim " THE T MADE ME DO IT" as his defense.

Here's another idea

By anon on Fri, 07/29/2011 - 8:08pm.

How about the MBTA (quasi-governmental) get out of the business of bombarding its captive victims with commercial advertisements?

Then it won't be in the questionable situation of censoring who can see what advertisements.

Sure seems like MBTA booze ads targeting students and the poor

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