Call it ad nausea. Riders have been complaining non-stop to "Going Public" about the audio messages on the CTA buses that feature Olympians professing their support for Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics.
"In addition to crowded trains and buses, frequent delays, stacked buses and unsanitary conditions, I have to listen to the city trying to sell me on the Olympics?" Kimberly Austin, 29, of Noble Square wrote to "GP."
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Olympic messages irk some CTA riders
The seven pro-Olympics messages are offered by sprinter Connie Moore,
gymnasts Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci, swimmers Gary Hall Jr. and
Donna de Varona, martial artist Arlene Limas and paralympian Paul
Moran. Moore, Conner, Limas and Moran are Chicagoland natives.
Calling them messages and not ads, the CTA said these audio clips rotate with CTA announcements about every 20 minutes. The messages were paid for by the Chicago 2016 group, said the CTA, which does not sell audio advertising to businesses.
The messages are set to air on all CTA buses from Sept. 10 through Oct. 1, the CTA said. The International Olympic Committee will announce its decision Oct. 2.
"I have to say it seems like a waste of money to promote the Olympics to Chicagoans commuting to work," Midge Lacroix of Dunning wrote to "GP." "We aren't the ones that Chicago 2016 needs to convince of Chicago's suitability to host the Olympics--the Olympic Committee is--so this promotion makes no sense to this Chicagoan who is just going about the business of getting to work to make a living."
A recent Tribune poll found 45 percent of Chicagoans surveyed oppose the plans for the Olympics, while 47 percent support them.
Rack 'em
Nick Altmann of Ravenswood has a bone to pick with the CTA. Altmann, 30, said he had his back bike tire stolen from a rack outside the Damen Brown Line station on Thursday. He blamed the lack of bike parking inside the station.
"GP" traveled to the station Monday morning. The six spots for bikes inside the station were filled by 8:30 a.m. There also is a rack with space for two bikes outside the station. "GP" spotted bikes chained to a handicapped sign outside the station (not allowed) and parking meters, which have become more scarce to make room for pay boxes.
Eighty-nine of the CTA's 144 stations have bike parking. These bike racks may get even more crowded next Tuesday for Chicagoland Car-Free Day.
Margo O'Hara, spokeswoman for the Active Transportation Alliance, which is promoting the event, said she hopes 1,000 will pledge to ditch their autos for a day. As of Monday afternoon, more than 470 had taken the electronic oath on the ATA's Web site.
RIDER'S BLOCK
My pledge to ride every CTA bus line continues. I rode the No. 28-Stony Island Local bus last week and boiled my review down to 140 characters, the size of a Twitter tweet. Check out photos from the ride and past bus rides at redeyechicago.com/busride.
ยป @tracyswartz
34 mins from 47th/Lake Park to Olivet-Harvey College. Runs by Metra, lots of motels in South Shore area. Easy park, ride to/from college.
Next up: No. 34-South Michigan.
Calling them messages and not ads, the CTA said these audio clips rotate with CTA announcements about every 20 minutes. The messages were paid for by the Chicago 2016 group, said the CTA, which does not sell audio advertising to businesses.
The messages are set to air on all CTA buses from Sept. 10 through Oct. 1, the CTA said. The International Olympic Committee will announce its decision Oct. 2.
"I have to say it seems like a waste of money to promote the Olympics to Chicagoans commuting to work," Midge Lacroix of Dunning wrote to "GP." "We aren't the ones that Chicago 2016 needs to convince of Chicago's suitability to host the Olympics--the Olympic Committee is--so this promotion makes no sense to this Chicagoan who is just going about the business of getting to work to make a living."
A recent Tribune poll found 45 percent of Chicagoans surveyed oppose the plans for the Olympics, while 47 percent support them.
Rack 'em
Nick Altmann of Ravenswood has a bone to pick with the CTA. Altmann, 30, said he had his back bike tire stolen from a rack outside the Damen Brown Line station on Thursday. He blamed the lack of bike parking inside the station.
"GP" traveled to the station Monday morning. The six spots for bikes inside the station were filled by 8:30 a.m. There also is a rack with space for two bikes outside the station. "GP" spotted bikes chained to a handicapped sign outside the station (not allowed) and parking meters, which have become more scarce to make room for pay boxes.
Eighty-nine of the CTA's 144 stations have bike parking. These bike racks may get even more crowded next Tuesday for Chicagoland Car-Free Day.
Margo O'Hara, spokeswoman for the Active Transportation Alliance, which is promoting the event, said she hopes 1,000 will pledge to ditch their autos for a day. As of Monday afternoon, more than 470 had taken the electronic oath on the ATA's Web site.
RIDER'S BLOCK
My pledge to ride every CTA bus line continues. I rode the No. 28-Stony Island Local bus last week and boiled my review down to 140 characters, the size of a Twitter tweet. Check out photos from the ride and past bus rides at redeyechicago.com/busride.
ยป @tracyswartz
34 mins from 47th/Lake Park to Olivet-Harvey College. Runs by Metra, lots of motels in South Shore area. Easy park, ride to/from college.
Next up: No. 34-South Michigan.
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11 Comments
anthony s said:
I don't have a problem with the IOC promoting the Olympics on the CTA. There are still some people who need convincing that this will be a good thing for the city. And for tourists riding the CTA, it gives them the information that they may not have known. Is it really a big deal to listen to the announcements? I don't think so. When Chicago gets the Olympics, and our economy is boosted, all the naysayers will be rethinking their words.
David S said:
The city was completely overcrowded with people a few years back when the NCAA Big 10 Basketball Tournament was at the United Center. It took me more than an hour to commute from Water Tower to Union Station. What makes you think Chicago will be ready for the world stage when we can't even handle a regional event? There's too much work to be done and not enough cash for it. CTA should be broadcasting audio "messages" that actually benefit the passengers.
KAREN1950 said:
Am I glad to hear I am not the only one that hates those Olympic messages.
They are way to LOUD for one thing.
They are so LOUD you can hear them in Indiana!
Seeing as the senior citizens have free bus rides now they can buy hearing aids.
Then the CTA can lower those messages!
By the way I love your name.
I'm sure you must have heard Tracy by the Cuff Links.
Allison said:
Can you quantify your statement "Riders have been complaining non-stop"? What is non-stop? How many is "some CTA riders" indicated in your headline? Who have they been complaining to? This kind of "journalism" drives me nuts. The only evidence you provide is about the public's opinion of the Olypmics, not about rider's reaction to the messages. I guess a negative headline sells more papers, huh?
Tracy Swartz said:
Hi Allison,
Thanks for your comment. Since the messages started airing on Thursday, I've heard from three dozen-plus readers by e-mail and Twitter.
You're right that rider reaction is tough to quantify. Some of the Twitter comments have been forwarded to RedEye's Twitter page or riders have commented directly to Twitter without forwarding it to me or RedEye.
I combed through the #cta Twitter page for rider reaction. I've also been looking at riders for reaction when the messages are played on the bus. I've heard the messages about a dozen times since they started airing Thursday.
From the comments and e-mails I gathered, most readers have a negative reaction to the messages.
Some of this reaction is posted here: http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/redeye/2009/09/have-you-heard-the-olympics-ads-on-the-cta.html
As for the headline, I don't write headlines to my stories but I can forward the complaint onto my editors.
Thanks,
Tracy
Dean said:
I am not happy having to listen to athletes on my ride to work, talking about 2016; let them go on TV or radio! My ride to work is my quiet time with God and the ads are an irritating interruption!
James Reyes said:
Set up some kind of portable bike racks for the car free day.
James Reyes said:
Instead of intrusive messages,Olympic umbrellas and tote bags could be passed out to C.T.A. riders.
Aly said:
It is "Ad" nausea indeed! I called #311, today, and then complained by calling the CTA Admin line at 312-664-7200. Here's what they said:
http://gangsoftheneweconomy.blogspot.com/2009/09/yeah-payton-and-its-so-annoying-id.html
KAREN1950 said:
I was on the 90 Harlem bus today and the Olympic messages actually were lower in volume. Unless it was my mind imagining this. LOL.
mon24 said:
after 4 hour critiques at school the last thing i want to hear in addition to people on their cell phones is those stupid annoying pointless olympic announcement being blasted on the bus
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