Lawmakers support digital ads for Big Blue Bus

The California state senate approved a bill that will allow Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus (CA) to test digital advertising on the sides of its buses. City officials believe that the ads could generate $8 million in revenues a year, but opponents claim that the moving billboards could distract other drivers and cause accidents. “Advertising on electronic signs can be switched out more quickly and less expensively, providing transit agents more revenue they can use to maintain or enhance public transportation services,” said Santa Monica assemblywoman Julia Brownley. Current state law restricts electronic signs to transit-related purposes, such as route numbers, and the bill places limits on the location, color, and brightness of the signs. The state assembly approved the measure in May. Link to full story in Los Angeles Times.

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