![](\"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/images\/pole1-paris.jpg\")
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Advertising encroachment into the public realm is one of my strongest pet peeves. When outdoor ad companies use guerrilla marketing campaigns to get their message out, I am lead to believe that the other forms of advertising are no longer as effective for their product. And so, I start to view their brand as being desperate for attention. Why else would you spend so much time and money to create a campaign that you know violates local signage bylaws?<\/p>\n
The above image is from Paris, where they’ve used the light standard as a prop in their own ad. I freely admit to it being a smart and well-executed ad, but it also makes me wonder why companies think it is okay for them to circumvent the law? Sure, it doesn’t harm anyone, but it also degrades the ambience and atmosphere of streetlife if ever few metres you have to duck your head to avoid a sign — nevermind that the ad also cheapens the elegant light standards with stripper-like innuendo.<\/p>\n
When cities say it is okay for companies to do these type of things (Spacing has never heard of any company in Toronto ever being fined for breaking our signage bylaws), but in turn criminalize graffiti and postering, you’re sending hypocritical messages to your city dwellers. Incremental intrusion like this makes it easier, in the long run, for companies to turn any surface into potential ad space. I’d certainly like to see the City of Toronto, and the TTC for that matter, draft some kind of policy towards outdoor advertising. If they create a policy, then we will all know when the lines are being crossed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"