Goldie Gopher: We want you to ride the train (Rebecca Barney)

A Post About Posters

The London Underground is famous for its iconic posters (as well is its maps, logo, and font). While Twin City Rapid Transit had some posters as well, they did not reach the same level of artistry. (If anyone has a link to an online trove of such local posters, link in the comments).

As an in-class exercise for my Transportation Policy, Planning, and Deployment class, I asked students to create posters for MetroTransit. These are just sketches on a white board, but I hope you can see the possibilities.

The posters can be at stations, on vehicle (exterior/interior) bus shelters, kiosks, anywhere you can post posters. London works with third party institutions (teams, museums, zoos, malls, etc.) to coordinate marketing of transport with the destination.

Following the model of London Transport, posters should sell not only existing customers on new uses for transit they might not normally think of, but also new users. They should try to improve utilization in off-peak times, off-peak days, and so on, when the system is operating well-below capacity and additional demand on existing operations is most valuable.

Midtown to Frogtown: MetroTransit Bus and Light Rail (Ben Manibog)

Midtown to Frogtown: MetroTransit Bus and Light Rail (Ben Manibog)

See Mauer: No Rush Hour (Ben Manibog)

See Mauer: No Rush Hour (Ben Manibog)

Goldie Gopher: We want you to ride the train (Rebecca Barney)

Goldie Gopher: We want you to ride the train (Rebecca Barney)

Frog legs in Frogtown? Take the Green Line. (Sad Frog) (Kristin Carlson)

Frog legs in Frogtown? Take the Green Line. (Sad Frog) (Kristin Carlson)

Wherever you are, Transit can get you there. (City and suburb) (Xinyi Wu)

Wherever you are, Transit can get you there. (City and suburb) (Xinyi Wu)

Plane to Train, Train to Plane (Michael Knudson)

Plane to Train, Train to Plane (Michael Knudson)

Northstar Commuter Line, Beat the Cabin Traffic (Jackie Nowak)

Northstar Commuter Line, Beat the Cabin Traffic (Jackie Nowak)

Metro Transit (MT to MSP) Fly away by light rail.

Metro Transit (MT to MSP) Fly away by light rail.

Ride the train to Mall of America

Ride the train to Mall of America

Saint Anthony Falls (Downtown East) to Minnehaha Falls: Take the Blue Line (Jackie Nowak)

Saint Anthony Falls (Downtown East) to Minnehaha Falls: Take the Blue Line (Jackie Nowak)

Kelly Farm: Remember your roots: Northstar (Kristin Carlson)

Kelly Farm: Remember your roots: Northstar (Kristin Carlson)

Want to take the Shoulder X-Press: Take Metro Transit

Want to take the Shoulder X-Press: Take Metro Transit

Go Green, Take the Green Line. Protect the Environment

Go Green, Take the Green Line. Protect the Environment

Metro Transit: We go EVERYWHERE you need.

Metro Transit: We go EVERYWHERE you need.

Minnehaha Falls: Connect to Nature (Rebecca Barney)

Minnehaha Falls: Connect to Nature (Rebecca Barney)

Ride the Green Line: Downtown to Downtown (as fast as traffic)

Ride the Green Line: Downtown to Downtown (as fast as traffic)

Connecting the Twin Cities (Rebecca Barney)

Connecting the Twin Cities (Rebecca Barney)

Save your Time

Save your Time