Keep TV Ads Out of Metro Stations

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) officials have decided that their riders aren’t exposed to enough advertisements.

So, they have approved plans to place televisions airing “The Metro Channel” in trains and buses, on train platforms and mezzanines, and even in bus shelters and ground-level station entrances.

News reports indicate that the WMATA plans for two thirds of each television screen to be devoted to ads, while the remaining portion will display information such as train arrival times, the time and weather, and a news ticker.

Public transit is public space. Riders don't need to be further assaulted with ads, nor should they be confronted at every turn with programming from intrusive television screens.

Please tell WMATA’s board of directors to let riders ride in peace, and without TV ads forced on them.