I would like to request information you hold on electronic adverts on the side of buses. I do not know the technical name for these, but I mean the screens that have appeared recently on the sides of buses displaying bright adverts. I would like the following: I) any impact assessment of these, including but not limited to on light pollution, carbon emissions, and distractions to drivers or other road users and safety implications II) any estimates or actual amounts of the revenue generated by such adverts III) any estimates or actual amounts of the revenue generated compared to normal (ie printed, non electronic) adverts on the side of buses iv) any documents or emails relating to the decision to approve the introduction of these adverts I appreciate some information may be commercially sensitive.

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TfL Ref: FOI-0343-2021

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 6^th June 2020 asking for information about electronic adverts on buses.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. 

Specifically you asked:

“I would like to request information you hold on electronic adverts on the side of buses. I do not know the technical name for these, but I mean the screens that have appeared recently on the sides of buses displaying bright adverts.

I would like the following:

I) any impact assessment of these, including but not limited to on light pollution, carbon emissions, and distractions to drivers or other road users and safety implications

II) any estimates or actual amounts of the revenue generated by such adverts

III) any estimates or actual amounts of the revenue generated compared to normal (ie printed, non electronic) adverts on the side of buses

iv) any documents or emails relating to the decision to approve the introduction of these adverts

I appreciate some information may be commercially sensitive.”

I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require.

All bus-side advertising and revenue is made through commercial agreements between the Bus Operating companies (which are private firms operating services under a contract with TfL) and Global, TfL’s advertising partner. No revenue comes directly to TfL (with the exception of bus wraps). We do not, therefore, hold the information to answer your questions 1-3. In regard to question 4, we hold the attached email chain. Note that this was specifically in relation to TfL agreeing to a trial, with our engineering team assuring that the appropriate safety processes had been gone through. All names have been redacted under section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act, the exemption that protects against the unfair release of personal information.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

On a more general matter, please note that the Government has announced a series of measures to tackle the coronavirus. It is essential for London that we continue to provide a safe transport network for essential journeys.

In current circumstances, we are not able to answer FOI requests readily and we ask that you please do not make a request to us at present.

Answering FOI requests will require the use of limited resources and the attention of staff who could be supporting other essential activity. In any event, please note that our response time will be affected by the current situation.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely,

David Wells

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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