In the movie classic Back to the Future II Marty McFly encounters a drone walking a dog down the street. Twenty seven years later the MIT Technology Review reports that drivers stuck in traffic in Mexico City were subjected to a feast of drones holding signage with Uber sponsored messaging aimed at the single driver on the road. Messages included: “Driving by yourself?” some scolded in Spanish. “This is why you can never see the volcanoes”—a reference to the smog that often hovers over the mega-city and obscures two nearby peaks.
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As Bloomberg points out, Uber already does more business in Mexico City than any other city it operates in, and Brazil is its third-largest market after the U.S. and India. Uber sees Latin American countries as generally easier targets for expansion than either of its top two markets.
The use of drones for advertising services also points out the need for legislation to regulate what must be a very pesky annoyance when stuck in Mexico City traffic.
That’s pretty sad, but also hilarious! You have to admire the simple ingenuity.
As though any alternative gasoline-burning vehicle will not contribute to the smog. As though ANY non-commercial road-hogging vehicle will not contribute to the mass appropriation of public funds to underpin private transport.
I’d say those drones also perfectly illustrate that taking advantage of the widely-accepted insanity of road congestion can help advertise the benefits of Mexico City’s superb metro system.
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Reblogged this on Sandy James Planner.