Written Question · S4W-17540 · Session 4
How many complaints (a) it, (b) the campaign's advertising agency and (c) any other body received about the Nice Way Code campaign and what…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints (a) it, (b) the campaign's advertising agency and (c) any other body received about the Nice Way Code campaign and what the nature was of any such complaints.
The answer
(a) Scottish Government received nine complaints directly though the Ministerial correspondence system. The nature of these complaints was as follows:
Four did not like the campaign materials
Three felt the money spent on the campaign could be better spent elsewhere
One complained that campaigns do not change people’s behaviour
One complained about the ‘Give Cyclists Enough Space’ advertisement
During this time Scottish Government also received five letters or emails requesting that more money be allocated to such campaigns, three of these requesting adverts aimed at irresponsible cyclist behaviour.
Cycling Scotland has received 10 complaints directly. These can be broken down as follows:
Three of these raised concerns about the overall campaign
Three complaints were about the bus back advertising
Two were specifically about the “Give Cyclists Enough Space” execution which showed an illustrated cyclist swinging an illustrated cat with the text “Give Cyclists Enough Space”
Two complaints raised concerns over the TV adverts
(b) Newhaven Communications, the campaign’s advertising agency, has not received any formal complaints.
(c) Two organisations who are not official partners contacted Cycling Scotland to highlight a complaint they had received about the “Give Cyclists Enough Space” poster. These were SSSPCA and Cats Protection League.
The SCOTS Traffic and Safety Group received four comments, two about the messaging on the bus backs and two about the overall campaign messaging.
Cycling Scotland were made aware of five complaints received by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) about the lack of a helmet and road positioning in the final scene of the “Think Horse” television advert.
The ASA received a further two complaints objecting to the “Give Cyclists Enough Space” execution. None of these complaints were upheld by the ASA.
Of the supporting partner organisations:
CTC (UK) received a number of comments about the campaign
Scottish Taxi Federation received one complaint about the “Give Cyclists Enough Space” execution.
Police Scotland received one comment regarding improvements in enforcement measures
Sustrans Scotland received two letters of complaint about the overall campaign
Scottish Cycling received one complaint about the overall campaign
Lothian Buses received one complaint about the bus backs
British Horse Society received one complaint about the “Give Cyclists Enough Space” execution.
Four did not like the campaign materials
Three felt the money spent on the campaign could be better spent elsewhere
One complained that campaigns do not change people’s behaviour
One complained about the ‘Give Cyclists Enough Space’ advertisement
During this time Scottish Government also received five letters or emails requesting that more money be allocated to such campaigns, three of these requesting adverts aimed at irresponsible cyclist behaviour.
Cycling Scotland has received 10 complaints directly. These can be broken down as follows:
Three of these raised concerns about the overall campaign
Three complaints were about the bus back advertising
Two were specifically about the “Give Cyclists Enough Space” execution which showed an illustrated cyclist swinging an illustrated cat with the text “Give Cyclists Enough Space”
Two complaints raised concerns over the TV adverts
(b) Newhaven Communications, the campaign’s advertising agency, has not received any formal complaints.
(c) Two organisations who are not official partners contacted Cycling Scotland to highlight a complaint they had received about the “Give Cyclists Enough Space” poster. These were SSSPCA and Cats Protection League.
The SCOTS Traffic and Safety Group received four comments, two about the messaging on the bus backs and two about the overall campaign messaging.
Cycling Scotland were made aware of five complaints received by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) about the lack of a helmet and road positioning in the final scene of the “Think Horse” television advert.
The ASA received a further two complaints objecting to the “Give Cyclists Enough Space” execution. None of these complaints were upheld by the ASA.
Of the supporting partner organisations:
CTC (UK) received a number of comments about the campaign
Scottish Taxi Federation received one complaint about the “Give Cyclists Enough Space” execution.
Police Scotland received one comment regarding improvements in enforcement measures
Sustrans Scotland received two letters of complaint about the overall campaign
Scottish Cycling received one complaint about the overall campaign
Lothian Buses received one complaint about the bus backs
British Horse Society received one complaint about the “Give Cyclists Enough Space” execution.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S4W-17540 by reference.