Up Ahead: Gas, Food, Wi-Fi... Why not?
The small town of Louisville, Nebraska, offers free Wi-Fi throughout the downtown area. A business coalition wants to put a sign advertising the service on the main highway as a way to attract users -- and business. But the state has been fighting them for a year. All of this raises the question: Why not add Wi-Fi to the general services listed on highway signs for travelers? HASN'T WI-FI BECOME SUCH A UNIVERSALLY VALUABLE SERVICE and such a basic need that it should be listed on highway signs along with "Food," "Gas" and "Lodging"? I think it has.
10:20 AM * PERMALINK * 6 comments
Comments:
1. When I think "Gas", I don't think of a long, leisurely stay. I think, "I'm on my way somehwere... get in, get it, get it paid for, get out".
2. When I'm traveling and stop for food, it's for one of two reasons...
a) I HAVE to eat, hurry it up, I'm on the prod here (fast food -- not sit down, crack the laptop, and play), or
b) "I've heard about this resturant/diner/meal/specialty/view/ambiance/etc.", and I'm stopping for THAT... in either case, I'm not stopping to spend time surfing. If anything, it would be an email hit-and-run, similar to the gas scenario above.
3. If I'm traveling, I'd be looking for hotels w/ WiFi, as then I can concentrate on surfing, after un-packing and relaxing. Again, not "on the road".
4. The "Free WiFi" would be attractive to spammers and hackers -- who, granted, probably aren't well stopped by minor WiFi security, but why leave the door open and the light on?
"Free WiFi" would not be any reason for me to visit, or stay, but would be a target of opportunity -- have at it and be gone. What does the city get for it's $$?
Well, beside bragging rights (for as long as that lasts) and greater liability?
1. When I think "Gas", I don't think of a long, leisurely stay. I think, "I'm on my way somehwere... get in, get it, get it paid for, get out".
2. When I'm traveling and stop for food, it's for one of two reasons...
a) I HAVE to eat, hurry it up, I'm on the prod here (fast food -- not sit down, crack the laptop, and play), or
b) "I've heard about this resturant/diner/meal/specialty/view/ambiance/etc.", and I'm stopping for THAT... in either case, I'm not stopping to spend time surfing. If anything, it would be an email hit-and-run, similar to the gas scenario above.
3. If I'm traveling, I'd be looking for hotels w/ WiFi, as then I can concentrate on surfing, after un-packing and relaxing. Again, not "on the road".
4. The "Free WiFi" would be attractive to spammers and hackers -- who, granted, probably aren't well stopped by minor WiFi security, but why leave the door open and the light on?
"Free WiFi" would not be any reason for me to visit, or stay, but would be a target of opportunity -- have at it and be gone. What does the city get for it's $$?
Well, beside bragging rights (for as long as that lasts) and greater liability?
All these argue against free Wi-Fi for travelers, not for signage. The town has already decided they love the Wi-Fi, and claim it can bring in business.
Free Wi-Fi exists. The question is, should it be added to the standard highway "Gas, food and lodging" sign.
Mike
I don't think it should be added to the standard highway sign because I don't think it will be too long before it is so commonplace for roadside establishments to have it that signs will not be necessary. They don't advertise that there are bathrooms available or, back in the day, pay phones because if you stopped at a restaurant or gas station you knew they had them.
Two reasons:
1. Food and gas signs are revenue generators, you can bill local businesses for the advertising. Wifi is a bit trickier to get money from.
2. By the time they're deployed wifi will be for Luddites. I haven't cared about wifi hotspots for years, EV-DO is a great substitute and just as fast as the free hotspots that are crowded with cheapskates looking for "free" Internet.
On a recent trip through a few states I noticed a shell sign (on the blue 'gas' listing sign) with 'free-wifi' under the shell logo.
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