The only unwrapping public transport pundit Robert Dow wants to see this Christmas is on Brisbane's buses.
Mr Dow, the public figurehead of public transport advocacy group Rail Back on Track, said advertising wraps on buses and CityCats blocked passengers' clear vision and constituted a "very major security risk".
![Public transport advocates want advertising wraps to be removed from Brisbane buses and CityCats.](/web/20161223211337im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/f/v/9/j/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtfvz3.png/1482302463812.jpg)
"It is not possible to see into the vehicles," he said.
"It will only take one security incident to be compromised by advertising wrap blocking vision to see it promptly removed.
![Four per cent of Brisbane buses are covered in advertising wraps.](/web/20161223211337im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/f/v/9/l/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtfvz3.png/1482302463812.jpg)
"How about the authorities being proactive and removing it now, before there is an incident?"
It was not the first complaint about the practice.
Resident Derek Tinkler blasted the wrappings during a public address in the Brisbane City Council chamber last year, in which he said looking out the covered windows was like "looking through netting all the time".
Mr Dow said Mr Tinkler's complaints were not uncommon.
![The view from inside a wrapped bus.](/web/20161223211337im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/f/w/2/i/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gtfvz3.png/1482302463812.jpg)
"We have had feedback from the public and members that these wraps do make it difficult to see out of, particularly at night, and can make it difficult to know location, and also make it difficult to see into the vehicles at any time," he said.
"In these troubled times this is also not a good security outcome.
"The advertising revenue gained from these wraps could be maintained by more appropriate advertising placement. For example, on areas of the vehicles away from windows, internally and externally.
"We call for the immediate removal of advertising wraps from window areas on all public transport vehicles."
But the council's public transport chairman, deputy mayor Adrian Schrinner, said just 4 per cent of the city's fleet were fully wrapped.
Six of Brisbane's 21 CityCats were wrapped, along with 44 of the council's 1209 buses.
"The wraps are all made from perforated material to maintain visibility through the windows for passengers and meet Australian standards," Cr Schrinner said.
"In response to public feedback, the wrap material was upgraded late last year to a more transparent product that has more perforations and viewing holes per square metre.
"Also, the past six Team Brisbane CityCats since late last year have had only partial or no wrapping over their windows."
Those "Team Brisbane" CityCats included homages to the city's national sporting teams, along with other themes of civic pride.
Cr Schrinner said that in the 2015-16 financial year, the council received $7.29 million in advertising revenue from all sources, including public transport.
A breakdown of revenue for bus wrapping was not available, he said.
Cr Schrinner said the advertising revenue was used to make improvements to bus services.
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