The bikes are moveable, but their real function is to stay parked for pedestrians, yourself for instance, to stop and stare. As they do so, a brand ambassador steps forward to hand out promotional material and talk up the product featured on the ad.

The bike kiosks are the idea of Velo Media of Wilmington, Del., and they're a venue fit for all four-seasons. The ad panels are 68 inches tall and weather protected.

“The bike is actually a novelty device,” says Betsy McLarney, CEO at Philadelphia-based EMC Outdoor, which markets the bikes. “These aren’t meant for riding because of the size of kiosk. But could they be moved? Absolutely.”

Campaigns can be arranged anywhere in the U.S. Advertisers have included Vidaza, a prescription drug, and a Sovereign Bank-Philadelphia Eagles promotional campaign. Velo Media partner Mike Whitmore says campaigns are measured by a number of variables, including how many promotional pieces are handed out. For a recent San Francisco campaign, the critical figure was hits to a web site that were generated from material handed out at the kiosk.