McDonald’s “Now you can also cycle-thru” Lets Cyclists Pull Up to the Drive-Thru

McDonald’s has long owned the drive-thru lane. Now it’s opening that lane to a different kind of traveller. Created by TBWA to mark World Sustainable Transport Day, McDonald’s cycle-thru campaign – officially titled “Now you can also cycle-thru” – uses print visuals to announce that cyclists are welcome at the drive-thru window. The message is simple: you don’t need four wheels to get your order.

A Print Idea That Does the Heavy Lifting

The campaign is built on a clean visual premise. Rather than a film or digital activation, TBWA chose print advertising to carry the idea — a format that suits the directness of the message. The visuals show cyclists pulling up to a McDonald’s drive-thru, making the announcement feel matter-of-fact rather than promotional. No tagline gymnastics. No over-engineered concept. Just a policy change made visible.

The campaign is the work of photographer and creative Alberto Escudero, whose portfolio documents the project at alberto-escudero.com. The craft-led approach to the photography paid off: the campaign earned a Bronze at El Sol in the outdoor category and a Silver at CdeC for craft photography. It was also featured in Lürzers Archive’s 200 Best Photographers edition.

Sustainability Without the Lecture

World Sustainable Transport Day is the kind of occasion that brands often approach with heavy-handed messaging. McDonald’s and TBWA sidestepped that by making the campaign functional rather than preachy. There’s no manifesto. No carbon footprint statistic. The idea does the communicating: if you cycle to McDonald’s, you can still use the drive-thru. That’s the whole thing.

It’s a small policy shift turned into a campaign, which is a harder thing to pull off than it looks. The execution earns its place precisely because it doesn’t oversell the gesture.

Credits
Brand:McDonald’s
Agency: TBWA
Photographer / Creative: Alberto Escudero

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