I have to take a middle ground here guys (and gals). While DD is not necessarily advocating violence against bike riders it's a lot more plausible and realistic than the Three Stooges or Wile E. Cayote. Believe it or not we are pretty vulnerable out on the streets. There is also some pent up anger on the part of cagers. I got yelled at by a passenger in a passing car today who thought it was funny to get close and yell at me. In high school I had a friend who used to steal fire extinguishers from apartment complexes. One day he sprayed the thing at a bicyclist and knocked the guy over with the stream. He eventually got caught stealing the things and had to do a ton of community service. But the point remains that idiots out there rarely need an excuse, and even less motivation to take pot shots at us. Car commuters are pissed because (I assume): 1) They're usually stuck in traffic jams while we cruise right on by, 2) They're lazy and out of shape and they loath those who don't conform to a sedentary lifestyle. 3) They view bicyclists as second class citizens who are a nusance rather than a commuter with equal rights on the road. Whatever the reason I think it's dangerous to show images that portray people knocking people off bikes.

With that said....screaming at DD for airing this advertising won't work and probably would lessen the chances that they would take you seriously. But a thoughtful e-mail or letter that mentions the points above about cyclists being harrassed and sometimes attacked on the road ways, and how vulverable we can be to people when we are on our bikes, might get them to rethink, especially if you mention that if there were some copy cat incidents out there they would probably lose more money in lawsuits than those commercials have made for their crappy product since the campaigns inception.

I too love a good joke...and physical humor is good stuff as far as I'm concerned. But there are a lot of mindless people out there who already dislike cyclists and don't need any encouragement to do something stupid. I mean people thought those bum fighting videos were just pure comedic entertainment....until assaults on bums by non-bums increased dramatically over the last several years and two 20-something kids are on trial right now for beating a bum to death. From what I understand they watched some of those videos.

Just my 2 cents

I see where you're coming from, but I believe that there is a vast difference between the Bumfights videos and a 30 second TV commercial.

I have not had any confrontation even slightly resembling the DD commercial. The only confrontations I have had were motorists who were stressed out and needed a scapegoat (happened twice). One threatened to beat me up, one yelled at me to get on the sidewalk, and then asked "what are you looking at" when I caught up with them at the light.

I don't feel that the DD advertisement had any effect on motorists. If it did, we're in a much worse state than I anticipated.

Krispy Kreme
 

I tell you when they started all the crazy expansion I began to believe things were going to blow up in their face. They have an uber store in my town here...directly across the street from the old one frome the early 60's....I love the old place...filled with chainsmoking grey haired old bitties makin' some of the best coffee in town...I used to go to the old one quite a bit...I have yet to set foot in the starbuckstyle/salon they've opened.

Want a coffee and donut? For cyclists, of course its Tim Horton's!

Of all the food chains, Tim Horton's is the only one that provide bicycle racks for all its stores in the Ottawa area, in partnership with the City Council. You could even win a Raleigh bicycle in their "roll up the rim" progam.

Go to McDonald's, Harvey's, KFCs, Burger Kings, Dunkun Donuts, etc., and see it for yourself.

I was at a Tim's during that whole "roll up the rim" thing and after struggling for 5 minutes trying to figure out how, exactly, one rolls up a rim, I threw the cup out.

Why can't they stick with the little peel-off stickers like every other fast food chain?!

That would be me then. Degree and Ph.D. in Physics and I can't add up for the life of me.

Ed

Actually, it's me, too. Arithmetic always bored the hell out of me, but algebra was always pretty engrossing. I even took a refresher course in college algebra a few years ago just for fun, if that shows you how big a nerd I am. :eek:

Fancy a donut?

:beer:

You are not the guy in Montreal who threw the cup out, but it turned out to be a prize for a Toyota?

I was attacked by the aroma of donuts as I passed a dunkin donuts on my commute home the other day. smelled good. too bad I dont really like donuts:o

I've often thought about starting a tongue in cheek thread in this forum, but there would be no way to beat this thread in sheer perpetually offended-ness. I'm glad people keep it bumped.

I find that suggestion wholly and unforgivably offensive ;)