GM campaign: "Stop pedaling...start driving"
10-12-11, 08:46 AM
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GM campaign: "Stop pedaling...start driving"
I think GM needs some more input on how cyclists feel about this. Totally inappropriate.
https://www.bikerumor.com/2011/10/12/...ving-campaign/
https://www.bikerumor.com/2011/10/12/...ving-campaign/
10-12-11, 09:22 AM
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Not inappropriate if it sells cars... You may not like the message, but if it sells cars then it has served its purpose. If it doesn't the message will change until they find one that works. In other words a self correcting problem... Something we seem to have forgotten in this land of the perpetually offended.
10-12-11, 09:45 AM
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Fair enough, though I do have to disagree that anything that achieves its purpose is appropriate. Taken one step further, if the ad said something along the lines of "Buy a car so you can run cyclists off the road rather than get run off the road yourself," would that be considered appropriate? Legal, sure, and it may even sell cars, but appropriate?
10-12-11, 09:57 AM
#5
You gonna eat that?
Fair enough, though I do have to disagree that anything that achieves its purpose is appropriate. Taken one step further, if the ad said something along the lines of "Buy a car so you can run cyclists off the road rather than get run off the road yourself," would that be considered appropriate? Legal, sure, and it may even sell cars, but appropriate?
I think y'all are too thin skinned.
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I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
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"However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
10-12-11, 10:42 AM
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Not inappropriate if it sells cars... You may not like the message, but if it sells cars then it has served its purpose. If it doesn't the message will change until they find one that works. In other words a self correcting problem... Something we seem to have forgotten in this land of the perpetually offended.
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
10-12-11, 10:46 AM
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wow, regardless of the potential message received by some people, that ad is just plain cheesy. GM should be ashamed on multiple levels.
10-12-11, 10:50 AM
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As I stated in my email to them, I just bought a new chevy truck last year, the first chevy I have owned in decades. If they think so little of me as a cyclist, perhaps it will be my last chevy too. Yeah, great sales tool, offend a percentage of your customers because you don't take the time to understand their demographic make-up prior to getting all cutesy.
10-12-11, 11:22 AM
#10
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more on this parallel thread : in Commuting...
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...rs-onto-Campus
American girls expect to go in the guy's car, on a date.
I bet it's still OK to ride on the rear of the bike rack on a date in Amsterdam.
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...rs-onto-Campus
American girls expect to go in the guy's car, on a date.
I bet it's still OK to ride on the rear of the bike rack on a date in Amsterdam.
Last edited by fietsbob; 10-12-11 at 11:28 AM.
10-12-11, 12:09 PM
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Put Obama on a bike instead of his diesel-hogging busses! I thought he believed in "global warming". GM is after all, ObamaMotors. Laughable.
10-12-11, 12:11 PM
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I think GM needs some more input on how cyclists feel about this. Totally inappropriate.
https://www.bikerumor.com/2011/10/12/...ving-campaign/
https://www.bikerumor.com/2011/10/12/...ving-campaign/
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/harvey..._b_144154.html
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My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
10-12-11, 12:15 PM
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Just about anything one says in public (like an ad) will offend someone. For advertising the issue is does it increase sales... If it does, then those who are offended are irrelevant, if it doesn't the ad goes away and those that are offended are still irrelevant... It is a simple fact that even the offended who then decide to never do business with the company who offended them largely change their minds if they really want a product from the company...
Hey, if we start ticking off our irrelevant existing and future customers, will the government bail us out too?
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
10-12-11, 12:19 PM
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I'm offended by stupidity...which is perhaps why our company has managed to stay in business for the last 90+ years without needing the government to bail us out or our workers to concede to lower pay and benefits, ya think?
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
10-12-11, 12:22 PM
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Maybe GM isn't as arrogant as some of the advertising gurus in here after all?
GM is backing down pretty hard according to thier twitter. They were taking a lot of crap from this.
https://twitter.com/#!/GM
"Wanted 2 let you know we are making changes to the campaign from this feedback. We didn't mean any offense--our apologies."
"Thanks for recognizing the change! Sorry again for any offense."
"wanted to make sure people knew we were listening! Grateful for social media for the conversation."
over and over and over.
https://twitter.com/#!/GM
"Wanted 2 let you know we are making changes to the campaign from this feedback. We didn't mean any offense--our apologies."
"Thanks for recognizing the change! Sorry again for any offense."
"wanted to make sure people knew we were listening! Grateful for social media for the conversation."
over and over and over.
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
10-12-11, 12:29 PM
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If I'm irrelevant I guess they won't mind if I purchase my next 30k vehicle from another vendor. Yeah, that's a great way to do business...I'm amazed that we've been in business since 1919 without adopting this brilliant ad strategy!
Hey, if we start ticking off our irrelevant existing and future customers, will the government bail us out too?
Hey, if we start ticking off our irrelevant existing and future customers, will the government bail us out too?
So you gripe about the bailout, yet you had no problem buying a vehicle from a company that received that bailout? Either you didn't care that much, or you prove my point that even the offended don't actually let that dictate what the will or will not buy...
10-12-11, 12:44 PM
#17
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
The cyclist does not present much of an income base to GM or their financial division... we should not forget that GM is in the business of making loans.
Those who choose to adopt sustainable living practices like cycling, re-using, and re-cycling who ignore the constant pressure to buy now and pay later are contrary to what business and banks want as it cuts into their profits.
You have to start these kids out early on their road to debt slavery ya know...
Those who choose to adopt sustainable living practices like cycling, re-using, and re-cycling who ignore the constant pressure to buy now and pay later are contrary to what business and banks want as it cuts into their profits.
You have to start these kids out early on their road to debt slavery ya know...
10-12-11, 01:13 PM
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More than 20 million new bikes were sold in 2000, a record high. Throughout the 1990s, sales averaged more than 16 million bikes per year, including more than 11 million “adult” bicycles. The bicycle industry generated sales totaling $5.89 billion in 2000. More than 5,400 specialty bicycle dealers and 1,000 companies are involved in the manufacture, distribution, and sales of bicycles in the United States."
https://www.bikeleague.org/media/facts/#sold
https://www.bikeleague.org/media/facts/#sold
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
10-12-11, 01:14 PM
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10-12-11, 01:32 PM
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MY 2010 Silverado has been problem free...but of course that's just anecdotal. Of course no good deed goes unpunished...I give them a chance and their marketing morons piss in my wheaties!
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
10-12-11, 01:34 PM
#22
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Anyway, I don't believe "offended" is quite the right term anyway. I think "saddened" is probably more appropriate. Keep in mind that less cyclists equates to less trails, less bike paths, less MUPs, etc. I doubt there are many (if any) people on this board who are okay with less places to ride their bike. While obviously this ad alone isn't going to radically change the tide of how many people are ridng bikes, the "stop pedaling, stop driving" mentality is toxic. And to assume that media such as this advertisement does nothing to influence the public's view of bicycles is naive. If the ad doesn't influence anyone, it's not doing a very good job as an advertisement, is it?
10-12-11, 01:42 PM
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True, and I said something along those lines about using that as an excuse not to date girls in college, but something about your phrasing makes me think of 40 year old virgin and the girl not understanding what Steve Carrell meant when he said he wanted to put his bike in her "trunk".
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10-12-11, 02:27 PM
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No, that is not a simple fact, unless you define 'cyclist' as only the uber-enthusiasts, as many in here like to do. Consider this:
Think about that for a minute...while many of us, the uber-enthusiasts, may buy new bikes each year (I've been slipping, I haven't bought a new one in two years), most people buy a new bike that lasts them for many years. So at a rate of say 11 million new "adult" bikes a year, with an average life of 10 years, one could make the case that a good 1/3 of the population own and ride bikes...hardly a number that you'd want to discount lightly. Indeed, compare that to the 4.5 million new firearms sold each year....does anyone think gun owners are irrelevant and fair game to offend in their ad campaigns?
Think about that for a minute...while many of us, the uber-enthusiasts, may buy new bikes each year (I've been slipping, I haven't bought a new one in two years), most people buy a new bike that lasts them for many years. So at a rate of say 11 million new "adult" bikes a year, with an average life of 10 years, one could make the case that a good 1/3 of the population own and ride bikes...hardly a number that you'd want to discount lightly. Indeed, compare that to the 4.5 million new firearms sold each year....does anyone think gun owners are irrelevant and fair game to offend in their ad campaigns?
Oh, and gun owners are routinely the but of jokes/ads much like the GM one... All one has to do is turn on the TV... Don't you know that those that own guns are macho, paranoid rednecks?
10-12-11, 02:46 PM
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GM's so stupid,that ad is being talked about in every media source available.......really stupid!
Almost as bad as Lindsay Lohan getting in a fight.......
Free is free......
Come on folks,it's not real,it's made to sell cars.......Do you really think Fruit Loops are good for you also?
Almost as bad as Lindsay Lohan getting in a fight.......
Free is free......
Come on folks,it's not real,it's made to sell cars.......Do you really think Fruit Loops are good for you also?
Last edited by Booger1; 10-12-11 at 02:51 PM.