GM unintentionally insults college kids who ride transit and bikes

General Motors Co. is killing an ad aimed towards college students after receiving complaints that it makes fun of people who use bikes for transportation.

That ad has a headline stating, “reality sucks” and has a helmet clad man riding a bike who is passed by a cute young woman in the passenger seat of a car. It goes on to say, “Stop pedaling … start driving” and provides info about discount pricing for GM products.

Bikeportland.org states then when a potential customer goes to the website and sees another ad with a woman getting sprayed by rainwater from the street created by a GM vehicle.

“The content of the ad was developed with college students and was meant to be a bit cheeky and humorous and not meant to offend anybody,” said Tom Henderson, a GM spokesman.

The advertisement was widely panned on cycling blogs and in complaints to the company via Twitter.

There is a point where advertising can be blown out of proportion. Take a look at the majority of beer commercials.