Stupid anti-bike Dodge Ad - Write a letter!
Dear Change Everything Community,
I recently encountered this ad while parusing one of my favorite newspapers. It shocked me, and I took the time to write a letter to both Chrysler Canada and the newspaper who printed it.
I would appriciate if you could raise awareness of the ad among your biking friends, and I encourage you and your friends to write similar letters to Chrysler (or just personalise the letter I sent). Physical Letters are always encouraged, but you can also fill out a form online here http://www-5.dodge.ca/wccs-ca/index_en.jsp.
Thank you for your help!
Elena
The Ad and Letter here: 
December 9, 2007
Chrysler Canada Customer Assistance Center
P. O. Box 1621
Windsor, Ontario, N9A 4H6
Subject: “It’s time you got your first new car!” Vehicle Ad
I am writing to comment on the Dodge/Jeep add featuring a picture of a winter mountain biker combined with the words “it’s time you got your first new car”. Encouraging people to abandon ecological friendly activity in favour of buying any kind of vehicle is preposterous, implying that buying a vehicle is a step up. In an age of growing consumer ecological awareness, using an image of outdoor biking, is an incredibly conflicting and distasteful message. In a word, your ad discourages both an active lifestyle, and an ecologically conscious one. You should be ashamed of yourselves.
I am currently circulating a notice and a copy of the ad to a number of my biking enthusiast friends, and am requesting that they boycott Jeep/Dodge products in the future. I know that I will now never buy a Dodge/Jeep product myself. I highly object to the ad and the message it presents and request that you remove it from circulation.
Thank you for your attention to this issue,
Sincerely,
Elena Harder
Odious. I wrote the
Odious.
I wrote the following letter to Chrysler Canada. If you find inspiration in what I've written, please borrow freely.
I am writing to comment on the Dodge/Jeep add featuring a picture of a winter mountain biker combined with the words “it’s time you got your first new car”. The ad implies that the bicycle is an inferior form of transportation. It is extemely objectionable to imply that the bicycle, an ecologically sound form of transportation and good method of physical fitness is somehow less valid a form of transportation than a motor vehicle. The add suggests that owning a car is a mark of attainment.
The bicycle is a liberating, healthy, smart form of transportation for commuting and touring in all weather. The bicycle is a simple, human-powered vehicle that has empowered people who do not have the economic means to afford expensive motor vehicles.
Chrysler owes it to the many people who rely on bicycles for commuting and touring to promote the bicycle as a valid, safe, ecologically sound form of transportation just as worthy of the road as any motorized transportation, and foster a positive and responsible attitude towards cyclists in those consumers who chose to buy, drive and maintain their products on the roads they share with cyclists.
I request that you remove the ad from circulation and promote respect for the bicycle and those who chose to ride have to rely on bicycles as a means of transportation.
Respectfully,
Elizabeth Scally
erizabesu in Japan
www.erizabesu.typepad.com
PS Got an automated response from Chrysler in my inbox Jan 13th. No live human being responded so far. Any response on your end?