I recently saw this Hyundai commercial on YouTube where a series of individuals drive Hyundai cars while the Blondie song "One Way or Another" plays in the background. As the song plays and the drivers commute around town, different obstacles try to "get" the driver– a sleeping trucker, a serviceman in an uncovered manhole, and distracted teenagers on their cellphones. Fortunately, different safety features of the Hyundai purportedly keep the driver safe.
While I think a lot of the commercial is fine and dandy, the part I find problematic is that one of the obstacles that are "out to get" the driver is a small group of road cyclists. The cyclists are depicted running through a yellow/red light just moments before Hyundai drivers try to accelerate. Instead, they brake hard and shake their heads in frustration at the cyclists.
I think this is problematic because it paints road cycling in a bad light. It reinforces the idea that all cyclists are breaking rules and cycling dangerously. It also gives the vibe that the roads aren't for cyclists and should only be for people in cars. I despise the societal understanding that cyclists only cause trouble. And I wholeheartedly disagree with the sentiment that cyclists should not be on the road.
Am I being crazy and reading into this too much?
I couldn't find the commercial on YouTube, but you can view it here on Instagram