| Energy hog offends thin-skinned bikers |
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| Wednesday, 28 December 2005 | |
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Newhouse News Service - Houston Chronicle - chron.com WASHINGTON - The Bush administration's use of a leather-jacketed "energy hog" as a humorous mascot to promote energy conservation has left one group unamused — motorcyclists. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, a Washington group that pushes law-abiding riding, complained in a recent letter to Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman that the energy-wasting cartoon beast unfairly evokes stereotypes of gas-guzzling outlaw bikers. "We think it's somewhat juvenile, considering motorcycles are one of the most efficient vehicles on the road," said Jeff Hennie, the foundation's vice president for government relations. Harley-Davidson has taken steps to control the word "hog" as a description for only its motorcycles, including trademarking the name. A 1999 U.S. Appeals Court ruling, however, held that the word was just generic as applied to large motorcycles. The Energy Department, meanwhile, has assured the Motorcycle Riders Foundation that it the agency is using the mascot only to grab the attention of children. Related Articles:Get Your Motor RunningCanadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame Announces New Inductees Harley-Davidson selling Ride Atlas with Rand McNally SGI Rate Proposal Motorcycling in the Rain SGI tunes strategy to promote motorcycle safety Tips for buying a new or used motorcycle |
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 07 January 2008 ) |
