Bicyclists Accuse DJs of Inciting Attacks

Associated Press ^ | 11/01/03 | CONNIE MABIN

[GWB00]

CLEVELAND - Bicyclists are demanding that the nation's largest radio group be punished because disc jockeys at three stations made on-air comments they say encouraged drivers to throw bottles at bike riders or hit them with open car doors.

They say the morning show hosts at Clear Channel Communications stations in Cleveland, Houston and Raleigh, N.C., also suggested motorists blast horns at cyclists, and speed past them and slam on their brakes in front of them.

"DJs encouraging the masses to hurt people in any form is insipid, and should not go unpunished," said Edwin D. Reeves, 30, a cyclist and ceramic engineer in St. Louis.

Clear Channel, based in San Antonio, owns roughly 1,200 radio stations in the United States.

The company won't release transcripts or tapes of the broadcasts, but the three stations apologized on the air and Clear Channel donated $10,000 and air time to promote bicycle safety.

"We deeply regret that comments made by on-air personalities were misinterpreted. Clear Channel does not condone violence in any form and we are committed to working with the cycling community to improve cycling safety," chief executive John Hogan said in a statement.

Clear Channel, which said it was coincidental that similar comments came from three stations, said it told the stations to refer questions to corporate headquarters. It wouldn't say if the disc jockeys were disciplined.

The comments started June 30 on WMJI in Cleveland when one of the morning show personalities complained that a group of bicyclists had held him up in traffic near his home.

"The other guys started chiming in," said listener Don Barnett, service manager at Century Cycles in Medina. "Then it escalated. People started calling in."

Similar remarks came weeks later on WDCG-FM in Raleigh and KLOL-FM in Houston.

Lois Cowan, 42, who owns the Century Cycles shops in the Cleveland area, filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (news - web sites) asking it to fine the company or take away the licenses of the three stations.

"They shouldn't be advocating things that kill people," Cowan said.

She says she's received more than 5,000 e-mails from cyclists about the issue.

Dorothy Nance of Raleigh said she and her husband sold their Clear Channel stock after she heard the bicycle comments on WDCG on Sept. 22.

Nance said the announcers were "egging listeners on, by encouraging harm to cyclists." Suggestions included throwing soft drink bottles, she said.

Thomas F. Valone, owner of seven outdoor clothing and equipment stores in North Carolina, pulled "a few thousand dollars" worth of advertising from the Raleigh station because of the comments.

FCC (news - web sites) lawyers refuse to comment on specific complaints.

"We got a complaint about that and we are acting on that," FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell told the cyclists.

[GWB00]

I am a huge bicyclist and I get annoyed when drivers come to close to me on the road or honk at me.

However, this entire article that was published today goes back to comments made on July 2, 2003. See enclosed link http://www.truesport.com/Bike/2003/news/idiot.html (Can someone help me on writing the HTML code to make this an actual link?)

The guy might have a legitimate complaint, but the four month delay in reporting this story indicates that this is another hit piece on Clear Channel.

Clear Channel is one of the largest owners of local radio stations that broadcast conservative talk radio on many of those stations.

[LayoutGuru2]

IDIOT ALERT

[sticker]

There are some bicyclists that seem to want find out how bad they can PO people. A prime example: One of the ways to my son's school is a two lane road. Every Sat. morning when I take him to band there is a group of bicyclists riding abreast taking up all of one lane and part of the oncoming lane. People like that you do want to throw something at.

[wku man]

Exactly. Many of the bike groups I encounter here in Pinellas Co. think "share the road" means "We'll ride three or four abreast, and you can pass us when the oncoming lane is clear". I agree that bikes have every right to the road as cars do, but if they don't ride single file, as far over to the right as they can, they're asking for whatever trouble they get.

Oh, and another thing...STOP signs apply to bicyclists, too. In Florida, they seem to think STOP signs are optional.

PS...CHEAP CHANNEL SUCKS!

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[Arkie2]

Insipid?

insipid

\In*sip"id\, a. [L. insipidus; pref. in- not + sapidus savory, fr. sapere to taste: cf. F. insipide. See Savor.] 1. Wanting in the qualities which affect the organs of taste; without taste or savor; vapid; tasteless; as, insipid drink or food. --Boyle.

2. Wanting in spirit, life, or animation; uninteresting; weak; vapid; flat; dull; heavy; as, an insipid woman; an insipid composition.

[LasVegasMac]

I am a huge bicyclist and I get annoyed when drivers come to close to me on the road or honk at me.

Just how big of a bicylist are you?...realy hugh?

I also get very annoyed...when bicylist's (large or small) ignore traffic control devices, insist on performing death defying feats of stupidity such as riding abreast in the traffic lanes, playing chicken with vehicles, etc.

The brazen stupidity of some just amazes me. They have a right to the road as well as I do, but they forget that they will be the grease spot on the road should something happen.

LVM

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

I don't know about parents who buy their kids toys and tell them to go play in traffic.

[Lunatic Fringe]

How is this different from some of the things Michael Savage encourages on his program? Personal responsibility, folks!

[LibKill]

Back in the day, when I was too poor to own a motor vehicle, I rode a bycicle.

I obeyed the rules of the road, including right-of-way as if I were in a car.

These modern-day bike-punks are just breaking the law for the sake of breaking the law.

I can appreciate that, but only if they are honest about it.

[sticker]

When the lane is the entire road, I think thats a little to much, don't you? If bicyclists want to take up the entire road, lets make them pay a wheel tax.

[Drango]

People like that you do want to throw something at.

Clymer! I guess your excuse is that wanting to do it, and doing it are two different things. Throwing things at a bicyclist can kill them. And no matter how rude you preceive a bicyclist to be, it doesn't warrent a death sentence.

[paulklenk]

There was another thread on this a while back. I have to say: Those DJs should get what is coming to them. They are a menace. They need to be fined and kicked off the air, and the stations' licenses need to be revoked for being a public menace.

I'm willing to concede that the DJs are doing this purely for entertainment value, to boost their ratings with controversy and inciting people's tempers. But what they don't seem to know is, there are a lot of stupid, suggestable people out there (and unfortunately I've run into some of them even here at FR) who take what they say seriously. They get their knickers in a twist over bicyclists, because the listeners are lowbrow, hateful losers already. Next thing you know, they're actually finding ways to interfere with cyclists.

[sigSEGV]

Couldn't catch me riding a bike on the roads today. In my opinion, running is much safer, although I still get the honking and throwing of objects.

[sticker]

Do you and the people you ride with take over both lanes of a two lane road? As for taxes, in Tennessee roads are built and maintained using gas taxes and I haven't seen to many bikes using gas lately

[kaylar]

I've read published articles wherein it became obvious that the author thought-and the editor knew no better-that "swarthy" means fat, and "noisome" meant noisy.

[cavtrooper21]

I've found this too, act polite and get treated politely.
Most drivers will give you lots of room.
There are some that get stupid. I get a tag # and description of the driver and call the cops. Sometimes they even show up. Gets the point across.