Clear Channel DJ's call for car ASSAULTS on cyclists

[underpants]

Four wheels good, two wheels bad.

LA Times article included
http://bikehouston.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=257

The first of the anticyclist diatribe occurred last July in Cleveland, when WMJI-FM disc jockeys suggested cyclists be rammed off the road. One of those who got on the phone to defend cyclists was Lois Cowan, who co-owns four bike shops in the Cleveland area.

"I was repeatedly called a buffoon, an idiot and a PMS sufferer who couldn't take a joke," she said. "Then there were three hours of calls from people saying, 'Yeah, you guys are right.' "

The Houston incident also took place in September, and the timing of the show infuriated the city's cycling community. On Aug. 30, a woman driving a pickup truck had lost control and slammed into a 20-bike pace line, killing two riders and injuring eight others. Three days later, the disc jockeys at station KLOL-FM went on their antibiking rampage, setting off another round of protests.

In the latest example, at Raleigh station WDCG-FM, disc jockeys Bob Dumas and Madison Lane began their rant against cyclists on Sept. 22. In the course of the program, listeners flooded their telephone lines to vent about cyclists, including one woman who boasted that her father intentionally hit one while they were on the way to church. One of the DJs promoted the joys of hitting cyclists with Yoohoo bottles.

Clear Channel, for its part, said through a spokesperson that each station was "operated and produced independently," and "each station is working to correct the problem in their city."

In 2001, 728 cyclists were killed in accidents involving motor vehicles in the United States. And an additional 45,000 cyclists were injured.

[niyad]

1. that is because all cyclists are liberals, don't you know. .

and exterminating them is a good thing. since clear channel is very much right-wing, this is not surprising

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

36. That's right!

All decent, God-loving, Americans drive SUV's. And they bigger the SUV, the more you love America and our Lord God Jesus Christ.

[Skittles]

2. I.................................ER.....................................

intentionally hit a cyclist on his way to church? I...............:puke:

[underpants]

4. Oh that's okay surely he was absolved of all sin within an hour

Yeah that is one of the things that got me too.

[arcane1]

3. not much petro profit on cycling

the un-American cyclists don't realize that we are fighting a war for OIL, and that using self-propelled transportation only weakens our resolve, and gives comfort to our enemies

/sarcasm


:wtf: is this country becoming????

[underpants]

9. It's a country in a big hurry to have someone else do things for you

~"Damnit! I can't get by this guy on a bicycle in my huge SUV and Damnit! I have go pick up fat little Carson and Jordan from the daycare they got to during the day and then go to the grocery store, where the bag boys better bag those things right and not take too long taking them to my SUV, and then go to the drive through to get dinner because Damnit! my bookclub went to long and I couldn't make dinner or well I don't really want to........"

ON EDIT- It is a violent nation only aware of the PUNSIHMENT part of the freakin' LAW and without out the home training that used to teach basic human compassion.

[SmileyBoy]

11. That's a PERFECT impression of that lifestyle!!!

I'm LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!

[underpants]

14. Trust me I am on the frontier of the "Westend Wandas" of Richmond

and yes they are just like that.

[arcane1]

16. Richmond natives rock!

:hi:

though I don't recall seeing many cycles when I lived there... doubt they would be well-received..

[mhr]

5. Besides, If More People Cycled, They Might Actually Talk

with one another.

This would surely undermine the right-wing once people started comparing notes.

[enough]

6. Do we actually need two countries?

This is unbelievable, but not much worse than cyclists have reported around here (Philly western suburbs).

[underpants]

12. This was in our "Flair "(lifestyle) section of the Richmond Times-Dispatch

There has been a raging fight on the "Letters to the Editors" section where threats have actually been made and their names signed to it.

Ridiculous.

[WoodrowFan]

21. How? What? Huh?

"There has been a raging fight on the "Letters to the Editors" section where threats have actually been made and their names signed to it."

How in the world could anybody DEFEND harrassing bikers??

You need to move up north to Fairfax/Arlington man!

[ochazuke]

7. I was a victim of anti-cycling violence

Some kids in a red pickup hit me square in the forehead with a water balloon. I thought it was a brick for 1/1000 sec. I haven't cycled since.

My friend stopped years ago after being pelted with coke bottles.

[bahrbearian]

17. I've been hit by bottles, three times..

Swerved at many times, I don't ride much anymore!!

[7th_Sephiroth]

35. some @sshole did toss a brick at me

i returned fire with a .50 cal bullet to thier tire

[Lorien]

8. Once again, they only pick on those

who are least able to defend themselves. Fucking brainwashed homicidal cowards! This is indeed a war against liberalism AND the poor-since people without four wheels often opt for bicycles.

[bahrbearian]

18. If they stopped I'd have kick their asses

Cyclist are in good shape!

[BiggJawn]

22. They'd be in for a surprise with some CIBA folk I knew...

Swerve at a bike, get a .380 cap busted at you.

First, I don't have problems like that out here where I ride. Geez, if people in Indy had been as courteous as the truck drivers out here, I would've ridden more when I lived there.
"Smack the Biker with the Right Mirror" hasn't caught on as a past-time yet, and I hope it never does.

And that could be because there are no Clear-Channel, Inc. stations in my area.

Cause and Effect?

There's 3 kinds of bikers out here. Health nuts like me, either beginners or the guys in the 30-MPH+ pace lines, Families ( I saw 3 Dad's out with their kids riding in various places today!)

and....

The "moran" who finally got his driver's license lifted for too many OWI arrests. You usually see him early in the morning/late night, no lights, no helmet, weaving along on a trashed-out Huffy with the hadlebars flipped up into the "DWI position"...

I can only hope that the third type gets his Karma, because he's probably guilty of running afew folks off the road hisself....

[T Roosevelt]

10. Perfect opp for Lance Armstrong to speak up

Where is he?

[underpants]

15. Indeed (his email?) Wonder what do our fellow two-wheelers think of this?

Get the Harley riders involved and all these weaka**es who think they are tough hitting cyclists in their cars will cowar from the light.

I know several avid cyclists and I will pass this around to them as well as some bikers I know. Cyclists might look skiny but I wouldn't mess with some of them, especially the mountain bikers ( a really tough lot).

[HuckleB]

19. Bikers of all stripes can help each other.

My wife was hit by a drunk driver last year while on her bike. Luckily she wasn't hurt, and luckily three motorists stopped and acted as witnesses for her. Two of them regularly ride motorcycles, and have had their share of run-ins with motor vehicles. Their help was paramount in catching the guy, who ended up fleeing the scene.

[HuckleB]

13. It's a nasty world out there.

This is sick. What's sicker is that millions of our fellow citizens will likely defend the actions of these DJs and their parent company.

[dfong63]

20. fuck clear channel

[Wolvie]

23. but you'll notice

ppl in cars that don't like bikers sure don't express themselves that much when they drive past 30 or so hell's angels do they ? cowardly bastards !

[BiggJawn]

24. When will the Media Comglomerates be brought to heel?

"Aw, f'Kryst'sake, People, it's JUST A RADIO SHOW!!!"
This ain't the first time ClearChannel's done this.

Gush Pfleghmball: "I'm just an Entertainer!" (yeah, one who gets invited on sunday Morning Pundit shows?)

The Dixie Chick flap: "It's an independant action on the part of a coupla hundred of our stations. We had nothing to do with it..."

And now this. In 3 cities so far, too.

Unfortunately, Colon Bowell's son is too busy "Cheerleading New (crappy) Technology"(that puts money in my Patrone's campaign fund) to do the regulating thing that is the FCC's REAL job...

[short bus president]

25. overt radio threats against cyclists are wrong.

However, I cannot support the notion that I should always happily give right of way to someone travelling in my lane who has no hope of ever approaching the speed limit. Roads are for cars. Bike paths are for bikes. I do not drive on your bike paths. Kindly return the favor by keeping your 15MPH peddle-toy out of my way on the road.

Motorcyclists are a whole different matter - they most often go (at least) the speed limit.

[arcane1]

26. actually, the roads pre-date cars..

I'm just saying :evilgrin:

[Karenina]

28. Hey dude!!!

What's the fickin' "hurry?" Don't forget to smell the roses!;-)

[BiggJawn]

31. Short Bus, go read the freaking Universal Vehicle Code.

You'll find out that Bicycles are legally vehicles, and as such accorded every right to the road that your Short Bus or motorcycle is. I ain't no fuckin' second-class citizen just because I'm not packing 400 cubic inches in my pants.

And WHAT, my friend, would you suggest to those of us who live in areas without bike paths, or where the bike paths are poorly maintained, choked with broken beer bottles and other trash thrown out by the oh-so-superior gasoline burners, or freaking yuppie scum pushing their SUV-sized baby buggies?

Frankly, I find your motor vehicle arrogance appalling.

Do you feel the same way about anyone who isn't going fast enough to suit you, or just the human-powered vehicles?

[prolesunited]

34. They took away

the emoticon I would like to use here.

Who says YOU own the road? I pay the taxes that helped get that road built, too, and if I choose to ride my bike on it, it's my legal right to do that.

I actually prefer bike paths to roads, but unfortunately there just aren't enough of them.

[General Discontent]

37. I ride every day.......

you say:

"However, I cannot support the notion that I should always happily give right of way to someone travelling in my lane who has no hope of ever approaching the speed limit. Roads are for cars. Bike paths are for bikes. I do not drive on your bike paths. Kindly return the favor by keeping your 15MPH peddle-toy out of my way on the road.:dunce:"

I say: :wtf:

You are a complete idiot and anytime you want to crawl out of your steel cage of courage, I'd be glad to teach you why you need to learn a little patience and give cyclists their legal right of way. Also, MORAN, paved roads were originally for bicycles.... and given the opportunity to ride on a bike path instead of riding near cars, I choose bike paths every time. Do you know why? You idiot car drivers can't even drive without killing each other all the fucking time! Over 40,000+ a year! Get a clue!

D Wolfman

[KG]

38. gee, and i used to think you were pretty cool.

[Ellen Forradalom]

40. Calvin's dad wants a word with you

The concept that all have a right to the road comes from English common law and predates the automobile by many centuries.

[KG]

27. another fine example of how sick this county is getting.

excuse me if i disagree with the 'america is the greatest!' morons.

this country sucks.

[name not needed]

29. its just for ratings

[KG]

30. not an acceptable justification! it's still sick!

first, that the sick fuckers would say such sick shit on the radio, and even sicker is the many sick morons that called in to agree with the sick fuckers. :grr:

[toddzilla]

32. this is why i took up mountain biking..

i used to be a road rider, but ignorant motorists gave me fits.


it's much harder to get hit by a car in the woods.

[comsymp]

33. I'm not buying the story's spin

At least, not in its entirety.

Having been a listener to the Raleigh station since the late 80's, I'm quite familiar with Bob & Madison. Contrary to the author's editorializing, these guys are NOT shock jocks. They're just your basic AM Drivetime team, one avowed Con, one Lib (Atlantans would recognize them immediately as an intelligent, funny version of Steve and Vicki). Yeah, they do some pretty inane things occasionally and Bob does have a tendency to say some pretty dumb shit but I seriously doubt that they were calling for a fatwa against cyclists- too many cyclists in their listener demo's, for starters.

Hell, even the cyclist/cop is reported to have heard ABOUT the broadcast, not to have been offended firsthand. I smell journalistic slant.

[Spirochete]

39. Then that governor's wife

took them at their word and actually did it. Bizarre timing on that one, for sure.