Radio host infuriates cyclists

The Raleigh News & Observer ^ | 10/1/03 | BRUCE SICELOFF

[Hatteras]

Radio host infuriates cyclists

By BRUCE SICELOFF, Staff Writer

G105 radio host Bob Dumas told listeners last week that he just hated to see bicycle riders on the road. He laughed at stories about running cyclists down, and he talked up the idea of throwing bottles at bikers. It wasn't funny to cycling enthusiasts across the Triangle. This week they are lobbying government officials and local advertisers in a campaign to punish radio station WDCG and its corporate owner, Clear Channel of San Antonio, and to promote bicycle safety."One caller said her dad had purposely hit a biker on the road on the way to church one Sunday and kept on going," said G105 listener Holly N. Proctor of Cary on Tuesday of the Sept. 21 and 22 broadcasts. "That got laughs. Bob thought that was funny.

"And Bob said he'd love to be on a motorcycle and driving it down a bike lane. Because he didn't think bikers should be allowed on the road. He said they should ride on the sidewalk," she said.

Proctor, a photo technician at N.C. State University, joined two dozen fellow cyclists at a 5 p.m. protest outside the radio station's offices in North Raleigh.

Tom Norman , director of the N.C. Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation , said that reports about the broadcasts revealed dangerous ignorance of state law.

"I have talked to the G105 manager, who was not aware that it is legal to ride bicycles on the public roadways of North Carolina, that cycles are legally recognized as vehicles in North Carolina," Norman said. "Where do you draw the line? What is the distinction between humor and actually inciting or encouraging listeners to harass a group of people?"

Kenneth C. Spitzer, the station manager, declined to provide tapes or transcripts of the broadcasts to Norman or to a Capital Area transportation planning committee that discussed the controversy Tuesday.

In e-mail responses to several Triangle area residents who complained to the station, Spitzer said the "Bob and Madison " show aims to entertain listeners with "animated banter ... that can be both humorous and caustic." But he said some comments last week "went too far, and for that we sincerely apologize.

"Be assured that G105 does not advocate harm to cyclists," he wrote.

G105 is the third Clear Channel station to draw fire in the past four months for on-air comments perceived as advocating violence or animosity toward bicycle riders. Officials at WMJI in Cleveland and KLOL in Houston apologized in July and September for similar remarks. They agreed to broadcast "share the road" messages and to finance bicycle safety campaigns.

Leaders of the N.C. Bicycle Club outlined requests they said would help Clear Channel "mend relations with Triangle bicyclists," including similar public safety campaigns and a detailed apology.

Spitzer declined to comment. A corporate spokeswoman to whom inquiries were directed Tuesday did not return calls.

Members of area cycling clubs have shared copies over the past week of protest letters to the Federal Communications Commission, to state and local prosecutors and to G105 sponsors. Several critics noted that G105 radio hosts have sparked controversy in the past with crude stunts.

"It's one thing to drive around with a naked man on the radio station's van," said Raleigh lawyer Kimberly Bryan. "To encourage citizens to harm cyclists, that has crossed a different line. It's irresponsible. It's not caustic, it's not banter, it's not funny."

David Smith , 38, a software developer at UNC-Chapel Hill, took it personally. His right forearm still bears the scar of an attack by an Orange County motorist who found Smith cycling down a rural road one afternoon in April 2001.

"How are people going to take this, what was mentioned on G105?" Smith asked. "Are people going to say, 'You know, I'm tired of these cyclists?' Is that situation going to exacerbate what happened to me, with somebody else coming down a back road?"

After running Smith off the road, the driver stopped, chased him down on foot and struck him with a hatchet, sending him into a ditch and over the handlebars of his wrecked bike. Marvin Glenn Manring of Orange County pleaded guilty in July 2001 to assault with a deadly weapon. He promised to enroll in an anger management program.

Staff writer Bruce Siceloff can be reached at 829-4527 or bsicelof@newsobserver.com.

[Lazamataz]

At stops signs I'll wait my turn. At red lights more often than not I'll ride up to the red light. It's safer as to cross as the light changes from red to green or go across in the crosswalk.

Y'know, I just *knew* that about you. Yer a good egg, and you are serious about your workouts.

[Servant of the 9]

So what do you do if a car is slowing you down?

I lean on the horn and close in.
If that doesn't work, I gently tap their bumper, accidentally, of course.

SO9

[olorin]

I'm less interested in exercise than in getting to work on time and in one piece. But incase you missed it, the coloquy between Laz and I ended in hugs and friendship - try reading the whole thread.

[Lazamataz]

We need to clean up FR and make it a place for decent, civilized folks again, not losers who have to look around each day finding another group to resent.

I really resent losers who look around each day to find another group to resent.

[ArrogantBustard]

And convince the center-of-the-lane bike a'holes that maybe they are in the wrong.

If they're riding two abreast, they're probably violating the law. I'm fairly certain that they would be in Virginia, anyway. And the Critical Mess, Earth First arseholes could probably be gotten for obstructing traffic. I wouldn't mind seeing the whole ruddy lot in court. Give e'm thirty days. And make them shower. For the first time in years.

I, at least, am very careful to stay as far to the right as is safe. Most cyclists I see around here (northern and central Virginia) do likewise. Even on Skyline Drive. The overheated rhetoric on this thread, however, comes across as a threat to my life.

Most of the motorists in the Old Dominion treat cyclists with courtesy. But there are a few murderous arseholes out there, and they range from shirtless rednecks in pickup trucks to BUPpies in Beemers.

Rude cyclists belong in traffic court.

Murderous motorists belong in prison. Or the grave.

[RoughDobermann]

If I can't hit it right at 5-5:30

Ain't that the truth! My personal favorite time is Saturday mid-morning. It's always fun to spot the folks who have just started cycling; you know, $4,000 bike with $1,000 of accessories. And, of course, a yellow US Postal Team jersey. Still, at least they're out there trying to get fit...

[BlazingArizona]

Sometimes. This wasn't one of those times. I thought olorin was a Militant Bicylcist for a moment there, and I *hate* those people. You know, the Berkely-type Bike In The Middle Of The Road Just To Piss Off Motorists - types.

This mentality is a function of the area, not the choice of vehicle. I've seen bikers in San Francisco behave the way you describe; in Arizona, they are people who drive on weekdays.

[Lazamataz]

I'm less interested in exercise than in getting to work on time and in one piece. But incase you missed it, the coloquy between Laz and I ended in hugs and friendship - try reading the whole thread.

I'm a little annoyed that when we kissed you wouldn't slip me any tongue.

[Cronos]

Well, you shoulda done it to that dude. But don't blame the bicyclists that do follow the rules because of the actions of that nut.

I was in Atlanta traffic recently and a bicyclist was LITERALLY in the MIDDLE of the road doing his 10 mile an hour schtick. As people managed to pass him, they beeped their horns at this selfish f***. His response was to throw them each the bird. I would have liked to have been at the front of that line. My brakes are a little funny and the clutch pops suddenly a lot, causing for accidental accelerations. What a shame if I had hit that nice young man!

[Skip Ripley]

Kids...geez! Just last week I had a little girl who could not have been more than three or four enter the trail directly in front of me from a side entrance. She was low enough that she was in behind the fence line wheere I couldn't see her coming. Thankfully, I was able to pass her. I think I could have jumped her, but man....

Her mom was about 10ft behind her. Would this woman have let her wander onto the street like that? I willnever understand that kind of behavior.

[Lazamataz]

Rude cyclists belong in traffic court.

Murderous motorists belong in prison. Or the grave.

Can I at least think murderous thoughts?

[ArrogantBustard]

Without bile, this thread wouldn't have made it past #50.

[Xenalyte]

I used to walk to work (about a mile, but no joke in lovely tropical humid Houston). I can't tell y'all how many dipshits threw stuff at me on my way to work. Once, someone introduced my upper back to a mostly-full beer - at seven in the morning. Ugh.

[bicycle thug]

"The answer is bike lanes with TOLLS. To make it easier on the bikers they can get an e-z pass to electronically pay for the road."

We do pay our taxes, and we don't use the glut of Middle Eastern oil you motorists buy, sending billions of U.S. dollars to Saudia Arabia, Iraq, Iran, and Libia creating epic balance of payment deficits.

Our country would be vastly more healthy economically if we didn't have an oil addiction. Heath care costs would also be down if fatties would lift a finger and sweat some rump off their frames.

Some folks just have to put their mouths in motion before they put their minds in gear. Reminds me how some folks drive.

[olorin]

Following you definition of common sense - you'd never get in car. You're much more likely to be injured in a car accident than in a mugging. Just for the record, I'm not asking for anything special - just respect and courtesy on the road and that drivers follow the traffic laws. Oh, and that they not intentionally try to hurt me while I'm riding my bike.

[olorin]

How original - Hatteras posted that above.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Clowns that ride their bikes in the streets, in lanes with traffic are certified idiots and have an obvious death wish.

They ought to take every idiot that think his bike is a car and show him some video of someone that has gone under the wheels of a car or truck.

[SGCOS]

Post of the week. Do you finish up with a Miller Lite?

LOL!

[Xenalyte]

They just happen to be wussies that endure a tremendous amount of pain every time they ride.

If it's so painful, why do people ride?

[Servant of the 9]

I'm less interested in exercise than in getting to work on time and in one piece.

Then get a car or a motorcycle, and do your bike riding off the main roads.

What you are doing is legal, but it should not be.

SO9