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Radio host infuriates cyclists
The Raleigh News & Observer ^ | 10/1/03 | BRUCE SICELOFF

Posted on 10/01/2003 6:49:41 AM PDT by 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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: bicycles; commuters; roadrage
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To: olorin
"Oh, and that they not intentionally try to hurt me while I'm riding my bike."

I agree with you there. Why not whisper to your biking club members that they ride close to the shoulder so that cars might be able to pass them instead of riding 25 mph in a 55mph zone for miles and miles?
181 posted on 10/01/2003 8:14:08 AM PDT by Rebelbase
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To: All
This thread's great!

Apparently, there is a whole big world out there, far from my couch, that is an unpleasant world of cyclists fighting drivers fighting skateboarders.

Me and my remote get along just fine.

182 posted on 10/01/2003 8:14:28 AM PDT by dead (Valerie Plame is a spy. Pass it on.)
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To: Lazamataz
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!
If you have liquids in the car, better to leave a "vapor trail" hehehe

I got into a "discussion" with my neice's mom once about bicyclists on the roadway. Sure enough, we're at a light and just ahead, a bicyclist blew a stop sign, didn't even slow down. It's rare that surrounding events make my point for me that graphically.

The "rolling roadblocks" constantly move to the front of the traffic line around here. If I see one behind me on a one-lane road, I always pull right up against the curb. >:)

-Eric

183 posted on 10/01/2003 8:15:00 AM PDT by E Rocc (If we let government take on the parental role, we will all become "honorary children")
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To: Lazamataz
I think the length of the thread is diluting some of the issues at hand. For clarification, there are some cyclists who deserve to be respected, and it appears both of them are on this thread. An additional revelation is that in-line skaters deserve to be herded into ovens.
184 posted on 10/01/2003 8:15:06 AM PDT by Mr. Bird
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To: Lazamataz
LOL
185 posted on 10/01/2003 8:15:33 AM PDT by olorin
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To: Hatteras
I don't ride a bicycle.

I do drive a car and you know who causes the most problems for me? Other car drivers, most of them probably a lot the aggressive, rude, stupida**, homicidal nutballs threatening bikers on this thread.

Jeesh, what a bunch of headcases.
186 posted on 10/01/2003 8:15:48 AM PDT by kegler4
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To: olorin
By law I have every right to be on the road - in fact it is where I have to be since it is illegal to ride on the sidewalk.

One day, you'll find yourself wrapped around someones driveshaft......

187 posted on 10/01/2003 8:16:16 AM PDT by Joe Hadenuf (I failed anger management class, they decided to give me a passing grade anyway)
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To: Xenalyte
If it's so painful, why do people ride?

It's a good kind of pain... ;-)

188 posted on 10/01/2003 8:16:23 AM PDT by RoughDobermann (Nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.)
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To: Lazamataz
The main thing I have learned from this thread is that bicyclists are very angry people.

That's because they can't afford motorcycles and look faggy doing what they do, in their little skintight homo-clown outfits.

189 posted on 10/01/2003 8:16:34 AM PDT by Hank Rearden (Dick Gephardt. Before he dicks you.)
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To: bicycle thug
"... and am a damn fine shot, especially under pressure."

Under pressure? How about from under someone's chassis?

And if you are slipping on up between cars at a light and a passenger gets out of a vehicle, how fast and confident are you that you can determine the passenger's intent, draw a bead and hit your target in the brief time you have before you slam into his door?

190 posted on 10/01/2003 8:17:00 AM PDT by Hatteras (Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps...)
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To: DollyCali
Dead minds driving ping.
191 posted on 10/01/2003 8:17:01 AM PDT by bicycle thug (Fortia facere et pati Americanum est.)
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To: Rebelbase
Ummm, I don't belong to a biking club.
192 posted on 10/01/2003 8:17:07 AM PDT by olorin
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To: olorin
How original - Hatteras posted that above.

You didn't ask for original, you asked for the truth.

So9

193 posted on 10/01/2003 8:17:15 AM PDT by Servant of the 9 (A Goldwater Republican)
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To: Lazamataz
I never advocated it. I stated that to point out that it is a possibility, with less responsible and more criminally-minded people. Don't put words in my mouth. I don't know where your hands have been.

To: Hatteras 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!
4 posted on 10/01/2003 6:58 AM PDT by Lazamataz (I am the extended middle finger in the fist of life.)

You expressed a desire to hit a cyclist. You posted again with "Hit and run." All these are your own words.

194 posted on 10/01/2003 8:17:28 AM PDT by af_vet_1981
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To: Servant of the 9
Your post indicates you know very little about proper training. I'd like to see how your inseams feel after riding 100 miles in jeans. You can probably pedal on your one speed and burn a few calories but some of us have higher goals like racing in World Championships. Were not out to "burn a few calories."
195 posted on 10/01/2003 8:17:47 AM PDT by ironman
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To: ArrogantBustard
The worst problem is soccermoms walking their yorkies ... Two of them will stop and chatter to each other ... combined with their "dogs" they do block the entire path ... and they pay not attention to anything.

Thanks for the quotation marks. Yorkshire terriers, regardless of the name, are NOT dogs.

They are wind-up toys. Hairy, smelly ones.

The Dread Boston Salty has it in his huge head that Yorkies are tasty . . . why I'll never know, 'cause he's never tasted one, but he's intent on having the experience at least once before he joins the choir invisible.
196 posted on 10/01/2003 8:18:14 AM PDT by Xenalyte (I may not agree with your bumper sticker, but I'll defend to the death your right to stick it)
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To: RoughDobermann
Saturday evenings are pretty sweet. The spots where the entrance areas are few and far between are good too.
We have a 13 mile straight line trail about 20 miles from my house. There's points on that baby where I can go miles without even seeing someone.

I try to be nice to people who are new and don't know any better. I can be a real ass to people who should know better ;)
197 posted on 10/01/2003 8:18:17 AM PDT by Skip Ripley
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To: Joe Hadenuf
One day, you'll find yourself wrapped around someones driveshaft......

Wow, no one has implied that or threatened me with that yet on this thread. You are so original - maybe you'd like to offer me the opportunity of having it happen with your car?

198 posted on 10/01/2003 8:19:44 AM PDT by olorin
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To: Constitution Day; Bacon Man
About 15 years ago, I saw an old man on a bike get hit by an 18-wheeler here in Rocky Mount.

He got thrown clear across the intersection; I will never forget it.

Bacon had a similar experience some two decades ago, and lived to tell. (He was the cyclist, not the trucker.)
199 posted on 10/01/2003 8:19:59 AM PDT by Xenalyte (I may not agree with your bumper sticker, but I'll defend to the death your right to stick it)
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To: Lazamataz
Can I at least think murderous thoughts?

Ask the men with the nice canvas jacket. They know more about that sort of thing than I ...

200 posted on 10/01/2003 8:20:02 AM PDT by ArrogantBustard
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