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.
I wear lycra, cleats, helmet, gloves and have dorky pockets with bananas sticking out of them when I ride. But I can change my clothes when I am done riding.
Anyone making fun of my road warrior look can't say the same thing about their gut and breathlessness after climbing a flight of stairs.
One exception being the Interstate Highway System, of course. At any rate, FRetards will not be de turd by de facts.
(Note to all readers: Not all FReepers are FRetards, only the FRetarded ones. If you're offended by the label, you just might be one. ;O)
come on.. be civil SO9
Not true. In some places, where there's no other option, bikes are allowed to ride on the shoulder of an interstate. Since 9-11, when they closed down the bike route through Camp Pendleton, you have to ride on the shoulder of I-5 to get from San Clemente to Oceanside.
Yupper, we all have that problem sometimes
*G*
STILL patiently waiting for my ride so I can go biking & dodge paint balls, car doors & 45s
Funny you said that, because here in Los Angeles if the cops see you doing "stunts" on the road while riding the bicycle you will get a ticket in a jiffy.
It gets even worse, if you have a Driver's Licence, since that ticket is viewed like driving a car. You get a full size DUI while riding a bicycle too!
I just cashed my pay check and re-wrapped my Cinelli handlebars on my Bridgestone RB-1. Cinelli two toned cork tape, red and black on a bright red bicycle.
This bicycle is a 1994, one of the last one inch steertube, threaded headset machines. She is a lugged frame with Tange doublebutted tubing, forks and tapergauge forks with a special Tom Ritchey designed forged crown.
She has a Chris King red anodized headset, same color Race Face bottom bracket set with a titanium axle. Most everything else is 8 rear wheel cassette Dura Ace equipment, Cinelli stem ot go with the bars, a Campy carbon fiber Record seat tube and a Brooks titanium railed, chamfered leather Professional saddle with large brass rivets.
Though she is a racing machine, she has a snap on bell and lights and reflectors in the wheels. I aim always to be seen.
I use the speed play pedal system as far as cleats go, and I have many wheel sets and the machine usually has one of three main sets that go with it.
Why do I rattle off about this machine I keep as close to me as a rib in my ribcage?
Why not? This thread is as good an excuse to do so as any excuse I use to inflict family pictures on my friends in the real world. And you can take it to the bank I consider this machine as being part of me. ;-D ;-D :-D
I don't think cyclists want to be "treated like cars." Cyclists are, in reality, mechanized pedestrians and therefore, most likely, would like to be treated like people. As for the legal right to use the road, cyclists have that already and don't have to appeal to car drivers for acceptance.
Car drivers only have to press lightly on a pedal to go and press another pedal with slightly more effort to stop. Alternatively, cyclists exert considerably more effort to achieve cruising speed after coming to a stop. In light of this, most people will recognize that cyclists will do what they can to maintain inertia, balanced with maintaining their life.
I'm sorry if your life is in such turmoil that you find yourself in a life or death struggle with tyrannical bicyclists . I hope you find peace.
Well he's tried....
....and he's tried....
....and he's tried.....
....and he's tried....
HE CAN'T GET NO
NO NO NO
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