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.
Especially the ones who go backwards when they mean to go forward. You'd think the basket in front would help keep it straight.
If I have to be anywhere near a-holes like you, no thanks.
However, it infuriates me to see these spandex-covered twinks on their road bikes who insist on riding in the center of the lane.
I put it in the next sentence: Slowing down traffic and presenting a movable obstacle is a traffic hazard.
The guy is veterinarian, pulling several horses in his trailer in hot weather, trying to get them home and to some water.
The girly-boys and girls are riding side by side on a country road, chuckling how they're holding up what they think is some dumb country goober.
Finally, they pull over at a store, going to get a drink or something.
The Doc pulls in behind them, walks over to one the chicks bikes, bends over the seat acting like he's big sniff, then he starts going off on a real loud rant in front everyone (paraphrase), "Woo-ee, that sure does stink! Smells just like the livestock I work on, whew-we!!..."
Please leave your sex life out of this.
Man does FR have a lot of A__holes on here who could give a sh_t about the law. I wonder what they'd be crying if idiots started running over concealed-carry people becasue they didn't want them around?
Those are the ones. Isn't that a ticketable or arrestable offense?
If the cyclist(s) is/are as far right as possible, there is no reason they would be slowing down traffic. Do you agree?
If it isn't, spandex should be.
If the conceal carry people (of which I am one) stood around in the middle of a busy highway like some of these goober bicyclists do, I'd hope they would get run over.
Of course. But we are not talking about them. We are discussing cyclists who ride in front of traffic and slow everyone else down. If they don't slow down traffic, we have no problem.
My personal fantasy is to get a paint pellet gun - preferably a nice, powerful one - and, as the cyclist lifts his/her/its rump into the air to take careful aim and place the paint pellet deftly in the center of mass leaving a bright green (or blue, or pink, or whatever) splotch of paint for all the world to see.
Of course, I'd never commit such an illegal act...but it does bring a smile to my face and joy to my heart whenever I reflect upon it!
I hear ya on that point - one of the reasons that I try to avoid at all costs 26th & 28th Streets.
Even when you're out doing some serious training doesn't mean you own the road. I'll make sure my aerobars don't break too many of your ribs should be collide.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.