oakhilltop

I flipped by a radio station I don't normally listen to on my way into work this morning. Supposedly it is a classic rock station, but two guys just talk away most of the morning.

I guess a bicycle rider got hit by a mirror of a car yesterday and the driver did not stop. The mirror was knocked off of the car. The police are looking for the driver and these guys on the radio are upset about that. They can not understand why a driver should be punished for hitting one of those "Lycra fruitcakes". After all "roads are built for cars". They want to get a PR person from the police dept on and ask them about this. The conversation goes on and on, but you get the jist of it. All I know about the rider is that he/she had "minor injuries".

I've already emailed the radio station to see if I could get a transcript. I think it would be great to have the transcript for planning board meetings to make them understand why they should put shoulders on the side of the road. Interestingly, this road has a bike lane proposed for it, but getting the towns to go along with it is like pulling teeth. My town has about 1/2 mile of this road and is delaying voting on the bike lane. I was at a town meeting about it this past summer. But that's an entirely different story. They formed a committee! Hell, the committee could go by bags of asphalt and do it themselves. It's only a few hundred feet.

Here's the radio station's website and email.
https://www.shark1053.com/n_shark_info.shtml
shark.mail@citcomm.com

Rsavory

Since you heard the broadcast and live in the affected area you should, at the very least, file a complaint with the FCC. This doesn't sound quite like they are advocating violence against cyclists, but it comes very close. You might also refer them to this from the NH DOT website:

Traffic Laws Apply to Bicycles
Every person riding a bicycle has the same rights and privileges of persons driving cars, the bicycle driver has the same responsibilities as other drivers.

"Each person riding a bicycle shall have all of the rights and be subject to the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under the rules of the road." (RSA 265:143)

https://www.nh.gov/dot/nhbikeped/safety.htm

sggoodri

Don't bother with the FCC. (They won't do anything.) Politely request a meeting with the radio station management to discuss your concerns about the broadcast's possible impact on bicyclist safety. You may have to show up at the radio station in person to get through to them to request a meeting. (That's what I did here in NC.) Then bring lots of references to the meeting, including those published by NHDOT, regarding road sharing and proper roadway cycling. Suggest that they air PSAs promoting safer driving and road sharing. Don't get angry or hostile or you'll lose your ability to communicate with them.

Here is the outcome of a similar situation I intervened in here in NC:
https://www.humantransport.org/bicycledriving/wdcg.htm

-Steve Goodridge (who used to live and bicycle in Dover, NH while attending UNH)

octopuswithafez

Don't forget letting their local advertisers/sponsors know, that is what pays the D.J. salaries and the station's bills.

Melalvai

That's a good story. I hope some DJ's around here get way out of line about cyclists so a similar campaign can be launched. The backlash against the inappropriate comments left your cyclists better off than before!

sggoodri

I think it works best if one group of cyclist advocates works on the advertisers, while a separate group works on the radio station management. This "good cop, bad cop" strategy allows the good cop to maintain friendly communication with the management while blaming the bad cop for the arm twisting.

When approaching advertisers, don't attack or otherwise offend them. Inform them of your grievance in as friendly a manner as possible. Start with all the advertisers who might be friendly to cyclists, such as those that involve outdoor activities. I think cyclists in Raleigh got Great Outdoor Provision Company to pull all ads from Clear Channel Radio at one point.

Bruce Rosar

According to a newspaper article, a car dealership also suspended sponsorship. Apparently the article isn't on-line anymore, but there is a post with the text.

Allister

I'd go back to not normally listening to them if I were you.

Bruce Rosar

FYI: A piece (from the local newspaper) about Steve's role in the outcome:
Cyclist engineers truce with station

twobikes

A similar event happened in Portland. The radio station suddenly could not locate the archive of the offensive broadcast. The radio personality at fault had to go on a bike ride in traffic with some experienced cyclists. He said it was more frightening to mingle with cars on streets than he thought it would be. He also had to do some community service time, if I remember correctly. The station had to do lots of 'mea culpas,' too.

GeoLes

Don't show up in that "fruity lycra" that you bikers are so fond of, or the manager may think you are "hitting on him" and not take your complaint seriously. (you know how those bikers are.....)


Seriously;

A letter or an e-mail at the least to voice your opinion. I heard some objectionable things on my local radio station about social issues and decided to e-mail the talk show host, explaining how one-sided and unfair his postion on the issue is. He did not respond, but at least he got the message.

8bit

I'd file the complaint with the FCC just so you can say that a complaint has been filed. They won't do anything, though, thanks to the nutjobs who write in every time they see cleavage on the TV. The fact that this happened is really crappy, but you can maybe use it as leverage on the planning commission.

sggoodri

I showed up in a suit and tie when I first met with the Clear Channel station manager.


How do you know he got the message? Radio stations delete listener emails by the thousands.

If you're serious, show up in person, dressed to be taken seriously.

littlewaywelt

I received the following reply from the station manager.

Thank you for your comments. I can assure you that your concerns have been forwarded to management and will be addressed internally.
Thank You,
Jonathan Smith
Program Director - The Shark
WK: 603-749-2776
FX: 603-749-1459
www.Shark1053.com

Mr. Underbridge

Umm...I wouldn't bank on that too much. Looks like a form letter to my eyes.

no motor?

I got the same rely too.

kendall

Email is so easy to send that it is often sent spontaniously, often by people who realy have no strong feelings towards the subject.
Real USPS mail takes thought, effort and prior preperation to send, and is a tangible object to read, so therefore is normally given weight in decisions where email is dismissed.
also how often do legitamate emails getting trapped by spam filters?

Personally I think anyone who couldn't grasp the fact that a hit and run is serious and illegal, and if injuries are involved it's doubly so, should not be in a position with any type of influence.

Ken.

GeoLes

They wouldn't dare delete my e-mail.

::shocked::

GeoLes

I feel so much better now that I know the offending party will receive an official "slap on the wrist" - with a wet noodle.