Advocacy & Safety - Portland: Morning Radio Talk Show Host Threatens Bicyclists on Air

We've heard about these stories from other cities, now it's Portland's turn, I guess. On a Paul Allen owned station, this time. Story below:

http://bikeportland.org/2006/07/14/local-radio-show-promotes-hatred-toward-cyclists/

Makes me see visions of red, or of locking my Ulock around one of his tires. SOP for shock jocks trying to generate publicity by pissing off a vocal minority is to not allow him any. Keep it mum for the chirping crickets act, and convince anybody you can to stop listening to his show; or better yet, just stop listening to 95.5 fm. These people thrive on generating publicity in any way possible, positive or negative - they don't care. A mock reprimand from his boss corresponding to an uptick in the station's ratings has the effect of sanctioning his words.

What a bunch of rejects. Any one know these fools home addresses im in a mood to do some boxxing. Or maybe ill just take a bus there and pay em a personal visit. Couple leg craters from my cleats should do nicly....

Perth's local 'shock jock' did his usual number on cyclists recently on a local TV programme. He only does it to create more redneck listeners for his radio programme.

While my audience may not be as big as his, I was at least able to spend 20 minutes the next day during my own radio programme chatting to a cyclist friend looking at the positives of cycling.

Would slashing his tires qualify as self defense?

Kidding!

(kind of)

We've heard about these stories from other cities, now it's Portland's turn, I guess. On a Paul Allen owned station, this time. Story below:

http://bikeportland.org/2006/07/14/local-radio-show-promotes-hatred-toward-cyclists/

Forget the violent reactions:crash:, every cyclist in greater Portland should write a formal letter of complaint to the FCC, carbon copy the letter to the stations management. Betcha the station will issue a formal appology, and some people will be looking for new jobs.:D

See http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/radio.html#complaint, for the address and format of a complaint.

The FCC will put these letters in their file for the station, and the station will need to answer these complaints before their licence is renewed:p

I never, ever listen to talk radio. It's become incredibly stupid and repetitive over the last 10 years or so. The fact that these topics keep popping up makes it very clear that they're doing it on purpose and it's some sort of plan they follow to incite people as much as possible.

All I can say to someone that thinks taking out cyclists is sport is that they better do a complete job if they try it on me. If I am able to get up, I will make them wish they were never born whether by severely beating the crap out of them, or suing them so bad that thier children will still be paying.

Or both.

Az

The moron will claim that we don't understand satire. That's what happened with Rick Roberts in San Diego.

Well, now that the radio hosts have made establishing premedation and intent in court very easy, they better hope they never get in an accident with a cyclist... ever! What were they thinking? They need to have a legal consultation or something. You never announce things like that for the public record.

Threatening physical violence is a misdemeanor. Encouraging physical violence is a misdemeanor, maybe more when broadcast. This one's easy; do the crime and do the time. Now if only there was an advocacy group that would bother even trying to stir up a volunteer or two to go and get the court system moving. Where's our freakin advocates?!!:crash:
must...not...rant...... must..... resist.....

What are the announcers' names? I'd really like to know.

The show host responded to Jonathan, who runs the BikePortland site:

http://bikeportland.org/2006/07/14/radio-show-host-responds/

I submitted a complaint to the FCC and forwarded a copy to the station's General Manager. I plan to listen to the show so I know who the advertisers are and contact them. Unless anyone here already knows who some are? There's wasn't anything on the websites for the program or the local radio station that broadcasts it. Please spare me from having to listen to that crap, if you do know.

I don't get why people hate on cyclists. We aren't using gas, we aren't emitting carbon into the air, we are getting where we need to go without doing anything to the environment. Maybe its because fat rednecks are jealous that they aren't physically able to do anything other than pick their nose and jack off.

if anyone knows what day this was, I'd like that podcast.

Perhaps we all can do something different and try reverse psycology.

Something like: "Gee, I'm a bicyclist and I really hate myself for clogging up your roads so thank you for wanting to run us over. I would really like to have tire tracks accross my back, but I'm just not worthy of that privilege".

Maybe a bunch of people calling in with statements like this would finally stop this stupid behavior by the shock jocks since they're not getting the reaction they want. Radio stations seem to want attention and exposure and they don't care how they get it.

It aired the morning of July 13. Someone on a local discussion board tried to find it but it wasn't there, though the July 14 program was. I don't know, I haven't checked. There has been some speculation that they are editing the show to take the cyclist parts out.

If you do find the program, I suspect you're going to have to listen to all 4 hours. It's not a particularly high quality radio show even when they're not discussing cyclists...

Would slashing his tires qualify as self defense?

Kidding!

(kind of)


Only if you can do it while in motion

cough nails cough

Well, now that the radio hosts have made establishing premedation and intent in court very easy, they better hope they never get in an accident with a cyclist... ever! What were they thinking? They need to have a legal consultation or something. You never announce things like that for the public record.


Heh any one want to get me a bus ticket and a old beater bike?

Im realy good at takign a fall heck i bet i could toss my self on to their hood up their widn shield and off the back cleanly and make it look very real.

Seriously though your right these guys best hope they never hit and injur or kill a cyclist. If they do they are in all sorts of trouble with no deffence.

I'm pretty well convinced at this point that these loud-mouthed cowards ( I refuse to call them shock jocks) do this to generate publicity. I'll take a guess that this one's ratings might have been off a few points in the last Arbitron ratings book, and station management decided to go for topics that they know provokes a violatile reaction. You know the saying, "no such thing as bad publicity."

http://www.arbitron.com/Radio_Stations/home.htm

We've got one in Boston on WRKO mornings, who is blaming the environmental movement for mosquito-borne illnesses. He gets into a tirade about how "if it were up to me, I'd drain every goddam swamp and pave them over!! Screw you wetlands people!!" Needless to say, he got more than his normal volume of calls for this segment He took one call from someone who said he would like to "line up all the greens and shoot them!"

And my usual question: is it possible that some of these calls from "listeners" are faked? Think about it, would it be difficult at all? It just seems to me that if the show were going flat, a producer or intern could "make a call" from another studio within the station, and liven things up with a scripted diatribe.

There is nothing wrong with letters to station management, sponsors, or the FCC. Notify the LAB, although I'm sure they're aware of this already. But don't play into the hands of the loud-mouthed cowards.

I would point out that this is talk radio, and therefore moronic.

That said, I am sure there are lots of people who fall into the "moronic" group, who listen, and who might take what is said to heart.

PLEASE complain about this kind of thing.

Heres what it come down to with the media.

1 stories about death get higher ratings than stories about the local 62 mile bike ride or the new law.
2 talking about how they think its funny when a cyclist is killed by a car equates to a story about some one being killed in a hidious manner
3 hey were not realy advocating the murder of some one when we do 2 but you know what if it generates a nice story about some cyclist who was murdered by a driver all the better cause we will get number 1

I used a couple things from ohio for number 1 the first the 62 mile ride is called stomp bicycle adventure and the law is the bill taft recently signed in to law. Basically one of the big things I liked is theres a few cities that make it illegalto ride on roads when theres a side walk. Before you could challenge such tickets n court and win. Now a city ca no longer even have such a law on the book.

So far i have sent 16 emails to 12 media outlets such as cbs nbc abc etc and some local news paper. They get them sent automatically to them now and ive yet to receive even a automated reply. Their feed back got a news story etc links probably go to a unchecked email that just dump every thing received.

Im very tempted to send one with was killed as the subject. I get this feeling id recieve a instant auto reply

Best thing to do to shock jocks tune them out get as many others as you can to also tune them out. Once the ratings drop to much its all over.

FCC reports are good to as is local advocacy groups. Yur wasting your time with the station manager he will 1 not read the mails you send or 2 know hes had the reaction he wants.

Now when he gets the fcc knocking on his door hell take notice real fast.

If some one here wants to write somethign up for the fcc ill put my name to it hell you can send me a paper copy and ill sign it and mail it out my self.

It is indeed sad when someone criticizes the thing you love in such an idiotic way. However I hate fat, lazy, chip-eating, tv addicted, bike-hating radio personalities so I guess that we are even.

Funny how they put this on thier calendar--
2006 LIVESTRONG Challenge
http://www.jamminfm.com/caldetl.aspx?ID=3394&dt=7/30/2006&v=m

Id call their auto advertisers and tell them that you are going to be buying your car from another company because thier ads support this anti-bike idiocy. Cyclists buy cars too.

Nothing gets a fat, lazy bike hating radio dude more grief then getting called into the GM's office and being told to behave.

Weston Suzuki
22555 S.E Stark St.
Gresham, OR 97030
Phone: 503-676-2200

Thought that this was funny--

http://www.myspace.com/jammin955
Look for this entry--

7/15/2006 2:12 AM

http://bikeportland.org/2006/07/14/local-radio-show-promotes-hatred-toward-cyclists/

Dont waste your time with the FCC. They wont do anything unless he said, "Jezus m0therficken chr1ste, I hate bicyclists"

Similar situation happened in Indy a couple of years ago. DJ, not talk radio though, made threatening comments toward both bicyclists and moped riders. I was active on a moped board and asked people to email the station, which many did. I'm sure there was also outcry from the local cycling community. It may just be coincidence but the following Monday, this happened on a Thursday, he was gone. No explanation from the station, he just disappeared.

Wow I cant beleive that. I never listen to that radio station but that still angers me. The sad thing is people will listen to them and try to be "cool" like them and have aggression towards cyclists. This is really sad.

Yet another radio host spewing crap out of his mouth, then too much of a ***** to stand by his words and gives the "out of context" crap.

I wonder what would happen if ELF took out a spot
on commercial radio that encouraged torching FUV's
and McMansions ??

I sent them a message over myspace which read:


I read the transcript of your July 13 morning show.

I find it disgusting.

I will not be contacting any employers or advertisers, as people I know have done.

You have accused critics that they have taken quotes out of context and that the comments made by the male host of the morning show are innocuous and harmless. However, you are lying. You know that what was said is, indeed, harmful. Inciting rage against road users who have a legal right to the road is not harmless. It is harmful and dangerous.

Laughing at others' misfortunes is a sign of immaturity, which is what the morning show reeks of. Not that I'm terribly surprised, however.

You should be ashamed of yourself. I would suggest apologizing and trying to contain whatever damage has been caused. Denying what was said and making counter-accusations will only make the situation worse.

It aired the morning of July 13. Someone on a local discussion board tried to find it but it wasn't there, though the July 14 program was. I don't know, I haven't checked. There has been some speculation that they are editing the show to take the cyclist parts out.

If you do find the program, I suspect you're going to have to listen to all 4 hours. It's not a particularly high quality radio show even when they're not discussing cyclists...

They have removed the podcasts for the 13th. They are definitely holding them for a reason. They know they have an issue I am sure.

Every effort should be made to get those two radio "personalities" removed from the airwaves. Would it be possible for those of you who live in Portland to go to the local DA or police and make a complaint? I'm not a lawyer, but I imagine a case can be made that they could be charged with public endangerment or something. If local civil authorities got involved, I bet the radio station would quickly fire those two just to cover themselves. And if that isn't a viable option, maybe go after advertisers and convince them that they don't want to associate themselves with such people? Just a couple of thoughts.

There is a saying that applies very well to some of these radio talk show hosts:

It's better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you're a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

I will call 95.5 and ask why their DJ's hate their country so much--anyone who disparages alternative transport must certainly want us all to be giving more money to Arab oil suppliers, right? Well, of course! I'm sure that these DJ's are a bunch of Bin Laden-loving traitors and will tell their employer so.

And my usual question: is it possible that some of these calls from "listeners" are faked? Think about it, would it be difficult at all? It just seems to me that if the show were going flat, a producer or intern could "make a call" from another studio within the station, and liven things up with a scripted diatribe.

YES!

This is exactly what is going on for many of these shows!

We have (or had, I'm not sure) a show here in LA hosted my Tom Lykus (sp?). He was both interviewer and interviewee (he was very good at voices). It could be funny if you knew what was going on, but many people didn't and really got hot over what his "expert" was saying during the show.

If you don't like a station, just say no.

This happened here a few years ago on a Top 40 radio station's morning show. The DJ's took a lot of heat but ultimately got fired after some other incident later on. NPR may be as boring as all get out, but at least I've never heard of them encouraging running down cyclists.

I will call 95.5 and ask why their DJ's hate their country so much--anyone who disparages alternative transport must certainly want us all to be giving more money to Arab oil suppliers, right? Well, of course! I'm sure that these DJ's are a bunch of Bin Laden-loving traitors and will tell their employer so.

Actually, the chief supplier of oil to the United States is not an arab country, but Canada. Your point is well-made, however.

The talk-show hosts likely think they exemplify the American car-culture and that alternative transport is foreign, communist and anti-American.

Funny how they put this on thier calendar--
2006 LIVESTRONG Challenge
http://www.jamminfm.com/caldetl.aspx?ID=3394&dt=7/30/2006&v=m


I'm sure the Lance Armstrong foundation would be very interested to hear that this station employs a DJ who encourages assaulting and killing cyclists.

[Lance Armstrong Foundation] Contact: Allison Wright
512-279-8356
allison.wright@laf.org

I know they provide the "Community Calendar" listing as a "favor" to organizations like the foundation, but to me, this is akin to ****** putting a listing on their website for the Boy Scout Jamboree. It's inviting trouble. It should be removed if the station is not going to recant the threat of violence against the cycling population.

I tried to notify them this weekend but the Livestrong site was offline

Now they've got this posted:

http://www.radioplayhouse.com/bikethoughts.aspx

Contrite? These guys are so not.

Yikes...



I wish all these holier than thou cyclists would start paying the same taxes us drivers do to use the roads, I think that until they pay a fee for their bike, and a liscense to ride on our streets and a tire tax, they have no right to protest about anything, they show no respect for larger moving vehicles on the road. Please can we have the same rules on the river apply on the road, a kayak must give right of way to a larger boat on upto tankers having true full right of way. A bike will stop easier than any car or truck, they should be the MOST cautious of all of the vehicles on the road.

Obviously someone fully connected with reality... SHEESH.

Sadly anyone working and paying taxes pays for many things they don't know about

Actually, the chief supplier of oil to the United States is not an arab country, but Canada. Your point is well-made, however.

The talk-show hosts likely think they exemplify the American car-culture and that alternative transport is foreign, communist and anti-American.

Actually it's not Canada, it's Saudi Arabia, the country that Osama Bin Laden was born and raised in....

It is an amazing thing isn't it? This guy's inside a closed broadcast booth, probably inside a high-security office building, spewing this garbage.

The framers of the constitution and first amendment must be turning in their graves.

Actually it's not Canada, it's Saudi Arabia, the country that Osama Bin Laden was born and raised in....

Sorry, but SA is number 3 on the list. (http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/company_level_imports/current/import.html) Canada is the biggest supplier of US foriegn oil, followed by Mexico.

Iraq is number 5.

This happened here a few years ago on a Top 40 radio station's morning show. The DJ's took a lot of heat but ultimately got fired after some other incident later on. NPR may be as boring as all get out, but at least I've never heard of them encouraging running down cyclists.

Well ... there was this little one last year ;)

Marvin Kalb - "King of the Road" (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=116614&highlight=npr+metro+connection)

Sorry, but SA is number 3 on the list. (http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/company_level_imports/current/import.html) Canada is the biggest supplier of US foriegn oil, followed by Mexico.

Iraq is number 5.

I stand corrected.....

It is an amazing thing isn't it? This guy's inside a closed broadcast booth, probably inside a high-security office building, spewing this garbage.

The framers of the constitution and first amendment must be turning in their graves.


no doubt there. Our constitution has turned in to little more than a weapon to be abused by jackasses like this.

Heres how i see it. "your right to swing your fist ends at my nose" IMO i dont see that jerks like this guy have any right to say what they say as it is a attack on me and other cyclists. In effect he is trampling on my rights and he is attacking me. So hes useing words instead of swinging his fist. Hell id love to meet this guy on the street and have him swing his fist at me just so i could flatten him.Corse like most cagers (i think he fits nicly in to the group) out side of his cage hes a coward.

Those guys up in portland should find out where he lives and have all the cycing clubs in the area create routs that take them past his house. It seems like portland has a very active cycling community i bet theres at least 5 or 6 clubs that could easly plan rides to take them right past this guys house twice a day every day. Say on his way to work and on his way home hehe. 30 riders zipping by at those times should tie him up for a fair bit of time daily :)

30 riders zipping by at those times should tie him up for a fair bit of time daily :)

No they won't... actually.

30 cars might create more a traffic issue for him, but cyclists are rarely the cause of traffic congestion. That is really the point for these idiots. They chose to blame cyclists, but in reality the traffic problems they face daily are caused by increased auto density, not cyclist density. The 10 seconds they may have to wait for some cycist at some rare intersection is nothing like the typical stoplight of 50 seconds or more. But because we tend to be colorful, vulnerable targets, these idiots play their ratings game using us as bait.

I've always thought it would be neat to get paid good money to talk trash. Beats going to school.

No they won't... actually.

30 cars might create more a traffic issue for him, but cyclists are rarely the cause of traffic congestion. That is really the point for these idiots. They chose to blame cyclists, but in reality the traffic problems they face daily are caused by increased auto density, not cyclist density. The 10 seconds they may have to wait for some cycist at some rare intersection is nothing like the typical stoplight of 50 seconds or more. But because we tend to be colorful, vulnerable targets, these idiots play their ratings game using us as bait.


Well duh we know this but he dont :)

Seriously though i hate getting behind a car pr 3 at a stop light i always find my self waiting and hoping that i make it through the light before the next red cycle

If you really want to mess with him... escort him with a fleet of cyclists that constantly moves in front of him at stop lights and signs.

In other words a large cycle club out to do this radio DJ's commute route as their daily ride.