Advocacy & Safety - Houston radio station tries to change tune

Just saw this on cyclingnews.com:


Houston radio station tries to change tune
By Ted Arnold

After a Holiday weekend in which two riders were lost the last thing Houston area cyclists need to hear was a local radio station re-airing an anti-cycling bit on morning radio last week. But that's just what they got. The unnamed station (by our choice), which is owned by media giant Clear Channel Communications aired a bit in which characters talked of their distaste of cyclists and ultimately went on to joke about using automobiles to knock riders off the road.

Houston area cycling advocates pounced on Clear Channel, which operates eight Houston area radio stations as well as a variety of other media outlets including print and television. As news spread, advocacy groups pointed out that Clear Channel had come under fire for similar anti-cycling sentiments in Cleveland, Ohio. In an odd twist, Clear Channel's Television division is responsible for producing and distributing the 2003 Pro Cycling Tour (PCT) events in the United States.

In an apology issued via e-mail to Cyclingnews and the public, station General Manager Mark Kopelman stated the show producer responsible for the mistake was fired. He also stated that the comments do not represent the views of the station or the parent company as a whole.

According to the Kopelman, the segment that re-aired on September 1, 2003, was to be destroyed after the first incident, following a flood of e-mail and phone complaints to the station and parent company. The re-broadcast occurred on a "Best of" show while the on-air personalities were on vacation. An apology was made by on-air personalities after the first incident.

In the same e-mail to Cyclingnews, Clear Channel Regional Vice-President of Programming Ken Charles added that the company has also responded to the situation by presenting proposal for bicycle safety PSA campaign. The proposed campaign will run as a part of the Houston Police Department's (HPD) cycling education efforts and will be aired on all Houston Clear Channel radio stations.

HPD Central Bicycle Administration officer Jack Hanagriff hopes that the opportunity will allow the HPD to establish and "a new working partner," and "deliver safety education effort to the motorists". In the Cleveland incident, Clear Channel agreed to pay a local advocacy group $10,000 (USD), apologize on air, and partner in other cycling advocacy programs.

Sometimes, not all news is bad news. Thanks Chris.

The radio show incident happened first here in Cleveland, Ohio. There was a lot of controversy over that show and the local show producers and Clear Channel got slammed by the local cycling community with phone calls and emails. Let's just hope that Clear Channel will clean up it's act and actually fulfill some of the promises made to support cycling. I think they learned a lesson.

I read this recently in regards to Clear Channel's Houston incident.

For those not familiar with .roadbikerider.com (http://www.roadbikerider.com)

Here is an excerpt from their recent email newsletter:

Clear Channel issued an apology and promised to promote
cyclists' rights with public service announcements and a
billboard campaign. The offending DJs were reprimanded and
they apologized on air. The program's producer was fired.

If you missed the background on this incident, which occurred
right after two Houston riders were killed by an out-of-control
truck, you can find it at www.roadbikerider.com/your_turn.htm

RBR subscriber Larry C. read about it and sent us this bright
idea:

"I would add that Clear Channel's activities may constitute the
advocacy of terrorist activities in violation of the Patriot Act (I'll
spare you my opinion). Informing the office of Attorney General
John Ashcroft certainly ought to get Clear Channel's attention."

That's worth keeping in mind if Clear Channel's DJs pull this
skit from their manure pile again in Houston or anywhere else:

Walton, a DJ: "I hate those guys in their gay little bike
shorts and stupid looking pointy helmets. They're always in
my way. I'm telling ya, I'm gonna tap one of you guys. You
keep getting in my way with your stupid looking pointy
helmets... and I drive big car. I'm gonna have to give one
of em' a little tap. Send him to the ditch"

Mr. Kenneth, a gay character: "Oh and I'll come visit
you in jail. Ohh!"

Billy Ed, a redneck character: "Just knock em' off the
road."

Walton: "Really, these guys don't have the right of way.
You don't have the right of way. Just keep off the road for
the real forms of transportation, automobiles, and we'll all be
fine. Keep out of my way and I won't have to run you over."

According to Houston roadie Doug F., who sent us the
transcript, that threat was followed by several callers
voicing their desire to see cyclists run over, hurt,
humiliated and punished by rogue law enforcement.

Like in Cleveland, Houston riders stood up for their lawful
place on the road. We thank them for making such a
positive impression on a national media company. Let's hope
Clear Channel Communications really has learned something
meaningful about the rights of cyclists.

If not, maybe Mr. Ashcroft would be able to explain.

Two DJs on a Clear Channel station in the Santa Cruz / San Jose area pulled a remarkably similar stunt a couple of years ago. I was among several bicyclists who hit them and the FCC with a barrage of emails. Why do these clowns lack the intelligence and/or moral fiber to distinguish right from wrong? I wish they had fired the DJs as well as the station manager.

By the way, my maternal clan's motto, "feros ferio," means "I am fierce with the fierce." I can also be fierce with the cowardly, such as these DJs. :)