Advocacy & Safety - More DJs encouraging motorists to run cyclists off the road.

I don't listen to the radio station (99X) but have received nearly 100 emails from other cyclists and local cycling groups about the comments these @$$hole DJs made. When are DJs going to learn that advocacting violence (while on the air) against cyclists (or any group) is not acceptable and very dangerous for cyclists.
I wrote to the stations owners but don't know if they will respond.
Here is the website with the audio clips if you want to hear what was said on-air.
http://www.goodmorningblues.com/Sounds/99x.htm

This is not a Clear Chanel station. The are owned by Susquehanna Radio Corp.
Here are the websites of the radio station and Susquehanna Radio Corp. if you're interested in contacting either to add your 2 cents.

http://www.99x.com/index2.asp?url=%2Fstation%2Fcontact%2Findex%2Easp%3F
http://www.susquehannaradio.com/

Thanks for the link. What dumbasses.

What a great day it will be when the general public realizes that a lot of the folks doing radio are morons and should not be given the attention they get.

But since the general public is even more moronic than radio hosts it will never happen.

This is pretty disgusting. Here's what I just sent to the station manager. I copied Thunderhead Alliance, League of American Bicyclists, and America Bikes.

Mr. Renier,


I’ve just heard the clips* from your station where harm to cyclists is encouraged. It’s pretty appalling to say the least. I’m sure you’ll be getting very busy dealing with this mess, so it might be a help to study up on what Clear Channel** has gone through as a result of similar inappropriate comments made by their DJ’s which advocate hurting cyclists. And you might want to check with your attorney and insurance company to find out what liability might befall you should someone act on your DJ’s comments.



Regards,



Bill Watson

Cycling Advocate

River Forest, IL



*http://www.goodmorningblues.com/Sounds/99x.htm



**http://www.bikeleague.org/index.cfm



LEAGUE AND CLEAR CHANNEL RESOLVE CYCLISTS’ CONCERNS

In a letter to Elissa Margolin, the League's Executive Director, John Hogan, President and CEO of Clear Channel Radio, said, “the comments made by Clear Channel Radio stations in Cleveland, Houston, and Raleigh were inappropriate and intolerable ... As CEO of Clear Channel Radio, I do not support or condone the anti-cyclists messages and have taken steps to insure they do not occur again.” The letter was written following a November 5 meeting between Margolin and Hogan at Clear Channel’s headquarters in San Antonio, TX. Hogan and Margolin discussed ways in which the company could work with the bicycling community to promote safe bicycling and sharing the road and agreed to meet in early 2004 to review progress and chart next steps. Martha Roskowski, America Bikes Campaign Manager, and Sue Knaup, Thunderhead Alliance Executive Director, both expressed their support for Clear Channel’s statement.

99x website: http://www.99x.com/

Things like this make me dream of large masses of cyclists finding these DJs on their way home and forcing their SUVs off the road...

Things like this make me dream of large masses of cyclists finding these DJs on their way home and forcing their SUVs off the road...

that's why we should start a bicycle gang.. would could wear bibs with cargo shorts and those tennis shoes that are also clipless along with a fagedaboudit around out necks... then we could shoot butt butter at people and call each other "foo". :D but seriously... a bike gang would be cool. :)

I looked at the stations web page, could not find a list of companies that spend money for ads on the station. Anyone have a list?

But I did find photos of two of the DJs riding a tandem bike, whats up with that?

"butt butter"?

... a bike gang would be cool. :)
It sounds like you really just need some friends to ride with...Why don't you run a personal ad in your local paper?? :)

Or you could find out when and where the local Critical Mass ride meets up where you live - that would be like tomorrow night, see http://criticalmassrides.info/ There's rides listed for Dallas, Ft. Worth, Denton and Austin

if you really want to start a 'bike gang', well then you probably need a home-made chopper, tall bike, or mini, and some friends to do that with you, like these folks:
http://www.geocities.com/Pipeline/1367/dbb.htm
http://www.dclxvi.org/chunk/

Where is the station located? It would be fun to see if all their car commuting has gotten them in good enough shape to outrun me. Me with a baseball bat. God that would be quite a fun beating. I bet your arms wouldn't even get shocked to much from hitting them cause of the cusion. I'll join the bike gang, it'll be fun. Hey, I'm in my exam week right now, I'm out tuesday. If it's close I can go say hello :-D

Where is the station located? It would be fun to see if all their car commuting has gotten them in good enough shape to outrun me. Me with a baseball bat. God that would be quite a fun beating. I bet your arms wouldn't even get shocked to much from hitting them cause of the cusion. I'll join the bike gang, it'll be fun. Hey, I'm in my exam week right now, I'm out tuesday. If it's close I can go say hello :-D

They are from Atlanta.

Looks like some locals are starting to organize:

http://www.bikesbl.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=563&POSTNUKESID=92b1026e0632715a09e5a5cc9c214948

I’m sure you’ll be getting very busy dealing with this mess, so it might be a help to study up on what Clear Channel** has gone through as a result of similar inappropriate comments made by their DJ’s which advocate hurting cyclists. And you might want to check with your attorney and insurance company to find out what liability might befall you should someone act on your DJ’s comments.


Seems to me that what happened to Clear Channel was that they got a lot of free, or at least relatively inexpensive publicity, and by making a big thing of 'making up' to cyclists with sponsorship and so on, they diverted everyone from their monopolism and perhaps won over a few peple's hearts, if not their ears, that would otherwise still be slagging them. This is at least what seems to have happened in the admittedly small demographic that is Bikeforums.net.

Ignore the trolls.

Looks like some locals are starting to organize:

http://www.bikesbl.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=563&POSTNUKESID=92b1026e0632715a09e5a5cc9c214948

Excellent response to the problem -- go after their sponsors.

Seems to me that what happened to Clear Channel was that they got a lot of free, or at least relatively inexpensive publicity, and by making a big thing of 'making up' to cyclists with sponsorship and so on, they diverted everyone from their monopolism and perhaps won over a few peple's hearts, if not their ears, that would otherwise still be slagging them. This is at least what seems to have happened in the admittedly small demographic that is Bikeforums.net.

Ignore the trolls.

Exactly. Did I not say in my replies to the "clear channel" threads that this would be the case? Don't forget that the responses would have come from much wider than just BF once people started e-mailing the advocacy groups and demanding that they jump on the bandwagon.

I think I'll just ignore this one, too.

Allister and ChrisL,
While ignoring or walking away may be appropriate in some situtations there are times in which a stance should be taken. When someone or a group of people is advocating or voicing a opinion, that suggests violence be used by means of a 4000 vehicle aimed at cyclists, then someone should step up and let their voices be heard. These DJ's reach thousands if not millions of listeners. Some of which I am sure would take their material to heart. Saying on the air whether joking or not that "smoking pot and running cyclists into trees is so much fun" is not the least bit funny.

Allister and ChrisL,
While ignoring or walking away may be appropriate in some situtations there are times in which a stance should be taken. When someone or a group of people is advocating or voicing a opinion, that suggests violence be used by means of a 4000 vehicle aimed at cyclists, then someone should step up and let their voices be heard. These DJ's reach thousands if not millions of listeners. Some of which I am sure would take their material to heart. Saying on the air whether joking or not that "smoking pot and running cyclists into trees is so much fun" is not the least bit funny.

That's a valid point, until you look at what is motivating these public figures to make these statements. The fact is, they're trolling for attention to boost their ratings and sell advertising on their show. Now, 5,000 angry responses is just the attention they're looking for, it shows their advertisers that their radio show is having an impact. This is not what we want, as it will only encourage them do to it later (even if they issue an "apology" this time around).

I should point out here that this is not the first time they've done this sort of thing. However, not yet have they been ignored. Everything else that cycling advocates have tried doing to stop this sort of behaviour has failed. I say, let's not give them the attention this time, and see if this actually works.

That's a valid point, until you look at what is motivating these public figures to make these statements. The fact is, they're trolling for attention to boost their ratings and sell advertising on their show. Now, 5,000 angry responses is just the attention they're looking for, it shows their advertisers that their radio show is having an impact. This is not what we want, as it will only encourage them do to it later (even if they issue an "apology" this time around).

I should point out here that this is not the first time they've done this sort of thing. However, not yet have they been ignored. Everything else that cycling advocates have tried doing to stop this sort of behaviour has failed. I say, let's not give them the attention this time, and see if this actually works.

Yeah they could be bandwagon jumpers. I mean they are doing the same morning show format as every other station. Three idiots trying to be funny so you never know.

I think the best solution is not to correspond with the miscreants, but rather to correspond with their advertisers. Money talks and when people start pulling their money from the advertisers who start pulling their money from the station, that's the kind of attention that will make a difference while not reinforcing them with "5000" replies.

I'm with Chris on this one, don't give them any attention, let it come through votes with dollars where it will hurt them.

Radio DJs say those things because lots of people really like to hear them, but they stir up enough controvercy to get the station (and DJ) publicity. I wish I had some brilliant words of wisdom about how we can defuse this, but I just don't. It really is true that many, many ordinary Americans drive with much more hostility and anger than they did 20 years ago. When they hear large numbers of other people, especially pseudo authority figures (which a radio DJ is) validating that feeling, they feel they have permission to let it go and act on it. Bicyclists aren't the only people they're mad at. Anyone in their way, be they construction workers, pedestrians or just slow drivers, had better make way or else.

I'm convinced that this widespread attitude is a large part of the reason for the otherwise needless popularity of huge SUVs and pickups. For some drivers, it's participation in this get-outta-my-way king of the road attitude, and for others it feels like a little protection from the road ragers.

Where I'm going with this is, when radio personalities encourage offensive driving behavior, they're more symptom than cause, that's the way much of the rest of the world is headed, and, since that's becoming normal (in the worst sense of the word) I don't know what we can do about it.

Here's an idea.

Call up the DJs in question and tell them you did exactly as they told you to do. Go into as much gory detail as possible and try and come across as an actual serious killer rather than the sort of 'joking' vehemence that they seem to want to stir up (you know, the kind they believe no-one actually acts upon). Tell them that it's all thanks to them, and that you're just on your way out to squash another head.

I'd be interested to hear their reaction.

Another angle to call up and play the grieved widow/er of a cyclist that had been killed by a hit and run driver. Tell them the driver was never caught, or that they got away with a token sentence. Go into the whole sob story about the kids (the younger the better) no longer having a mother/father and how a few moments in time, or a few indiscreet words spoken on the radio can wreck so many lives.

Getting angry at them only seems to feed their fevered egos. This might bring them back to reality for at least a moment.

Or, as I said before, ignore them. Don't feed the trolls, but if you get hit by a car driven by one of their listeners in the next few weeks, sue the f*ck out of them.

Exactly. Did I not say in my replies to the "clear channel" threads that this would be the case? Don't forget that the responses would have come from much wider than just BF once people started e-mailing the advocacy groups and demanding that they jump on the bandwagon.

I think I'll just ignore this one, too.

I think you're correct. After listening to the audio, I noticed that the DJs didn't say anything about "nudging" bicyclists off roads and into trees until cyclists started calling and complaining to them about them stating that cyclists shouldn't be on the roads. Nothing would have been said past the first statement if cyclists hadn't taken so much umbrage.

Here's an idea.

Call up the DJs in question and tell them you did exactly as they told you to do. Go into as much gory detail as possible and try and come across as an actual serious killer rather than the sort of 'joking' vehemence that they seem to want to stir up (you know, the kind they believe no-one actually acts upon). Tell them that it's all thanks to them, and that you're just on your way out to squash another head.

I'd be interested to hear their reaction.


If they're anything like talkback radio in this country, they'll probably just encourage you to do so. I assume you're familiar with the guy on Radio97 at Tweed Heads who made the infamous "I hope you die" quote on air to an AIDS victim. When I used to listen to Stan Zemanek (mainly when I needed something to send me to sleep) he used to regulary challenge callers to a fight. I seriously think they'd just encourage it.



Another angle to call up and play the grieved widow/er of a cyclist that had been killed by a hit and run driver. Tell them the driver was never caught, or that they got away with a token sentence. Go into the whole sob story about the kids (the younger the better) no longer having a mother/father and how a few moments in time, or a few indiscreet words spoken on the radio can wreck so many lives.

To be honest they've heard that all before in the letters and so on they've been sent. I think they'd just laugh at it, with all the redneck dickheads listening to this sort of crap laughing along with them. That's assuming they even put it to air. Don't assume that every caller they ever get gets on air, or even that it's all done live (I'm told there's a 60 second delay so they can cut out anything they don't want broadcast).




Or, as I said before, ignore them. Don't feed the trolls, but if you get hit by a car driven by one of their listeners in the next few weeks, sue the f*ck out of them.

I still think this is the best idea. Trolls are like cockroaches, if you don't feed them, they find somewhere else to hunt.

Why don't we organize a critical mass for the Atlanta area, and make sure it goes by this radio station (unless of course, as so many are, that it's syndicated)?

I think that would just give them more "ammunition".

Although I generally like to complain a perpetrator and then his/her immediate supervisor, in these situations I prefer to go directly to the FCC and the advertisers. This is what worked with the morons at Clear Channel.

Fortunately, I don't have this problem with my two favorite radio stations, Los Angeles-based kusc.org / 91.5 and San Diego-based kpbs.org 89.5.

The FCC contact list can be found here. http://www.fcc.gov/contacts.html

Try Google then "Critical; Mass" in UK we stop cities, London for example, for a day by riding bikes. Then we make demands, "less polution, more space for pedlers, cycly preference" HM Government is scared of Critical Mass.

With being in the area, I have an opinion, I'm half tempted to go down to that station and giving them a piece of my mind, it's going way too far now, it's to the point of copycats. The last time I checked, the bike was invented before the car, we were riding the roads before motorized vehicles were. Now a dj is advocating violence against cyclists again. On a side note this makes me glad I am a mtb'r. But it only took one death threat from a car driver(In a SUV ironically) on one of my rare road rides. I still hit the road this time doing urban riding. Seen a cyclist lose their life due to a driver's actions(Claimed accident, did not see him.) He seen the cyclist, it was no accident. The driver walked off scott free, found not guilty on all charges. It's dj's like these that spread awful ideas like the ones out their around, and if they find it funny or correct to do in nature to people that listen to them word for word. Stricter restrictions need to be made. Violence can not be accepted in a society that is so gullible in nature. If a dj condones violence, they should be looking at a heavier fine and/or a prison sentence. That might make them change their views. *Rant off, sorry stuff like this gets me really mad.

99x.

Never listen to them, anyway.

I'm not sure I listen to radio much at all, since I'm on my bike, or working, or with my family, etc. I guess radios jocks are fishing for attention from a frustrated sector of morning automobile commuters.

So, now I see the personal threat: it's about some ignorant b*stard endangering my life as I commute to work on my bike in the morning. This same ignorant DJ is inciting violent reactions from the people who I ride with every day.

"But it's not violence, it's comedy," someone will say. Very funny.

Although I generally like to complain a perpetrator and then his/her immediate supervisor, in these situations I prefer to go directly to the FCC and the advertisers. This is what worked with the morons at Clear Channel.

Question: Has it worked? I don't think Clear Channel's hands have been clean long enough to honestly claim that it has. Let's wait six months or so to see whether they do it again before claiming "victory".

Are there clips that are missing? I didn't hear much (any?) of them suggesting that motorists run cyclist off the road. Most of what I heard was them making fun of cyclists in that they go slow and dress funny.

I'm OK with people laughing at whatever I'm wearing, just don't hit me with your car.

For the record, I like(d) the Don Miller Morning Show. I haven't listened to it in quite a while since I commute by bike almost exclusively now.