Are cyclists next?
 

http://www.ducati.ms/forums/showthread.php?t=82805

Who knows maybe the cops will be drawing guns on bicylists next. Not likely but this surely pissed me off. The story is this motorcyclist passed an off duty State Police officer at 75-85 mph according to the report I read. I know this is a cyclist site but as a rider of both types of 2-wheeled vehicles this just reminded me of the disrespect I face on either "bike."

I guess you didn't see the item about the cyclist who got chased, tased and then run over.

I didn't. But, there was a case in GA where a motorcyclist was knocked down in a Target parking lot by two teemage girls. They then drove away when he tried to get their ins. info. He followed them (since it was on his way home) and drove down their street. When they pulled into their driveway, he drove by and turned around to drive back to the main road to go home. Unbeknownst to him the girls had called their father ( a known hot head) who came out to the street and started firing his handgun at the back of the rider. Hit him in the head and killed him. The father is now in prison for life.

Here ya go: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010...dio-host-idiot

This guy is an idiot but he's taken on too much with this and Lance Armstrong. Hope he gets fired.

The quote "The last time I looked, the roads were made for automobiles, " by the DJ is particularly telling. I think it speaks for the vast majority of motorists who believe this urban legend. They don't know history, so they don't realize that bicycles have always been on the roads, even before cars were around.

If you check on Lances twitter page, he is apparently going onto the guys show for a discussion about it. Lets hope that cool heads prevail.

I'm sure Lance will keep his cool, but not let the jerk get away without admitting what an idiot he was for saying those things. I think Lance's behind will be getting lots of smooch action. But I hope it doesn't stop ESPN from firing the dbag.

Standard talk radio shtick. I worked in radio sales for a few years and every 2 cent talk show host that came through the station did the same routine of attacking anything or anyone that might remotely impede traffic at "drive time" which inturn provokes all of the nuts to call in . The offended raise hell elsewhere and the talk show host gets his name in the news . End result he picks up a few more listeners for awhile until his numbers crash then they ship him off to another station

Lance going on this clown's show doesn't do anything positive for cyclists IMO.

The"run 'em down" comment is really terrible.... just atrocious. I guess I was wrong about Tony K all along.

We have a local radio guy here who has played the anti-cyclist game on-air, though he never sunk to Kornheiser's level. The local bicycle club collected 100 winter coats for charity in order to get on his show to argue with him. I doubt it did any good for the cause and may even have made the guy look like a nice, generous fellow.

TK is saying his show is all about comedy and sarcasm. This is not a subject for humor. In 2008, near the end of a 192 mile charity ride, some clown pulled over far into a breakdown lane and tried to hit me. Missed by a couple inches. Then he stopped, stuck his head out the window and laughed like a maniac. There are enough nuts out there without TK egging them on.
How would he, and the management of ESPN980 and ESPN, feel if some guy hits a cyclist, then cites in his defense, TK's words? Stranger things have happened.
We have not only the right, but the legal obligation, to ride on the road and stay off the sidewalks. (in most states.) But in TK's words, the roads belong to those big cars.
Huge numbers of cyclists are out there training for charity rides, raising millions of dollars for many worthy causes. We don't need a pat on the back for our efforts, but we would like to live through the experience. TK would prefer we do not.
I'll be out on the road today, training for the 2010 PMC, and hoping I don't end up laying on the side of the road as a result of TK's ignorance.

Maybe I didn't read the article closely enough. I thought he said it on PTI. Which, as you probably know, is a TV show. In any event, here in CT bicycles are considered "traffic" and a new State law requires motorized vehicles to give bicyclist at least 3 feet distance when they pass.

Yeah, his comments were on ESPN980, the raido show. Interestingly enough, while the recording of his very weak apology is still in thier archives, the offending show date has been removed. Are they now worried about liability? The offending show was on 3/11, and that one is missing. The shows for 3/10 and 3/12 are still in the archive.

I don't consider myself to be a radical in any sense, but this one is inexcusable, and I've spent quite a bit of time sending out emails to various outlets to express my concern.

I'm pondering an analogy of this situation. Maybe this:

"You know, when I'm driving home it really chaps my hide to get behind a little old lady with a disabled sticker on her car, going 55 MPH when the rest of the traffic is pulling 75. I think we should grab our guns and fire away. 10 points for a limb shot, 25 points for a body shot, and 50 points for a head shot. HAHAHAHAHHA."

When you think about it, no one, and I mean NO ONE would tolerate this kind of thing over the airwaves. AARP would be storming down the doors. The Grey Panthers would have this person's head on a bedpan by the next day.

Yet people think its cute and funny to advocate violence upon cyclists, and nothing much ever seems to happen to them.

Barf.

Listen to his "apology." The only reason for the apology and his assertion that he was "joking" is because he got called on it. You can't listen to the broadcast because they took it off the archives. But I've read a transcript of his remarks. He wasn't "joking." I think this guy really feels that way. The man has no place on the public airwaves.

The offense:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnHmOLpjKys

The apology and discussion with LA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFGz2n2tX88
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJsek...eature=related

Very good comments from Lance. Part of me wanted to hear him hammer the guy, but this was a much smarter play.

This jerk should be challenged / ordered to ride a bicycle in some of these danger spots with a sign on his back saying, "Hit me!" Riding, even without such a sign, might give some credence to his apologies.

I guess my only comment on this is that the 'apology' was made to the wrong guy... Lance is about as far removed from 'cycling' in our sense as Kornheiser is. Lance is not out there during rush hour avoiding cars trying to get to work (or home). Lance is not out there avoiding cars trying to deliver packages. Lance is not out there trying to get to class... Lance is not out there for a leisurely 10 mile ride. Yes Lance is a cycling icon, but he is by no means the cyclist Kornheiser was referring to.

train safe-- (and watch out for those cars)

I thought LA was absolutely brilliant. He managed to use language that "affiliated" with Kornheiser and he brought the message home to him with personal anecdotes. He played it just right. My regard for LA was increased by that interview..........

Hey geofitz13:

How's my old Alma Mater, AIC. Played football up there from 1964-1968. Lived over on Mass. Ave. :)

Whether it's talk radio or talk TV - these guys are entertainers and the only stupid ones out there are the ones who tune in and believe what they are hearing whether it be left or right propaganda.

Although I live about 2 miles from AIC, I haven't really followed them. They have done a lot of re-habbing and expansion of the campus tho. They re-did the State St corridor and it's looking pretty decent these days.

In the end, you are right on the money. Listen to any "political" talk show and the only thing you don't hear is an intelligent discussion of the issues.

Me too. His stock had taken a severe hit in my book from the way he handled the situation with Contador at the Tour last year. This has put him back much more in favor.

Here's a thought: As far as I know, every state and province's vehicle code states that it is a "privilege" to operate a motor vehicle on the road. it is not a "right." That's why you need to get a license to operate a motor vehicle. However, you do not need a license to operate a pedal-powered bicycle on the road. Therefore, one can only conclude that one has a "right" to ride a bike on a public road. Alternatively, a cyclist has a greater "right" to be on the road than a motorist, as the motorist's claim on the road is at the tentative pleasure of the licensing authorities, while the cyclist's claim is just assumed to exist, at least according to the Uniform Vehicle Code. Any lawyers out there?

L.

Personally I try to avoid talking about rights when interacting with non-cyclists. It seems to have more of a negative effect than positive.