Stupid Radio Jocks

I'm glad I live in california. Damn, I woulda been so mad if these idiots were from one of the stations i listen to...damn [censored].

I listened to those audio clips. What a bunch of morons, but they're kind of in the business for their ability to stir up trouble and get themselves publicity. There are lots of those shock radio jockeys around.

Tune into NPR in the morning if you want to hear something worthwhile, I say.

Ignorant [censored]...

I ride in Arizona, With good weather all year round there are a lot of riders and it is accepted nicely.😠

On one hand, you can't take these morons seriously. They advocate positions that any intelligent person would find ludicrous.

On the other hand, the fact that intolerant people have a pulpit (radio) to spout this [censored] says as much about the audience as the speakers. Radio is ratings ($$$) driven...if no one listened, they wouldn't be have a job.

It's time for the whole morning radio schtick to end...it's way over the top. Thank goodness for news radio, CD's and now satellite radio.

How many Americans actually think the way these guys do about cyclists, i.e. that cycling is not a "real" sport and is something you stop doing when you're a kid? In the UK, I think hardly anyone thinks like that, and commuting by bike or cycling for fitness/enjoyment are perfectly well respected. Are there actually many Americans who think of cycling as something that is just for children?

I would say that many American's view cycling as something that is mostly for kids. Perhaps the people posting here wouldnt see it that way but we are not the average public either. IMO most Americans see adult cyclists as recreational and thus they should be on a bike paths. Perhaps if more cyclists commuted on normal roads the public would eventually view bikes as a common vehicle for transportation instead of a toy/exercise equiptment but unfortunantly I think many Americans view riding a bike on the road as too dangerous and end up only riding on bike paths or sidewalks, if they ride at all.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by mjw_byrne
How many Americans actually think the way these guys do about cyclists, i.e. that cycling is not a "real" sport and is something you stop doing when you're a kid? In the UK, I think hardly anyone thinks like that, and commuting by bike or cycling for fitness/enjoyment are perfectly well respected. Are there actually many Americans who think of cycling as something that is just for children?

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by mjw_byrne
How many Americans actually think the way these guys do about cyclists, i.e. that cycling is not a "real" sport and is something you stop doing when you're a kid? In the UK, I think hardly anyone thinks like that, and commuting by bike or cycling for fitness/enjoyment are perfectly well respected. Are there actually many Americans who think of cycling as something that is just for children?

I think the obnoxious radio jocks are a pretty good indicator of what many Americans think about cyclists. It's not so much that cycling is viewed as a children's game, but that cyclists just get in the way of cars.

sent this a.m.

TO: Mark Renier, GM
Susquehanna Radio Corp
Sr. VP - 99X

I'm an aspiring journalist, and an avid cyclist.

I would fight to the death for the rights of your station personalities to voice their opinions--even opinions as malevolent, ignorant, and injurious as the opinions they've voiced regarding bicyclists.

I would ask, however, that you help your on-air personalities to understand that the power of the press is formidable, and that, with those rights, come profound responsibilities.

Their shows regarding bicyclists have been patently irresponsible. When they disregard the fact that:
a) Atlanta is still in Georgia,
b) Georgia is still in the South,
c) The South is still the epicenter of Strict Fundamentalism...

...then they err with violence as a possible result. Asking, "Do you honestly think anybody takes this stuff seriously? is a convenient way for an on-air personality to attempt to expiate their guilt for irresponsible journalism. Unfortunately, the simple truth is: many people do take The Word as The Gospel.

Referring back to the Clear Channel fiasco last year, read this.
Question, as I'm not in the USA, is the radio station in Georgia operated by Clear Channel?

(Apologies if you've already read this cross-posted in a zillion other cycling lists/forums)

REPENTENCE ON THE AIRWAVES
Clear Channel Communications created quite a stir last
year when shock jocks at their affiliates in Cleveland, Houston,
and Raleigh advocated -- with tongue in cheek, they protested --
ways in which motorists should think about doing bodily damage to bicyclists on the city streets.

After a storm of protest from the cycling community finally quieted down, here's what shook out:

The League of American Bicyclists has created a series of public
service announcements with funding/support from none other
than Clear Channel. The PSAs revolve around Bike to Work Week,
which happens May 17-21. Click here to look and listen; then get 'em into the hands of your local radio stations:

http://www.bikemonth.com/radio.htm

What do you expect from a bunch of disk jockeys. They can't make it on TV because they are fat and ignorant. Yes I'm speculating they are fat, and why not they speculate that I'm homosexual because I wear spandex and ride a bike. The last caller was right let them get on a bike and try to outride any of us. Ignorance must be bliss...

WKrider has it right --- Arizona is a great place to ride, driver wise - ok with the possible exceptions of June through August, November & December in the Valley. (What can I say 100 + degrees makes most of the Valley residents a little psycho, Nov & Dec with all those snowbirds makes it quite dangerous - ever seen a car cross 8 lanes of traffic to make a left - stick around you will) I know there are also lots of other cyclist friendly cities & towns out there.

Time to stir up a hornets nest now.

#1 the DJ's - if you want to hit them where it hurts, you can't get to their egos because they can't ride etc..., there is only way to get to them and that is through the sponsors. Play the clips to them; ask them if they wish to be liable for the first accident, etc... As a last measure boycott the sponsors – freedom of speech works both ways – sometimes money is the most powerful statement.

#2 - per tckydle "I think the obnoxious radio jocks are a pretty good indicator of what many Americans think about cyclists. It's not so much that cycling is viewed as a children's game, but that cyclists just get in the way of cars."

Part of that falls back on us - yes we are considered to be like regular vehicles per the laws of the state, which means that if we are slowing up traffic we are obligated to pull off the road & let traffic pass (In Az it is 5 cars max).

We are obligated to ride as far to the right as safely possible & yet we have some that say - I am a vehicle and I will take up the full lane even when the lane is easily large enough to handle cars & bikes. These are also the same ones that when passed and they come up to a red light skim by all the cars on the right to be the first to go forcing everyone to pass them again.

We are also supposed to stop at every stop sign & red light but per the poll here a lot of people don’t do it. This has led to countless accidents & near misses frustrating the drivers even more. Grant you I am not a saint when it comes to some of this, if it is a deserted area & I can see that no one is around I will occasionally go or skim past the cars as I am making a right hand turn. .

I will grant you that some of the attitudes are based on the areas you are in, and no matter what there will always be ignorant people & how dare that I perceive that you slowed me down for half a second. It will simply take time to improve “most Americans” impression of cyclists. I would say that for the bulk of the Americans that don’t care about cycling - they will still give you the respect that you or others have given them. They are simply neutral on the issue as it is not an issue to them as long as we don’t make it one. Be as courteous to the drivers as you wish for them to be to you and the other cyclists out there. Help educate people about cycling, write letters to the City Council about new bike lanes and how they improve safety, save the city money, avoid the EPA, cut down on pollution, etc…

Just my .02

P.S. As for NPR – no I better leave that one alone.

Word.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by SLS

Part of that falls back on us - yes we are considered to be like regular vehicles per the laws of the state, which means that if we are slowing up traffic we are obligated to pull off the road & let traffic pass (In Az it is 5 cars max).

We are obligated to ride as far to the right as safely possible & yet we have some that say - I am a vehicle and I will take up the full lane even when the lane is easily large enough to handle cars & bikes. These are also the same ones that when passed and they come up to a red light skim by all the cars on the right to be the first to go forcing everyone to pass them again.

We are also supposed to stop at every stop sign & red light but per the poll here a lot of people don’t do it. This has led to countless accidents & near misses frustrating the drivers even more. Grant you I am not a saint when it comes to some of this, if it is a deserted area & I can see that no one is around I will occasionally go or skim past the cars as I am making a right hand turn. .