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Steven Goodridg
Guest
Burr <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Any body heard any more about this mess??? Any body getting any replies this time?
I've been in frequent communication with the local (WDCG) station manager because the station
selected me for communication with the local cycling community. However, few other people are
getting any response, because the station management is getting so many emails and so many voice
mails that they cannot possibly read or pay attention to them all. Last I heard, their email
accounts and voice mail systems have become practically useless for the time being.
I suggest that if you want serious attention to an inquiry or comment, you should send a
professional-looking and polite postal mail letter to the station or Clear Channel management. This
is more likely to get read and get attention, because it is clearer that the writer is a real
person and not a virtual identity on the Internet. Also, it doesn't create a denial-of-service
effect on their electronic communications system (which if that is the intent of mass emailings, is
probably illegal.)
Steve Goodridge http://www.humantransport.org/bicycledriving/wdcg.htm
> Any body heard any more about this mess??? Any body getting any replies this time?
I've been in frequent communication with the local (WDCG) station manager because the station
selected me for communication with the local cycling community. However, few other people are
getting any response, because the station management is getting so many emails and so many voice
mails that they cannot possibly read or pay attention to them all. Last I heard, their email
accounts and voice mail systems have become practically useless for the time being.
I suggest that if you want serious attention to an inquiry or comment, you should send a
professional-looking and polite postal mail letter to the station or Clear Channel management. This
is more likely to get read and get attention, because it is clearer that the writer is a real
person and not a virtual identity on the Internet. Also, it doesn't create a denial-of-service
effect on their electronic communications system (which if that is the intent of mass emailings, is
probably illegal.)
Steve Goodridge http://www.humantransport.org/bicycledriving/wdcg.htm
K
Karen M.
Guest
Burr wrote:
> Any body heard any more about this mess??? Any body getting any replies this time?
Just this, circulated on CrankMail (Cleveland). It's from the LA (and I don't mean the TdF winner)
Times. --Karen M.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` Mikes vs. bikes
Cyclists fail to see humor in DJs' calls for assaults.
By J. Michael Kennedy, Times Staff Writer
Kevin Bray was, well, shocked, when he heard that shock jocks were urging their listeners to run
bicyclists off the road. He was horrified when he found out it had happened at least three times
since July, in each case at stations owned by radio behemoth Clear Channel first in
Cleveland, then Houston and finally at a station in Raleigh, N.C. To Bray, an avid cyclist and
veteran North Carolina highway patrolman, there seemed to be an ominous pattern developing.
"All I can say is, 'Who's next?' " said Bray, who has filed a complaint against the Raleigh station
with the Federal Communications Commission. "What these people are doing is some sort of sick
marketing ploy."
That thought has also occurred to Patrick McCormick, director of communications for the
40,000-member League of American Bicyclists, an organization dedicated to preserving cyclists'
rights. He said his group has been deluged with complaints now that three major radio markets have
been beset by the same anticyclist comments. "We're still contemplating what we're going to do as a
national organization," McCormick said.
The incidents have stirred rage in the cycling world. In each incident, disc jockeys derided
cyclists and encouraged listeners to run them down. In the latest example, at Raleigh station
WDCG-FM, disc jockeys Bob Dumas and Madison Lane began their rant against cyclists on Sept. 22. In
the course of the program, listeners flooded their telephone lines to vent about cyclists, including
one woman who boasted that her father intentionally hit one while they were on the way to church.
One of the DJs promoted the joys of hitting cyclists with Yoohoo bottles.
When patrolman Bray heard about the program, he wrote an e-mail to the shock jocks, warning them
they were instructing the motoring public in how to commit assault with a deadly weapon - their
cars. Bray also informed them that he was reporting them to the FCC.
"I don't know much about radio broadcasting," he wrote. "But I have enough sense to know that these
acts are either illegal or contrary to the code of ethics you should be bound by when the FCC allows
you to go on the air."
The station's initial response came from station manager Kenneth Spitzer, who referred to the show
as "animated banter." But after a demonstration outside the station and the threat by advertisers to
pull out, Spitzer issued a public apology on the air Thursday.
The first of the anticyclist diatribe occurred last July in Cleveland, when WMJI-FM disc jockeys
suggested cyclists be rammed off the road. One of those who got on the phone to defend cyclists was
Lois Cowan, who co-owns four bike shops in the Cleveland area.
"I was repeatedly called a buffoon, an idiot and a PMS sufferer who couldn't take a joke," she said.
"Then there were three hours of calls from people saying, 'Yeah, you guys are right.' "
The session left Cowan in tears, but she immediately swung into action, helping engineer a
bombardment of calls and e-mails to the station. In the end, the station called a truce and agreed
to, among other things, hundreds of public-service announcements about the need to share the road.
The Houston incident also took place in September, and the timing of the show infuriated the city's
cycling community. On Aug. 30, a woman driving a pickup truck had lost control and slammed into a
20-bike pace line, killing two riders and injuring eight others. Three days later, the disc jockeys
at station KLOL-FM went on their antibiking rampage, setting off another round of protests.
"When you incite people to violence, you've crossed the line," insisted Houston cyclist Frank
Karbarz, who helped organize against the station. "They did it almost like a tutorial. It wasn't
humorous. It was how to hurt someone."
Cowan doesn't believe that Clear Channel, which owns more than 1,200 radio stations in the U.S., is
encouraging the anticycling venom. She said it's more probable that word spread among disc jockeys
that knocking cyclists is sure to push emotional buttons with their listeners.
Clear Channel, for its part, said through a spokesperson that each station was "operated and
produced independently," and "each station is working to correct the problem in their city."
But noted cycling writer Ed Pavelka said he felt the three incidents have at least the makings of a
trend. "First it was Cleveland, then Houston and Raleigh," he said. "Either someone's not getting
the message, or someone's doing it with intent."
In 2001, 728 cyclists were killed in accidents involving motor vehicles in the United States. And an
additional 45,000 cyclists were injured.
Legally, cyclists are afforded the same rights as motorists. Lawyer Gary Brustin, who specializes in
cycling cases, noted that some motorists just don't like sharing the road with bikes. "They just
don't like them."
http://www.latimes.com/features/outdoors/la-os-bike7oct07,1,7316055.story?coll=la-headlines-outdoors
OR
http://tinyurl.com/q2jk
> Any body heard any more about this mess??? Any body getting any replies this time?
Just this, circulated on CrankMail (Cleveland). It's from the LA (and I don't mean the TdF winner)
Times. --Karen M.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` Mikes vs. bikes
Cyclists fail to see humor in DJs' calls for assaults.
By J. Michael Kennedy, Times Staff Writer
Kevin Bray was, well, shocked, when he heard that shock jocks were urging their listeners to run
bicyclists off the road. He was horrified when he found out it had happened at least three times
since July, in each case at stations owned by radio behemoth Clear Channel first in
Cleveland, then Houston and finally at a station in Raleigh, N.C. To Bray, an avid cyclist and
veteran North Carolina highway patrolman, there seemed to be an ominous pattern developing.
"All I can say is, 'Who's next?' " said Bray, who has filed a complaint against the Raleigh station
with the Federal Communications Commission. "What these people are doing is some sort of sick
marketing ploy."
That thought has also occurred to Patrick McCormick, director of communications for the
40,000-member League of American Bicyclists, an organization dedicated to preserving cyclists'
rights. He said his group has been deluged with complaints now that three major radio markets have
been beset by the same anticyclist comments. "We're still contemplating what we're going to do as a
national organization," McCormick said.
The incidents have stirred rage in the cycling world. In each incident, disc jockeys derided
cyclists and encouraged listeners to run them down. In the latest example, at Raleigh station
WDCG-FM, disc jockeys Bob Dumas and Madison Lane began their rant against cyclists on Sept. 22. In
the course of the program, listeners flooded their telephone lines to vent about cyclists, including
one woman who boasted that her father intentionally hit one while they were on the way to church.
One of the DJs promoted the joys of hitting cyclists with Yoohoo bottles.
When patrolman Bray heard about the program, he wrote an e-mail to the shock jocks, warning them
they were instructing the motoring public in how to commit assault with a deadly weapon - their
cars. Bray also informed them that he was reporting them to the FCC.
"I don't know much about radio broadcasting," he wrote. "But I have enough sense to know that these
acts are either illegal or contrary to the code of ethics you should be bound by when the FCC allows
you to go on the air."
The station's initial response came from station manager Kenneth Spitzer, who referred to the show
as "animated banter." But after a demonstration outside the station and the threat by advertisers to
pull out, Spitzer issued a public apology on the air Thursday.
The first of the anticyclist diatribe occurred last July in Cleveland, when WMJI-FM disc jockeys
suggested cyclists be rammed off the road. One of those who got on the phone to defend cyclists was
Lois Cowan, who co-owns four bike shops in the Cleveland area.
"I was repeatedly called a buffoon, an idiot and a PMS sufferer who couldn't take a joke," she said.
"Then there were three hours of calls from people saying, 'Yeah, you guys are right.' "
The session left Cowan in tears, but she immediately swung into action, helping engineer a
bombardment of calls and e-mails to the station. In the end, the station called a truce and agreed
to, among other things, hundreds of public-service announcements about the need to share the road.
The Houston incident also took place in September, and the timing of the show infuriated the city's
cycling community. On Aug. 30, a woman driving a pickup truck had lost control and slammed into a
20-bike pace line, killing two riders and injuring eight others. Three days later, the disc jockeys
at station KLOL-FM went on their antibiking rampage, setting off another round of protests.
"When you incite people to violence, you've crossed the line," insisted Houston cyclist Frank
Karbarz, who helped organize against the station. "They did it almost like a tutorial. It wasn't
humorous. It was how to hurt someone."
Cowan doesn't believe that Clear Channel, which owns more than 1,200 radio stations in the U.S., is
encouraging the anticycling venom. She said it's more probable that word spread among disc jockeys
that knocking cyclists is sure to push emotional buttons with their listeners.
Clear Channel, for its part, said through a spokesperson that each station was "operated and
produced independently," and "each station is working to correct the problem in their city."
But noted cycling writer Ed Pavelka said he felt the three incidents have at least the makings of a
trend. "First it was Cleveland, then Houston and Raleigh," he said. "Either someone's not getting
the message, or someone's doing it with intent."
In 2001, 728 cyclists were killed in accidents involving motor vehicles in the United States. And an
additional 45,000 cyclists were injured.
Legally, cyclists are afforded the same rights as motorists. Lawyer Gary Brustin, who specializes in
cycling cases, noted that some motorists just don't like sharing the road with bikes. "They just
don't like them."
http://www.latimes.com/features/outdoors/la-os-bike7oct07,1,7316055.story?coll=la-headlines-outdoors
OR
http://tinyurl.com/q2jk
T
Tom Keats
Guest
In article <[email protected]>, Burr <[email protected]> writes:
> Your post makes it sound like we are wrong to complain, that we are the bad ones!!
Really? I just "got" that mass electronic communications tend to backlog and are readily deletable,
and therefore can get missed; traditional post can circumvent those problems, and perhaps better
ensure that your complaints get noticed.
In other words, I think Steven was trying to help folks to get their message across.
The price of a postage stamp is no great strain.
And if the Truth may be invoked, email *is* eminently more ignorable than snail mail.
cheers, Tom
--
-- Powered by FreeBSD Above address is just a spam midden. I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn
[point] bc [point] ca
> Your post makes it sound like we are wrong to complain, that we are the bad ones!!
Really? I just "got" that mass electronic communications tend to backlog and are readily deletable,
and therefore can get missed; traditional post can circumvent those problems, and perhaps better
ensure that your complaints get noticed.
In other words, I think Steven was trying to help folks to get their message
The price of a postage stamp is no great strain.
And if the Truth may be invoked, email *is* eminently more ignorable than snail mail.
cheers, Tom
--
-- Powered by FreeBSD Above address is just a spam midden. I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn
[point] bc [point] ca
B
Burr
Guest
I wrote the LA Times last asking them to do a story!!!! I also wrote the WSJ and asked for
their help!!!
Maybe I'll send the LA story to the WSJ to push a little.
Burr
their help!!!
Maybe I'll send the LA story to the WSJ to push a little.
Burr
B
Burr
Guest
Steven, I was not trying to jam their email account or spam or jam their VM. The first time I wrote
about the first two deals I did get nice replies back that I posted here. This time I have not heard
a work and YES I also filed a complaint with the FCC, wrote the local LA Times and the WSJ asking
for their help and I think I got some and I am going after the WSJ again, I have paid my money for
years and I hope they will help. Your post makes it sound like we are wrong to complain, that we are
the bad ones!! If I had my way they would be shut down for six months this time and for ever the
next time and I hope it does hurt their stock. I had a guy jam me to the edge of the road Sunday
while I was riding, he missed my handle bars by a foot and was going maybe 40 mph or better. The
local police here in California do a good job of "trying" to help cyclist if they see someone
messing with us but they don't see much.
Burr
Steven Goodridge wrote:
> Burr <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
>
>>Any body heard any more about this mess??? Any body getting any replies this time?
>>
>
> I've been in frequent communication with the local (WDCG) station manager because the station
> selected me for communication with the local cycling community. However, few other people are
> getting any response, because the station management is getting so many emails and so many voice
> mails that they cannot possibly read or pay attention to them all. Last I heard, their email
> accounts and voice mail systems have become practically useless for the time being.
>
> I suggest that if you want serious attention to an inquiry or comment, you should send a
> professional-looking and polite postal mail letter to the station or Clear Channel management.
> This is more likely to get read and get attention, because it is clearer that the writer is a real
> person and not a virtual identity on the Internet. Also, it doesn't create a denial-of-service
> effect on their electronic communications system (which if that is the intent of mass emailings,
> is probably illegal.)
>
> Steve Goodridge http://www.humantransport.org/bicycledriving/wdcg.htm
about the first two deals I did get nice replies back that I posted here. This time I have not heard
a work and YES I also filed a complaint with the FCC, wrote the local LA Times and the WSJ asking
for their help and I think I got some and I am going after the WSJ again, I have paid my money for
years and I hope they will help. Your post makes it sound like we are wrong to complain, that we are
the bad ones!! If I had my way they would be shut down for six months this time and for ever the
next time and I hope it does hurt their stock. I had a guy jam me to the edge of the road Sunday
while I was riding, he missed my handle bars by a foot and was going maybe 40 mph or better. The
local police here in California do a good job of "trying" to help cyclist if they see someone
messing with us but they don't see much.
Burr
Steven Goodridge wrote:
> Burr <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
>
>>Any body heard any more about this mess??? Any body getting any replies this time?
>>
>
> I've been in frequent communication with the local (WDCG) station manager because the station
> selected me for communication with the local cycling community. However, few other people are
> getting any response, because the station management is getting so many emails and so many voice
> mails that they cannot possibly read or pay attention to them all. Last I heard, their email
> accounts and voice mail systems have become practically useless for the time being.
>
> I suggest that if you want serious attention to an inquiry or comment, you should send a
> professional-looking and polite postal mail letter to the station or Clear Channel management.
> This is more likely to get read and get attention, because it is clearer that the writer is a real
> person and not a virtual identity on the Internet. Also, it doesn't create a denial-of-service
> effect on their electronic communications system (which if that is the intent of mass emailings,
> is probably illegal.)
>
> Steve Goodridge http://www.humantransport.org/bicycledriving/wdcg.htm
S
Steven Goodridg
Guest
[email protected] (Tom Keats) wrote:
> In other words, I think Steven was trying to help folks to get their message across.
>
> The price of a postage stamp is no great strain.
>
> And if the Truth may be invoked, email *is* eminently more ignorable than snail mail.
Yes, postal mail on paper is more likely to be viewed as authentic, and requires a more physical act
to read and respond. People who write postal mail also tend to organize their thoughts better, and
tend to be more polite.
WDCG's management says that they are getting a lot of very nasty, threatening emails and voice
messages. I don't think these help; and at this point the station is virtually ignoring their email
and voice mail. I imagine that most people will want to contact higher-ups at Clear Channel or the
FCC anyway, if their intent is (a) to prevent this in other areas of the country, or (b) to obtain
greater gains in terms of public education.
Steve Goodridge
> In other words, I think Steven was trying to help folks to get their message
>
> The price of a postage stamp is no great strain.
>
> And if the Truth may be invoked, email *is* eminently more ignorable than snail mail.
Yes, postal mail on paper is more likely to be viewed as authentic, and requires a more physical act
to read and respond. People who write postal mail also tend to organize their thoughts better, and
tend to be more polite.
WDCG's management says that they are getting a lot of very nasty, threatening emails and voice
messages. I don't think these help; and at this point the station is virtually ignoring their email
and voice mail. I imagine that most people will want to contact higher-ups at Clear Channel or the
FCC anyway, if their intent is (a) to prevent this in other areas of the country, or (b) to obtain
greater gains in terms of public education.
Steve Goodridge
K
Karen M.
Guest
Controversy to be covered by Good Morning America Weds Oct 15.
--Karen M.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> One for the good guys From: "Lois Cowan" <[email protected]> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2003 15:31:01
> -0700 To: <[email protected]>
>
>
> Score one more for the good guys!!
>
> You may have been following the Clear Channel Radio versus bicycles controversy. Many of you have
> been instrumental in the fight by writing, calling and e-mailing management and their advertisers.
> Thank you for your efforts and your help.
>
> This afternoon, Good Morning America taped an interview from Century Cycles' Solon store regarding
> the issue. Unless a big story breaks, the segment is due to air Wednesday, October 15.
>
> It's a great opportunity to do some public education. Who knows how my comments will be editted,
> but cross your fingers that the piece helps get the message out to Share the Roads!
--Karen M.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> One for the good guys From: "Lois Cowan" <[email protected]> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2003 15:31:01
> -0700 To: <[email protected]>
>
>
> Score one more for the good guys!!
>
> You may have been following the Clear Channel Radio versus bicycles controversy. Many of you have
> been instrumental in the fight by writing, calling and e-mailing management and their advertisers.
> Thank you for your efforts and your help.
>
> This afternoon, Good Morning America taped an interview from Century Cycles' Solon store regarding
> the issue. Unless a big story breaks, the segment is due to air Wednesday, October 15.
>
> It's a great opportunity to do some public education. Who knows how my comments will be editted,
> but cross your fingers that the piece helps get the message out to Share the Roads!
T
Thomas Reynolds
Guest
Burr <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Any body heard any more about this mess??? Any body getting any replies this time?
>
> Burr
Not a direct answer to your question but Velonews had an interesting article about the legal
issues of this:
http://velonews.gadoz.com/news/fea/5058.0.html
Tom
> Any body heard any more about this mess??? Any body getting any replies this time?
>
> Burr
Not a direct answer to your question but Velonews had an interesting article about the legal
issues of this:
http://velonews.gadoz.com/news/fea/5058.0.html
Tom
B
Burr
Guest
THANKS
Burr Diamondback Road Bike REI Touring Bike Schwinn City Bike So. California Deserts
Thomas Reynolds wrote:
> Burr <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
>
>>Any body heard any more about this mess??? Any body getting any replies this time?
>>
>>Burr
>
> Not a direct answer to your question but Velonews had an interesting article about the legal
> issues of this:
>
> http://velonews.gadoz.com/news/fea/5058.0.html
>
> Tom
Burr Diamondback Road Bike REI Touring Bike Schwinn City Bike So. California Deserts
Thomas Reynolds wrote:
> Burr <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
>
>>Any body heard any more about this mess??? Any body getting any replies this time?
>>
>>Burr
>
> Not a direct answer to your question but Velonews had an interesting article about the legal
> issues of this:
>
> http://velonews.gadoz.com/news/fea/5058.0.html
>
> Tom
J
Jym Dyer
Guest
=v= I'm on a bunch of Critical Mass email lists and I see this popping up here and there, all over
the U.S. I think there are three dynamics at work here:
(1) Drive-time radio basically tries to pander to its presumed audience, motorists who don't care
about anything but getting somewhere fast. This stuff is in the same vein as the mindless
drive-time blowhard rants about emissions controls, gas prices, tolls, and highway
construction.
(2) Ratings-seeking "shock jocks" whose idea of cutting- edge humor is attacking women and
minorities, seeing bicyclists as yet another "other" to say moronic things about.
(3) ClearChannel works to make the airwaves homogenous. If their idiot deejays screw up in one
market, they can just move to another locale. As some of this is programmed centrally, they
may not even need to move.
<_Jym_
the U.S. I think there are three dynamics at work here:
(1) Drive-time radio basically tries to pander to its presumed audience, motorists who don't care
about anything but getting somewhere fast. This stuff is in the same vein as the mindless
drive-time blowhard rants about emissions controls, gas prices, tolls, and highway
construction.
(2) Ratings-seeking "shock jocks" whose idea of cutting- edge humor is attacking women and
minorities, seeing bicyclists as yet another "other" to say moronic things about.
(3) ClearChannel works to make the airwaves homogenous. If their idiot deejays screw up in one
market, they can just move to another locale. As some of this is programmed centrally, they
may not even need to move.
<_Jym_
A
Adrian Hands
Guest
Excellent!
The Bay area paper, "Contra Costa Times", has reprinted the "LA Times" article too in today's (Oct
13) edition.
Cyclists ride stations for dumb stunts http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/7002072.htm
Here in Raleigh NC we've had reports of authentic cycling-oriented
PSAs airing on a couple of other clear channel stations.
Here's some local press reaction: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/2934840p-2693054c.html
I've got some problem with referring to it as a "controversy" - I don't see what's "controversial"
about it - inciting random potentially-lethal violence on unsuspecting road travelers is wrong and
illegal. A broadcast radio professional engaging in such activity is inexcusable.
[email protected] (Karen M.) wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> Controversy to be covered by Good Morning America Weds Oct 15.
The Bay area paper, "Contra Costa Times", has reprinted the "LA Times" article too in today's (Oct
13) edition.
Cyclists ride stations for dumb stunts http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/7002072.htm
Here in Raleigh NC we've had reports of authentic cycling-oriented
PSAs airing on a couple of other clear channel stations.
Here's some local press reaction: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/2934840p-2693054c.html
I've got some problem with referring to it as a "controversy" - I don't see what's "controversial"
about it - inciting random potentially-lethal violence on unsuspecting road travelers is wrong and
illegal. A broadcast radio professional engaging in such activity is inexcusable.
[email protected] (Karen M.) wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> Controversy to be covered by Good Morning America Weds Oct 15.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.