I heard the midday radio show on 97.1. It was an entire hour of cycling bashing. 97.1 radio show hosts Greg Henson and Michelle McKormick were complaining about cyclists on the road here in Detroit. With direct mention being made of cyclists in the Woodward, Normandy, and Hines Drive areas. They spoke about how they were going to open their car doors when cyclists were coming past, pulling around in front of cyclists and slowing down, and also flicking cigarettes at them. They
had callers explaining how they would deal with cyclist if they were on their roads. Both DJ’s were promoting more callers to express their anti-cyclist actions. Maybe we should send then a few thousand emails:
F*ck not again. More stupid dumbass Dj’s. In phx we had a cyclist killed 2 mornings ago as he commuted to work. I used to wave to him every morning that I rode. Got home and turned on the news and recognized the bike right off the bat. Never knew the guy as we were always going opposite directions.
Great! I wonder if those Bozo’s know that in most, if not all, states cyclists have the same rights and responsbilities as cars. We could just ride right down the middle of traffic lanes and hold up traffic.
Send those emails–intentional injury is unconscionable and criminal (assault).
“F*ck not again.” That’s exactly what I thought when I read this post. Except that I didn’t use an asterisk.
It amazes me how adamant the media are about having their right of freedom of speech protected, yet they eschew the idea of social responsibility vis-a-vis their broadcasts.
It seems to me that this sort of thing is conspiracy at best, and inciting violence at worst. In either case, I would think it to be a criminal offense.
Dont bother emailing the program directer. They wont care until sponsors complain. Listen to the station, especially the show that advocated hurting cyclists. Write a list of the companies that sponsor them. Write the public affairs person at those companies asking if they condone this sort of behavior, ie hurting cyclists. When advertisers contact the sales department and complain things will change. Also go to the website of the station and find out where the DJs will be making personal appearances. (Dont go there! they will make you look like an idiot.) Write the company where the personal appearance will be. DJs make extra money on personal appearances. Hit them back where it hurts.
Done, I just sent them an e-mail. This is not going to stop until some high level authority addresses this issue. I’m bumped out, I think we are losing this battle. On 50% of my rides I get something nasty from a motorist.
Alright - so is this another one of those Clear Channel radio stations?
Regardless, in the past month or so I have read countless stories/posts on the web about radio station on-air personalities (oxymoron) stating that and that or generally advocating various non-sense in their approach to dealing with cyclists on “their” roads! Well you kow what, in almost every single one of the radio station markets where this occurred, a cyclist was struck and either killed or seriously injurred by a motorist within days of the broadcast. Seems pretty obvious to me that there is a cause and effect scenario here - in a legal sense that sounds a lot like “conspiracy to commit murder!”
Instead of getting out raged and simply deluging the radio stations email server, why not also find some ruthless lawyer type(s) and get them to file a Federal Class Action lawsuit for something in the monetary range of $5,000,000 to $50,000,000! Regardless of whether a cyclist resides in the area effected by such media coverage, the internet/email has pretty much made that argument a moot point as I am constantly asked by non-cyclsit co-workers what I thought about such broadcasts which they read about/heard via email or the internet! I look at it this way, if a state court in Beaumont, Texas can award the family of a deceased women 1 billion dollars for taking a diet drug - why not sue radio stations for hate speech and inciting/advocating violence against cyclists?
I wouldn’t worry about Gregg Henson. He is now on his third radio station in the Detroit area after losing his job at two others. The other two gigs were sports talk, where he basically was an a**hole on the air to stir things up and try to get callers. Didn’t work then, won’t work now. Just like the online trolls, don’t listen, don’t respond, and they’ll go away.
Now I’m a non-violent person, sort of, but I’m going to repost an idea I had about this sort of thing a while back.
Well, given that they think that cyclists are easy targets for cars and here to amuse assholes, I propose a simple solution.
Basically, just get together 10 or so of your cycling buddies in the Detroit area, go the station’s parking garage, figure out where and when this guy Henson comes out, surround him, explain the error of his ways, and then kick the shit out of him. He seems to enjoy having cyclists at a disadvantage, let’s see how much he likes it now.
I just e-mailed both of them. Even more inapproapriate considering it is the one year anniversary of the death of a prominent local cyclist, Michael R. Rabe, Vice President of Racing for the Wolverine Sports Club- killed one year ago today by a motorist driving under the influence of alcohol and marijuana while on a suspended license.
I’m afraid we’ve lost the battle to Detroit in more ways than one. Highways are no longer safe for cyclists. Buy a Computrainer and train indoors or go to trails dedicated to cycling, like the West Orange Trail here in the Orlando area.
This sort of acting out by irresponsible drivers runs very deep in the American psyche. Unless we experience a wholesale cultural change things will only get worse.
Perhaps your complaints would do more good if you cc’ed the FCC? But, I doubt they will do any good, I’m sorry to say.
Being pretty angry about this and wanting to see if there was any more discussion on the topic, I turned on 97.1 while I was running some errands just now. The show, quite honestly, sucks. Gregg is your generic DJ jacka$$ and during the 30 minutes I was listening, there was nothing even remotely entertaining. I agree that ignoring this stunt is not acceptable, but it seems the show would go away soon anyway.
For whoever was asking about the shows sponsors, I believe it’s mostly local - Premier Distributors (Lighting & Sprinkler Systems) and some dentist in Clawson who wants to put veneers on your teeth so you can smile again when someone takes your photo. I’m sure there’s others, but that’s what stuck in my head.
I’m impressed. I sent them an e-mail (see below) and they sent me a deragatory response.
Here’s my message:
Sir,
Advocating violence against cyclists or even suggestions to that effect
are irresponsible and offensive.
Your on-air personalities would do well to produce public service
announcements discussing safe practices for drivers and cyclists since
the law says the roads are for both under most circumstances.
This is particularly offensive considering it is the one year
anniversary of the death of a local prominent cyclist, Michael R. Rabe,
Vice President of Racing for the Wolverine Sports Club, in a
cycling/automobile accident one year ago today.
Sincerely,
Tom Demerly,
Bikesport, Inc.
Here’s his reply:
If you didn’t hear the show, don’t comment!
Gregg Henson
Air Personality/Motor City Middays
Live 97.1 FM-Detroit
I live in Chapel Hill, NC and the same thing occured here last fall. The local cycling/tri community was up in arms and actually was able to get something done about the situation. Sponsors pulled advertising amongst other things. Overall I’d say the results were somewhat mixed. Ignorance and the “hey let’s get those cycling fags that made my afternoon commute a whole bloody 15 seconds longer” attitude is a tough opponent.
Frankly I think trio_jeepy’s idea sounds about right, but hitting them in the pocketbook will have better results.
The following link is to a message archive for a local cycling club. Messages starting in September of 2003 contain useful information and techniques they used. I haven’t had time to get many specifics, but there is info on phrases to use and people to contact.
To make matters even worse…The majority of us here all know that these shows and the DJs that put them on are garbage, but there is a small percentage of people out there who do not believe that. They are entertained by that crap and will even be inspired by these jerks to actually hit or impede a cyclist. This new FCC morality seems more interested in purging the airways of ‘sexual innuendos’ and so-called ‘bad’ language rather than curbing DJs and others responsible for inciting criminal acts.
Forget boycotting the show, the public pretty much did that before this all started. If I remember correctly Mr Henson owns a 7/11 in the Detroit area. Hmm.
I have a nice little program called Page F*ck Plus that lets your computer call thousands of pagers and input the desired phone #. Keeps the phone ringing for days! I tried it on a co-works cell and he had to change his #.
But, I doubt they will do any good, I’m sorry to say.