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Clear Channel surrenders
Posted to the CrankMail list.
--Karen M. Clear Channel moves to woo bicyclists Associated Press SAN ANTONIO - Clear Channel Communications has joined forces with the League of American Bicyclists to promote cycling. That's after some on-air personalities at Clear Channel radio stations had suggested mayhem against bicyclists. In recent months, broadcasts in Houston, Cleveland and Raleigh, N.C., included suggestions to throw bottles at riders, hit them with open car doors and blast horns. Listeners called in to agree, vent and share stories. In announcing the alliance on Thursday, officials for the nation's largest radio group said they will tolerate no more anti-bicyclist rhetoric by its disc jockeys. "We look forward to a very productive partnership with this important organization, focused on promoting safe conditions for bicyclists," John Hogan, president of the company's 1,200-station radio division, said in an e-mail. Representatives with American Bicyclists (sic), which represents more than 300,000 riders, met with officials at Clear Channel's San Antonio headquarters Wednesday to air concerns about "shock jocks" encouraging motorists to harass cyclists. Clear Channel said the comments were not meant to be serious. The company has issued an apology and has disciplined some employees, including firing a Houston producer. Also, all three stations have since started running public service announcements to educate drivers about bicycle safety. Clear Channel stations have promoted or helped sponsor bicycling events for years - more than 100 since 2002. The company even had a team of riders in this year's Bike to the Beach ride from San Antonio to Corpus Christi to raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. The cycling group and company officials intend to meet again early next year to discuss further steps. |
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#2
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Clear Channel surrenders
=v= I know of earlier similar anti-bicyclist incidents at
Clear Channel stations in Portland, Oregon, and the San Francisco Bay Area. =v= In the latter case, which I know best, the DJs said that motorcyclists should be doored, and bicyclists should wear signs that say "fag" and be run over. Clear Channel was very quick to apologize, and very lucky that the area's politically involved gay community didn't get after them for this. (In fact I would say they contained the controversy pretty well. Notice that the _San_Francisco_Chronicle_ story didn't even mention it!) =v= They played some lackluster PSAs about bike safety and then "fired" the DJs, which meant they were transferred to another Clear Channel station, where they pulled another stupid stunt and were "fired" again, which again meant a transfer to another station. =v= So, two lessons from this: (1) it's a bigger problem than just these three stations, and more longstanding, and (2) their concessions don't seem to be all they're made out to be. Let's keep an eye on them. _Jym_ (But what do you expect from an outfit that stages "populist" pro-oil-war rallies and overreports their attendance?) P.S.: Have you restocked your supply of FearChannel bumper stickers yet? http://www.talkfastrideslow.org/stuff/stuff.html |
#3
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Clear Channel surrenders
I'll believe they've turned over a new leaf when they put up a three
year sponsorship of a professional cycling team. I read something that they did thes PSA's and did something else with $30K, which is very, very lame and sheds some light on how big an impact they feel cyclists really are. Consider if they'd said blacks should all return to the cotton fields, how much more costly the damage control would be. The cycling community could use a Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton (albeit less self-promoting) and aside from being a great athlete and promoting a cancer foundation, Lance could be such a voice, if only Nike would throw their prodigious weight around and have him do a few. Jym Dyer wrote: =v= I know of earlier similar anti-bicyclist incidents at Clear Channel stations in Portland, Oregon, and the San Francisco Bay Area. =v= In the latter case, which I know best, the DJs said that motorcyclists should be doored, and bicyclists should wear signs that say "fag" and be run over. Clear Channel was very quick to apologize, and very lucky that the area's politically involved gay community didn't get after them for this. (In fact I would say they contained the controversy pretty well. Notice that the _San_Francisco_Chronicle_ story didn't even mention it!) =v= They played some lackluster PSAs about bike safety and then "fired" the DJs, which meant they were transferred to another Clear Channel station, where they pulled another stupid stunt and were "fired" again, which again meant a transfer to another station. =v= So, two lessons from this: (1) it's a bigger problem than just these three stations, and more longstanding, and (2) their concessions don't seem to be all they're made out to be. Let's keep an eye on them. _Jym_ (But what do you expect from an outfit that stages "populist" pro-oil-war rallies and overreports their attendance?) P.S.: Have you restocked your supply of FearChannel bumper stickers yet? http://www.talkfastrideslow.org/stuff/stuff.html |
#4
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Clear Channel surrenders
Utter specious Barbara Streisand!!!!!!!!!!
My VW dealer sponsors the local flaming-clown suited racer-boy wannabes with the money they steal from me with their exorbitant prices. An absolutely analogous situation. Fsuck VW & CCC "Richard Adams" wrote in message ... I'll believe they've turned over a new leaf when they put up a three year sponsorship of a professional cycling team. I read something that they did thes PSA's and did something else with $30K, which is very, very lame and sheds some light on how big an impact they feel cyclists really are. Consider if they'd said blacks should all return to the cotton fields, how much more costly the damage control would be. The cycling community could use a Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton (albeit less self-promoting) and aside from being a great athlete and promoting a cancer foundation, Lance could be such a voice, if only Nike would throw their prodigious weight around and have him do a few. Jym Dyer wrote: =v= I know of earlier similar anti-bicyclist incidents at Clear Channel stations in Portland, Oregon, and the San Francisco Bay Area. =v= In the latter case, which I know best, the DJs said that motorcyclists should be doored, and bicyclists should wear signs that say "fag" and be run over. Clear Channel was very quick to apologize, and very lucky that the area's politically involved gay community didn't get after them for this. (In fact I would say they contained the controversy pretty well. Notice that the _San_Francisco_Chronicle_ story didn't even mention it!) =v= They played some lackluster PSAs about bike safety and then "fired" the DJs, which meant they were transferred to another Clear Channel station, where they pulled another stupid stunt and were "fired" again, which again meant a transfer to another station. =v= So, two lessons from this: (1) it's a bigger problem than just these three stations, and more longstanding, and (2) their concessions don't seem to be all they're made out to be. Let's keep an eye on them. _Jym_ (But what do you expect from an outfit that stages "populist" pro-oil-war rallies and overreports their attendance?) P.S.: Have you restocked your supply of FearChannel bumper stickers yet? http://www.talkfastrideslow.org/stuff/stuff.html |
#5
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Clear Channel surrenders
Richard Adams wrote:
I'll believe they've turned over a new leaf when they put up a three year sponsorship of a professional cycling team. What does that have to do with tolerance of transportational cycling, on regular roads, including during rush hour? Nobody that I know of opposes the sport of bike racing. But it has little to do with the routine use of bikes in traffic, which many motorists do oppose. Indeed, the more that bikes are looked at as sporting equipment rather than as transportation, the worse off we are. I looked for Forester's _Effective Cycling_ in bookstores for *years* before someone mentioned that I could find it in the "sports" section. Sigh. Why do bookstores even have a transportation section? After all, car racing, airplane racing, etc. are also sports. So why not put books on how to tune your carburator or how to book a cheap flight there? It would make just as much sense. -- Keith F. Lynch - - http://keithlynch.net/ I always welcome replies to my e-mail, postings, and web pages, but unsolicited bulk e-mail (spam) is not acceptable. Please do not send me HTML, "rich text," or attachments, as all such email is discarded unread. |
#6
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Clear Channel surrenders
Keith F. Lynch wrote:
Richard Adams wrote: I'll believe they've turned over a new leaf when they put up a three year sponsorship of a professional cycling team. What does that have to do with tolerance of transportational cycling, on regular roads, including during rush hour? Nobody that I know of opposes the sport of bike racing. But it has little to do with the routine use of bikes in traffic, which many motorists do oppose. To actually sponsor a team would be to state in the most sincere put-your-money-where-your-mouth-is method that Clear Channel does not find those who ride bicycles only worthy of ridicule. It would certainly raise their own visibility in conjunction with cycling, and consider how counterproductive it would be for CC "DJ's" to promote cyclist abuse while the parent company is actually promoting cycling. I don't expect it to happen, as $30K is probably what the CEO spends on gas for his limo each year and would be written off anyway. Indeed, the more that bikes are looked at as sporting equipment rather than as transportation, the worse off we are. I looked for Forester's _Effective Cycling_ in bookstores for *years* before someone mentioned that I could find it in the "sports" section. Sigh. Why do bookstores even have a transportation section? After all, car racing, airplane racing, etc. are also sports. So why not put books on how to tune your carburator or how to book a cheap flight there? It would make just as much sense. All you really need to know about bicycling or motorcycling is, when you go out on the road, assume everyone in a car or truck is trying to kill you. They may not be doing it intentionally, but there's plenty distracted or otherwise skill-impaired, who would mow you down and probably bolt. |
#7
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Clear Channel surrenders
Richard Adams wrote:
To actually sponsor a team would be to state in the most sincere put-your-money-where-your-mouth-is method that Clear Channel does not find those who ride bicycles only worthy of ridicule. The issue is *transportational* cycling. That someone supports professional bike racing on closed tracks says nothing about whether they support what they may regard as "sporting equipment" being used on regular roads during commuting hours. It would certainly raise their own visibility in conjunction with cycling, and consider how counterproductive it would be for CC "DJ's" to promote cyclist abuse while the parent company is actually promoting cycling. It would be perfectly consistent for them to take a stand of "get bikes off the roads and onto trails and tracks where they belong". All you really need to know about bicycling or motorcycling is, when you go out on the road, assume everyone in a car or truck is trying to kill you. If I really assumed that, I'd give up bicycling. If any substantial percentage of motorists really were sociopathic killers who wished to kill all road cyclists, nobody would be able to bike a single mile on the roads without being crippled or killed. -- Keith F. Lynch - - http://keithlynch.net/ I always welcome replies to my e-mail, postings, and web pages, but unsolicited bulk e-mail (spam) is not acceptable. Please do not send me HTML, "rich text," or attachments, as all such email is discarded unread. |
#8
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Clear Channel surrenders
Keith F. Lynch wrote:
Richard Adams wrote: To actually sponsor a team would be to state in the most sincere put-your-money-where-your-mouth-is method that Clear Channel does not find those who ride bicycles only worthy of ridicule. The issue is *transportational* cycling. That someone supports professional bike racing on closed tracks Tracks? You mean Velodromes. Darn few of these left and fewer all the time. says nothing about whether they support what they may regard as "sporting equipment" being used on regular roads during commuting hours. Races are typically held on public roads, but not during commuter hours. Every year a couple racers die because drivers, even while a race or just large social/fund raising ride is publicized marked with cones, etc, still manage to whack a couple. A little background: Back when bicycles were the main source of transportation, pre WWII, bicycle racing was in it's heyday. Anyone who resisted being passed by another cyclist felt it in their gut, the competitive spirit. Now that the car is dominant, people empathize with auto racers, though many don't bother to visit the track, but race out our city streets and public roads. The bicycle has been marginalized. However, when Greg LeMond won the Tour de France, it proved a boon to cycling. Now that Lance Armstrong is doing even better, cycling is doing very well. Where it will go after Mr. Armstrong retires is easy to see, another lull, until the people are again inspired by heroes. Getting involved in all positive aspects of cycling is good for all cycling. Sit on your ass and complain about radio DJ's and you're accomplishing nothing. It would certainly raise their own visibility in conjunction with cycling, and consider how counterproductive it would be for CC "DJ's" to promote cyclist abuse while the parent company is actually promoting cycling. It would be perfectly consistent for them to take a stand of "get bikes off the roads and onto trails and tracks where they belong". Cyclists in the two states I have lived have every right to the road as any motor vehicle, limited access highways aside. A truly worthy cause would be cleaning up the wasteland that commercial radio has become. All you really need to know about bicycling or motorcycling is, when you go out on the road, assume everyone in a car or truck is trying to kill you. If I really assumed that, I'd give up bicycling. If any substantial percentage of motorists really were sociopathic killers who wished to kill all road cyclists, nobody would be able to bike a single mile on the roads without being crippled or killed. Yeah? Well they exist and I log ~200 miles a week anyway. On our group ride, Sunday we were harrassed by a couple drivers who belive we all should go to hell or somewhere more appropriate for cyclists. I'll be out there again, regardless. |
#9
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Clear Channel surrenders
Doug Huffman wrote:
Utter specious Barbara Streisand!!!!!!!!!! My VW dealer sponsors the local flaming-clown suited racer-boy wannabes with the money they steal from me with their exorbitant prices. An absolutely analogous situation. Fsuck VW & CCC Honestly, did someone hit you over the head as a small child? If you don't like the dealership or the brand sponsoring something, why do you go there? If you actually did look at the amount of money VW puts into cycling sponsorship, you'd likely find it's less than the cost of 1 prime time commercial. Saturn was more generous, but they've ended their sponsorship. I think Subaru is still invovled, but most of their cycling related money is going to Lance Armstrong for endorsements, enough, in fact to sponsor one heck of a team. |
#10
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Clear Channel surrenders
"Keith F. Lynch" wrote
The issue is *transportational* cycling. That someone supports professional bike racing on closed tracks says nothing about whether they support what they may regard as "sporting equipment" being used on regular roads during commuting hours. On a related note, in the spring of 2003, Clear Channel Radio participated in the Cary, NC Cycling Celebration that included ordinary road cycling and safety classes. This was the same group that had a DJ make anti-cyclist comments this fall. When the station manager reminded me of this, it supported his argument that Clear Channel has no agenda against cycling. BTW, the Raleigh station has agreed to air 1,200 PSA segments on safe cycling and cyclists' right to the road. The management has been working with me to agree on content and have been very constructive. The message content is as follows: The PSA language is as follows: _G105___, The North Carolina Dept. of Transportation and the North Carolina Bicycle Club remind you that bicycles are vehicles with the same rights, rules and responsibilities of other road users. Whether you ride or drive, please share the road. G105____, The North Carolina Dept. of Transportation and the North Carolina Bicycle Club remind motorists to only pass a bicycle when it's safe to do so. Slow down and give cyclists three feet of passing room. Whether you ride or drive, please share the road. _G105___, The North Carolina Dept. of Transportation and the North Carolina Bicycle Club remind you that bicycle riders have the same rights as motorists, so motorists should yield to bicycles like any other vehicle. Never cut off bicyclists. Whether you ride or drive, please share the road! _G105___, The North Carolina Dept. of Transportation and the North Carolina Bicycle Club remind both cyclists and motorists to obey all traffic laws, stop signs, and traffic lights. Whether you ride your bike or drive your car, please share the road! __G105__, The North Carolina Dept. of Transportation and the North Carolina Bicycle Club remind bicyclists that North Carolina law requires bicycles to have lights at night, and for safety's sake, all cyclists should wear a helmet. Whether you ride or drive, please share the road! [CCC, and the North Carolina Bicycle Club] remind you that state law requires bicyclists to travel on the right half of the road in the same direction as other vehicles. Riding on the right is much safer than the wrong side because other drivers don't expect wrong-way traffic. Whether you ride or drive, please share the road! [CCC and the North Carolina Bicycle Club] remind bicyclists to ride on the roadway instead of sidewalks. Bicyclists who use sidewalks are actually more likely to have collisions with cars than those who use the road and follow the road rules. Whether you ride or drive, please share the road! [CCC and the North Carolina Bicycle Club] remind bicyclists to stay out of the door zone. Bicyclists should ride at least four feet away from parked cars so they won't be trapped by the sudden opening of a door. Whether you ride or drive, please share the road! [CCC and the North Carolina Bicycle Club] remind motorists that it isn't always safe to pass a bicyclist within the same lane. If the lane's too narrow or other conditions require a bicyclist to use the full lane, motorists should change lanes to pass. Whether you ride or drive, please share the road! -Steve Goodridge VP, North Carolina Bicycle Club 2001-2003 |
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