Yet another radio station advocates violence against cyclists.

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: Ronstang

It always amazes me how you pick roads where there is barely enough room for cars and then act like you are suprised when people in cars get upset getting stuck behind your slow moving spandex wearing asses. Go find a track or a private road....or a place where there is a bike lane. You have no business on a public road.

LOL - a "private road," huh? Okay, show me one that I can get access to, close to my home, that offers a fun and challenging riding experience, and maybe I'll use it. I am not aware of any "private roads" that are generally accessible to people other than the property owner, because they are, well, private.

If localities would consistently make bike paths available, cyclists would use them, but generally they don't. Cyclists have as much right to use the road as you do, but some drivers are so egotistical and selfish that they fail to see that.

 

[Zebo]

Almost make you feel like getting a rusted out 1973 F-350 wih cast iron bumbers (about 9500Lbs) and hanging out by the radio station to see what he drives. Whoops bang, those little cars and SUV's just should'nt be on the road!😉

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: Gooberlx2

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: CPA

You should go and confront him about his hypocrisy.

We're going to do more than that, trust me. The guy who called in is working to get a transcript and will file complaints with the FCC, the station, and their parent company.

While I sympathize with you (in the non-violence against a group of people sense), I certainly don't think this guy should be fired. He, bluntly, expressed his opinion about an issue ya'll confronted him on. If he's gonna get fired then it shouldn't be over something so trivial. It's not like he's not inciting a riot here. If motorists are gonna take what he says to heart, then they were probably gonna be jerks anyway.

There's a difference between expressing an opinion and advocating violence against a group. If anyone wants to make a quick, easy buck (or many many more), simply "stalk" him when he gets out of work and get into a bike/car accident with him. The fact that he said publically that he tries to run bikes off the road is probably proof enough to win a large civil judgement against him.

Also, why is it that car drivers get upset if they have to go slow for a few seconds behind a bike, but never whine even 1/10 as much when they have to go slow behind a string of other cars? And, did you ever notice the ones who do most of the whining, and make references to "spandex wearing" cyclists often haven't ridden a bike (or done anything else for exercise) in 10 years and actually can't squeeze their own fat a55 into spandex pants.

 

[Perknose]

LOL, I just got to play a musty old head philosopher king bike parts guru in an extremely low budget indie film about bike messengers. 'Twas great good fun. I got to rant and ramble, wax philosophical, and do my thing.

It's called "Critical Mass". No SAG card needed. Not necessarily ever coming to a gigaplex near you.

In a signature scene, shot in the bicycle bedecked basement of a Philly row home, I ramble on to the young turks come for parts about the legendary lone biker in Bejing who gets stopped at an intersection with no signals or stop signs by an unbroken string of newly minted capitalists in their cars. As time passes, biker after biker gets jammed up behind him until they reach that "critical mass", the turning point where the dam breaks and the fulcrum tips -- no turning back -- and they flood forward, an unstopable phalanx of two wheeled wonder. The tables have been turned, and the bikers rule.

I gesture with a wrench a lot, too.

 

[db]

(...picturing a DJ with a bicycle pump up his ass.....)

 

[Fausto]

Heh...we screwed them out of their planned broadcast from the final stage of the Tour de GA. See first post for further details. D:

 

[Vette73]

WOW good work man!!!

And to think, you didn't have to run anybody off the road or kill someone to get your message across, weird how that works. 😉

 

[blackdogdeek]

sweet! non-violent protest pays off!

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
WOW good work man!!!

And to think, you didn't have to run anybody off the road or kill someone to get your message across, weird how that works. 😉

We'll see if they change their tune as we continue to ride their asses. Their email replies thus far have been dismissive at best. :frown:

For the record, I was NOT involved in today's cycling imbroglio.
Some rat bastard stole my Eddie Bauer edition Giant mountain bike
from OUTSIDE THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. How evil is that?

Given the opportunity, though, I'd ride with you any day of the week.
And twice on Sunday.

I'll pass this along to the gang.

Thanks for listening, in any event.

Christopher Calandro
Associate Producer
The Don Miller Morning Show
99X - WNNX - Atlanta

John I appreciate your passion but i don't think you heard the bit. It really
wasn't that big a deal. However I encourage you to protest Steve because he
will get all mad at me and that is kind of funny. Have a good time riding
whatever means of transportation you want. However stay out of the middle of
the road! (see that was humor)

All the best,

Fred

Sorry about your friends. However I don't believe you heard any of this on the radio. I respect your passion but I think that your anger is a little misplaced.

Good luck in the future and feel free to checkout our show for yourself sometime,

Fred

They've all been something along these lines thus far.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek
sweet! non-violent protest pays off!

I'm sure they weren't happy they lost out on a chance to market themselves to 70,000 people yesterday. 😀

 

[blackdogdeek]

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek
sweet! non-violent protest pays off!

I'm sure they weren't happy they lost out on a chance to market themselves to 70,000 people yesterday. 😀

i would so love to see them have to apologize due to rabid protest of their show and station.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek
sweet! non-violent protest pays off!

I'm sure they weren't happy they lost out on a chance to market themselves to 70,000 people yesterday. 😀

i would so love to see them have to apologize due to rabid protest of their show and station.

I don't think that's going to happen unless the parent company comes down on them. Their target audience are 14-24 year-old "alternative" kids so it's not like they're losing many listeners if cyclists all decide to boycott them. They were actually cracking on bike again this morning calling them "toys" and saying we should ride in parks, etc while also asserting they "aren't advocating violence against anybody". Typical radio assholes trying to stir up the crap and thinking it's all very funny. :roll:

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: Ronstang
I don't advocate violence against cyclists but you guys are a hazard. You run the road in your little groups acting like you own the road all the while impeding the safe flow of automobile traffic. You put yourself in harms way and then expect for everyone else to watch out for you but unfortunately a lot of people can't drive.

It always amazes me how you pick roads where there is barely enough room for cars and then act like you are suprised when people in cars get upset getting stuck behind your slow moving spandex wearing asses. Go find a track or a private road....or a place where there is a bike lane. You have no business on a public road.

This is my feeling as well. I was under the impression roads were for cars myself. Not 3 bikes riding side by side so they guys can all talk to eachother. Do that on a narrow road with a speed limit of 50, no shoulder and be over the crest of the hill. You think I enjoy slamming on my brakes to avoid killing people out in the middle of the road? Then going 15 miles an hour with 5 cars behind me while they have a little chat. I can't stand it when that happens, and believe me, it happens to me a lot around here.

Bike paths? Here in vermont many of our regular roads are in a total state of disrepair and you want us to add new little bike roads. I don't feel like seeing my taxes raised to build bike paths when our regular roads are full of potholes. If you want bike paths, I say you form some independent commision to fund them, or tax bike equipment or something.

Ride on roads with a shoulder and stay single file and I don't have a problem with them...but don't go on the scenic route thats hilly, curvy, has high speed limits and lacks a shoulder and then complain motorists aren't looking out for your safety when we can't even see you coming.

 

[dman]

It sounds like their stunt got the results that had hoped for, a bunch of callers dialing in to feed their ratings system. They could care less about the issue at hand it sounds like.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: dman
It sounds like their stunt got the results that had hoped for, a bunch of callers dialing in to feed their ratings system. They could care less about the issue at hand it sounds like.

At this point, you're basically correct, but this will hopefully change depending on the response we get from their parent company and the FCC.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

This is my feeling as well. I was under the impression roads were for cars myself. Not 3 bikes riding side by side so they guys can all talk to eachother. Do that on a narrow road with a speed limit of 50, no shoulder and be over the crest of the hill. You think I enjoy slamming on my brakes to avoid killing people out in the middle of the road? Then going 15 miles an hour with 5 cars behind me while they have a little chat. I can't stand it when that happens, and believe me, it happens to me a lot around here.

Bike paths? Here in vermont many of our regular roads are in a total state of disrepair and you want us to add new little bike roads. I don't feel like seeing my taxes raised to build bike paths when our regular roads are full of potholes. If you want bike paths, I say you form some independent commision to fund them, or tax bike equipment or something.

Ride on roads with a shoulder and stay single file and I don't have a problem with them...but don't go on the scenic route thats hilly, curvy, has high speed limits and lacks a shoulder and then complain motorists aren't looking out for your safety when we can't even see you coming.

Your "impression" is wrong (or at least incomplete). I don't normally ride abreast with other riders, but sometimes it makes sense because it makes us more visible.

Don't want to fund bike paths? Fine with me, but stop bitching when cyclists use the road, as they are entitled (and for that matter, required) to use it. Boo hoo for you for being trivially inconvenienced.

It's funny, I see crappy, dangerous drivers repeatedly, every day, on every single commute. I see bikes only occasionally on my commute. Cyclists are so few and far between, and have so little ability to endanger anyone but themselves, that they are a non-issue in terms of road use.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: Ronstang
I don't advocate violence against cyclists but you guys are a hazard. You run the road in your little groups acting like you own the road all the while impeding the safe flow of automobile traffic. You put yourself in harms way and then expect for everyone else to watch out for you but unfortunately a lot of people can't drive.

It always amazes me how you pick roads where there is barely enough room for cars and then act like you are suprised when people in cars get upset getting stuck behind your slow moving spandex wearing asses. Go find a track or a private road....or a place where there is a bike lane. You have no business on a public road.

This is my feeling as well. I was under the impression roads were for cars myself. Not 3 bikes riding side by side so they guys can all talk to eachother. Do that on a narrow road with a speed limit of 50, no shoulder and be over the crest of the hill. You think I enjoy slamming on my brakes to avoid killing people out in the middle of the road? Then going 15 miles an hour with 5 cars behind me while they have a little chat. I can't stand it when that happens, and believe me, it happens to me a lot around here.

Law in most states is no more than two abreast with common sense dictating that single-file is the way to go on busy roads. If they're in the middle of the road, they're breaking the law. Again, I'm not discussing these types of riders here, I'm talking about those of us who are in compliance and still get harassed/threatened.

Bike paths? Here in vermont many of our regular roads are in a total state of disrepair and you want us to add new little bike roads. I don't feel like seeing my taxes raised to build bike paths when our regular roads are full of potholes. If you want bike paths, I say you form some independent commision to fund them, or tax bike equipment or something.

You're looking at this kinda backwards IMHO. More bike paths mean more people can/will bike as they feel safe enough to do so. This means fewer cars on the road, which means less wear and tear on the roads, etc. Furthermore, bike paths and lanes don't have to be expensive. Lanes are often as simple as a restriping job and paths can be build on existing unused rail beds (rails to trails) so you basically just have to slap some asphalt on top. Ultimately everyone wins since we have room to ride and cars aren't held up by us.

Ride on roads with a shoulder and stay single file and I don't have a problem with them...but don't go on the scenic route thats hilly, curvy, has high speed limits and lacks a shoulder and then complain motorists aren't looking out for your safety when we can't even see you coming.

You're essentially saying "don't ride anywhere". Bigger roads with shoulders often have a crapload of traffic on them, so our presence there will annoy. Backroads have less traffic, but are often narrow with no shoulders so we will again annoy. Best I can do personally is stick to the less-traveled roads where cars have plenty of room to get around me since there aren't a lot of other cars. I don't like dealing with busy roads any more than you like dealing with me being there.

 

[Fausto]

It's funny, I see crappy, dangerous drivers repeatedly, every day, on every single commute. I see bikes only occasionally on my commute. Cyclists are so few and far between, and have so little ability to endanger anyone but themselves, that they are a non-issue in terms of road use.

I don't get this either. On the days I actually drive to work, I'll see (at most) one or two bikes yet motorists here bitch like there are thousands of us. 😕

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: Don_Vito

Originally posted by: PingSpike

This is my feeling as well. I was under the impression roads were for cars myself. Not 3 bikes riding side by side so they guys can all talk to eachother. Do that on a narrow road with a speed limit of 50, no shoulder and be over the crest of the hill. You think I enjoy slamming on my brakes to avoid killing people out in the middle of the road? Then going 15 miles an hour with 5 cars behind me while they have a little chat. I can't stand it when that happens, and believe me, it happens to me a lot around here.

Bike paths? Here in vermont many of our regular roads are in a total state of disrepair and you want us to add new little bike roads. I don't feel like seeing my taxes raised to build bike paths when our regular roads are full of potholes. If you want bike paths, I say you form some independent commision to fund them, or tax bike equipment or something.

Ride on roads with a shoulder and stay single file and I don't have a problem with them...but don't go on the scenic route thats hilly, curvy, has high speed limits and lacks a shoulder and then complain motorists aren't looking out for your safety when we can't even see you coming.

Your "impression" is wrong (or at least incomplete). I don't normally ride abreast with other riders, but sometimes it makes sense because it makes us more visible.

Don't want to fund bike paths? Fine with me, but stop bitching when cyclists use the road, as they are entitled (and for that matter, required) to use it. Boo hoo for you for being trivially inconvenienced.

It's funny, I see crappy, dangerous drivers repeatedly, every day, on every single commute. I see bikes only occasionally on my commute. Cyclists are so few and far between, and have so little ability to endanger anyone but themselves, that they are a non-issue in terms of road use.

You're entitled to your opinion, but so am I. Even if it is 'wrong'. Considering the width of the road and the posted speed limit signs that a bike could never hope to reach it seems pretty clear to my what kind of transportation that it caters too. And hell, since I know its at least partially funded by gasoline taxes it seems pretty clear who's paying more for it.

And you're right, cyclists have little ability to endanger anyone but themselves. I apologize for my not wanting to run people over on the way to work, even if that would pose little danger to myself when they do stupid things. I guess I was just angry that I was put in a position where I almost killed another person, because he was to stupid to stay to the side of the road. Would you prefer I just run them over? After all, its a 'non-issue'.

Maybe we should just make it legal for them to ride on the sidewalks, god knows they do it all the time anyway.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

You're entitled to your opinion, but so am I. Even if it is 'wrong'. Considering the width of the road and the posted speed limit signs that a bike could never hope to reach it seems pretty clear to my what kind of transportation that it caters too. And hell, since I know its at least partially funded by gasoline taxes it seems pretty clear who's paying more for it.

And you're right, cyclists have little ability to endanger anyone but themselves. I apologize for my not wanting to run people over on the way to work, even if that would pose little danger to myself when they do stupid things. I guess I was just angry that I was put in a position where I almost killed another person, because he was to stupid to stay to the side of the road. Would you prefer I just run them over? After all, its a 'non-issue'.

Maybe we should just make it legal for them to ride on the sidewalks, god knows they do it all the time anyway.

Okay, so we can't ride on your roads, we can't ride on the sidewalk (though as you snidely observe, cyclists sometimes do), and you don't approve of funding bike paths. What do you propose?

It's funny, I have actually lived in Vermont (my parents were born there, and my grandparents still live in So Burlington), and I can't recall anyone being in such a damned hurry to get anywhere there. I also think of Vermont as a relatively civic-minded place, notwithstanding your comments. At least you are demonstrating to me that there are selfish, small-minded boneheads even in relatively prosaic settings.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: Fausto

Bike paths? Here in vermont many of our regular roads are in a total state of disrepair and you want us to add new little bike roads. I don't feel like seeing my taxes raised to build bike paths when our regular roads are full of potholes. If you want bike paths, I say you form some independent commision to fund them, or tax bike equipment or something.

You're looking at this kinda backwards IMHO. More bike paths mean more people can/will bike as they feel safe enough to do so. This means fewer cars on the road, which means less wear and tear on the roads, etc. Furthermore, bike paths and lanes don't have to be expensive. Lanes are often as simple as a restriping job and paths can be build on existing unused rail beds (rails to trails) so you basically just have to slap some asphalt on top. Ultimately everyone wins since we have room to ride and cars aren't held up by us.

That might fly in georgia, but not here. People don't ride bikes for 6 months of the year at all, because it snows like hell here. The roads are ruined because of the snow, freezing and thawing and the work done to plow them. People won't ride bikes in a blizzard no matter how many bike paths there are. Bike paths will need to be plowed. Ditches will have to be moved. Private land will have to be reaquired by the state to put the path in. It takes me 30 minutes to get to work because vermont is a spread out state...on a bike, what will that take 2 hours? I'm not sure a lot of people are going to be lining up to use this expensive bike system in the rain, during the 6 months out of the year vermont is freezing cold, or when there's 2 feet of snow covering them.

How would these bike paths help again? By lessening traffic? The roads we do have are already in a state of disrepair like I said...how would adding new bike only roads that wouldn't be used half of the year and would need to be maintained reduce costs?

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: Don_Vito

Originally posted by: PingSpike

This is my feeling as well. I was under the impression roads were for cars myself. Not 3 bikes riding side by side so they guys can all talk to eachother. Do that on a narrow road with a speed limit of 50, no shoulder and be over the crest of the hill. You think I enjoy slamming on my brakes to avoid killing people out in the middle of the road? Then going 15 miles an hour with 5 cars behind me while they have a little chat. I can't stand it when that happens, and believe me, it happens to me a lot around here.

Bike paths? Here in vermont many of our regular roads are in a total state of disrepair and you want us to add new little bike roads. I don't feel like seeing my taxes raised to build bike paths when our regular roads are full of potholes. If you want bike paths, I say you form some independent commision to fund them, or tax bike equipment or something.

Ride on roads with a shoulder and stay single file and I don't have a problem with them...but don't go on the scenic route thats hilly, curvy, has high speed limits and lacks a shoulder and then complain motorists aren't looking out for your safety when we can't even see you coming.

Your "impression" is wrong (or at least incomplete). I don't normally ride abreast with other riders, but sometimes it makes sense because it makes us more visible.

Don't want to fund bike paths? Fine with me, but stop bitching when cyclists use the road, as they are entitled (and for that matter, required) to use it. Boo hoo for you for being trivially inconvenienced.

It's funny, I see crappy, dangerous drivers repeatedly, every day, on every single commute. I see bikes only occasionally on my commute. Cyclists are so few and far between, and have so little ability to endanger anyone but themselves, that they are a non-issue in terms of road use.

You're entitled to your opinion, but so am I. Even if it is 'wrong'. Considering the width of the road and the posted speed limit signs that a bike could never hope to reach it seems pretty clear to my what kind of transportation that it caters too. And hell, since I know its at least partially funded by gasoline taxes it seems pretty clear who's paying more for it.

And you're right, cyclists have little ability to endanger anyone but themselves. I apologize for my not wanting to run people over on the way to work, even if that would pose little danger to myself when they do stupid things. I guess I was just angry that I was put in a position where I almost killed another person, because he was to stupid to stay to the side of the road. Would you prefer I just run them over? After all, its a 'non-issue'.

Maybe we should just make it legal for them to ride on the sidewalks, god knows they do it all the time anyway.

FYI- the "bikes shouldn't be on the road because they're not buying gas and paying the tax" argument is completely without merit.

Thanks too for helping to turn this thread into a flamewar unrelated to the original issue. I appreciate that.

 

[erikistired]

i ran into the bikers yesteday (well i didn't run INTO them) on my way to the paintball field up in forsyth. i was surprised there were as many folks up there as there were. they were nice enough to move over into the turning lane and let us get by, altho one was kind of arrogant about it, tapping his wrist while we passed.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: fisher
i ran into the bikers yesteday (well i didn't run INTO them) on my way to the paintball field up in forsyth. i was surprised there were as many folks up there as there were. they were nice enough to move over into the turning lane and let us get by, altho one was kind of arrogant about it, tapping his wrist while we passed.

Crowd estimates at the finish line were roughly 70,000 according to the local news. They also interviewed the Dodge spokeman who said they estimated about a million people having seen the race at some point through the route and that they were very happy with their ROI as title sponsor.

I don't know what the wrist-tapping thing was all about, but there are going to be some assholes on bikes just like there are assholes in cars. <shrug>

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: Don_Vito

Originally posted by: PingSpike

You're entitled to your opinion, but so am I. Even if it is 'wrong'. Considering the width of the road and the posted speed limit signs that a bike could never hope to reach it seems pretty clear to my what kind of transportation that it caters too. And hell, since I know its at least partially funded by gasoline taxes it seems pretty clear who's paying more for it.

And you're right, cyclists have little ability to endanger anyone but themselves. I apologize for my not wanting to run people over on the way to work, even if that would pose little danger to myself when they do stupid things. I guess I was just angry that I was put in a position where I almost killed another person, because he was to stupid to stay to the side of the road. Would you prefer I just run them over? After all, its a 'non-issue'.

Maybe we should just make it legal for them to ride on the sidewalks, god knows they do it all the time anyway.

Okay, so we can't ride on your roads, we can't ride on the sidewalk (though as you snidely observe, cyclists sometimes do), and you don't approve of funding bike paths. What do you propose?

It's funny, I have actually lived in Vermont (my parents were born there, and my grandparents still live in So Burlington), and I can't recall anyone being in such a damned hurry to get anywhere there. I also think of Vermont as a relatively civic-minded place, notwithstanding your comments. At least you are demonstrating to me that there are selfish, small-minded boneheads even in relatively prosaic settings.

I didn't say they couldn't ride on the roads. I just wish they would keep their wits about them when they did it and stay to the side, so I don't almost kill them and they aren't disrupting the flow of traffic. I can't see or predict everything, but if you're on a bike I would expect you to understand that there's CARS on the road. I'm not singling you out in particular or anything, I just don't like being put in spots where I almost kill some one.

But what do I know, I'm just a narassistic selfish idiot from some backwards hick state.