Station out to make amendsBy STEVE SIEVERT
Special to the Chronicle
When exactly did it become trendy to target bicyclists?
Apparently I missed the memo, but disc jockeys at some radio stations around the
country think cyclists are nothing more than road hazards.
Within the past two months, DJs and listeners at radio stations in Houston,
Cleveland and Raleigh, N.C., have taken to the airwaves to encourage violence
against cyclists.
The most recent public disservice aired on WDCG in Raleigh, when a DJ joked of
pelting riders with bottles and said he "would love to be on a motorcycle and
drive it down a bike lane," because he didn't think cyclists should be on the
road.
These inflammatory comments came just weeks after a DJ on the Walton and Johnson
morning show on Houston's KLOL (101.1 FM) made a reference to cyclists thinking
they own the road and the next time he saw one, he might just run him off the
road.
While radio shows have never claimed to be a bastion of moral and ethical
integrity, clearly these comments crossed the line between entertainment and
irresponsibility.
The remarks made last month on KLOL were even more inexcusable because they were
made for a second time. The comments originally aired June 28 during the morning
show, when one of the jocks opened mouth and inserted foot. The station received
dozens of calls and e-mails from cyclists whose reactions ranged from disgust to
outrage.
"There were comments that were made in a joking fashion that upset some
cyclists," said Ken Charles, regional vice president of programming for Clear
Channel, which owns KLOL and some 1,200 radio stations nationwide. "Walton and
Johnson apologized to listeners the next morning. We would never make comments
that would encourage people to injure other people."
While that might be the company line, the very same comments aired again on the
station Sept. 2 -- just three days after apickup truck careened into a group of
cyclists in Brazoria County, killing two.
Anger in the cycling community turned to utter disbelief. KLOL was inundated
with phone calls and e-mails demanding corrective action. Message boards on the
Web sites of area cycling groups lit up with traffic, discussing an organized
boycott against KLOL and its advertisers.
It turns out that the DJ banter was replayed as part of a "best of" show, while
the regular morning show crew was on vacation.
"The show was mistakenly aired again," Charles said. "We realize the timing was
just awful. The comments should have been edited out of the show. Appropriate
action has been taken to ensure this doesn't happen again."
While the episode is regretful, perhaps something positive has come from it. As
a way to make amends to the cycling community, Clear Channel/Houston, with
assistance from the Houston Police Department Bicycle Patrol squad, has
developed a series of public service announcements (PSAs) about bicycle safety.
The eight PSAs, which emphasize the need for motorists and cyclists to share the
road, are currently airing not only on KLOL, but all eight local Clear Channel
stations. In addition, a link to a series of cycling safety tips is now
prominently displayed on the stations' Web sites.
"This has been a learning experience for us," Charles admitted. "This situation
has alerted us to a problem (bicycle safety) we didn't know existed. These PSAs
will air indefinitely and hopefully inform more people about the rights cyclists
have on the road."
Two marquee rides this weekend-- A Houston-area cycling doubleheader is on tap
this weekend, beginning with the MADD Country Roads Classic Saturday morning in
Montgomery County.
The Woodlands Cycling Club hosts the fourth annual Classic, which will have new
routes of 25, 36, 55 and 76 miles through scenic, gently rolling terrain of
northwest Montgomery County.
"The MADD ride is an ideal event for cyclists who've never participated in an
organized, non-competitive bicycle ride," said Don Carpenter, ride coordinator.
All routes depart Montgomery High School Sports Park on Highway 105, two miles
west of downtown Montgomery at 8 a.m. Event-day registration and packet pickup
is available. Check out additional details on the club's Web site at
www.woodlandscyclingclub.org. Proceeds benefit Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
While the MADD Classic represents one of the newer rides on the Houston-area
cycling calendar, the weekend's other event is a Space City tradition --
BikeHouston's Moonlight Ramble.
Ramble early Sunday-- The 31st annual Ramble, the oldest organized ride in
Houston is set for 2 a.m. Sunday, with routes of 9 and 19 miles starting at the
George R. Brown Convention Center.
Lights and reflectors are required for all cyclists. Registration is $25, with
BikeHouston donating one dollar from every entry to both the League of American
Bicyclists and the Texas Bicycle Coalition.
More information on this ride, designed for cyclists of all abilities, is
available at www.bikehouston.org.

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Steve Sievert covers cycling for the Chronicle. His notebook appears Thursdays.
Call him at 832-978-4359 or send e-mails to cycling.notebook@....




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