Listen to the offending comments at: http://tinyurl.com/lotrss

Boycott Greater Media for remarks against bicyclists

Target:

Greater Media Inc. and their advertisers

Sponsored by:

Boycott Greater Media radio for intolerable remarks against bicyclists

Greater Media's radio station, WCSX, aired deplorable remarks the morning of August 6, 2009 that encouraged violence against bicyclists.

These reprehensible comments not only belittled cyclists for enjoying a healthy legitimate form of transportation, they made reference to Grand Theft Auto, an intensely violent video game where players run over and maim people.

Greater Media has failed to take appropriate corrective measures to date. I request that Greater Media immediately publicly retract these statements, as well as publicly censure the employees involved in these appalling comments.

Until they do so, I will not listen to any Greater Media radio station, including Detroit-based WCSX, WRIF, and WMGC.

Additionally, I encourage businesses not to support these unacceptable and intolerant views by declining to advertise on any Greater Media station. I also pledge to personally not patronize businesses who advertise with Greater Media until corrective action is taken.

The on air diatribe went on for over eight minutes and at one point even ridicules the use of bike helmets. A sampling of the intolerable comments made by radio hosts Jeff Deminiski and Bill Doyle are:

"How many of us drivers are disgusted with how bicyclists take to the road. ... I'm sorry, they're jerks. I doubt very much that any cyclist would have the gumption to call us, but how many of them have seen a bicyclist and would just LOVE to lob something at their heads? ... God forbid we try to get by them! The guy on the bike is doing 19 m.p.h., they won't get over, ... and it is just flat-out arrogance. ... OH GOD, you just want to go Grand Theft Auto on them. ... Just move over. That's all I'm saying. ... I don't see why they are so arrogant. They are riding something which against your 4,000 pound vehicle could launch them like an acorn."

I encourage you to take a listen for yourself. You can find links to the original broadcasts at: http://tinyurl.com/lotrss.

"How many of us drivers are disgusted with how bicyclists take to the road. ... I'm sorry, they're jerks. I doubt very much that any cyclist would have the gumption to call us, but how many of them have seen a bicyclist and would just LOVE to lob something at their heads? ... God forbid we try to get by them! The guy on the bike is doing 19 m.p.h., they won't get over, ... and it is just flat-out arrogance. ... OH GOD, you just want to go Grand Theft Auto on them. ... Just move over. That's all I'm saying. ... I don't see why they are so arrogant. They are riding something which against your 4,000 pound vehicle could launch them like an acorn."

I encourage you to take a listen for yourself. You can find links to the original broadcasts at: http://tinyurl.com/lotrss.

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We signed the "Boycott Greater Media for remarks against bicyclists" petition!

# 692:

7:05 pm PST, Nov 3, Linda Kennedy, Michigan

# 691:

9:11 am PDT, Oct 29, Joseph Comiskey, Michigan
I use a bike more than I drive a car to get to work and back. To air this kind of material on the radio shows a blatant lack of concern for your fellow man. I would suggest you visit a hospital or nursing home and get to know someone who has been seriously disabled due to irresponsible driving, then consider what these statements made are encouraging people to do. Clean it up and apologize!

# 690:

11:05 am PDT, Oct 27, Douglas Arenberg, Michigan
For every "arrogant" cyclist who "...won't get over to the side" there are 20 who obey the rules of the road. As a driver and a cyclist, I have no doubt that the proportion of rude, arrogant drivers far exceeds the number of "arrogant cyclists" I encounter on my daily commute. Shame on the radio station and its sponsors for allowing this incredibly inappropriate attack on law abiding cyclists to go unpunished.

# 689:

5:18 pm PDT, Oct 26, Joseph Dolan, Michigan
"D&D's" style is to pit one opinion against another. If that sells toothpaste, then so be it. This is America - they are free to say what they want. However, when "free speech" incites and threatens my safety and that of my family and friends, it crosses the line.

Vice President, Milford Athletic Club

# 687:

10:22 am PDT, Oct 24, Ryan Tucker, Michigan

# 686:

9:26 am PDT, Oct 23, Blake Licht, Michigan
This just typifies my expectations of Deminiski and Doyle and is the reason that I quit listening to WCSX. Use to be my favorite station. Deminiski and Doyle are out of control and part of a generation and mind set where anything goes as long as it sells or makes a profit. I'm sure the owners along with Deminiski and Doyle,their producers and staff are elated at this petition and the buzz it will make. This is the type of stuff they feed on.

# 685:

3:25 am PDT, Oct 20, Robert Coy, Michigan

# 684:

12:53 pm PDT, Oct 19, Tim Waaso, Michigan

# 683:

9:04 pm PDT, Oct 18, Lee Bunker, Michigan

# 682:

7:52 pm PDT, Oct 17, Molly Ellis, Illinois

# 681:

9:40 am PDT, Oct 17, Elaine Alfaro, California

# 680:

12:44 am PDT, Oct 17, Name not displayed, Michigan

# 679:

5:20 pm PDT, Oct 16, Ingrid Pfoertsch, Maryland

# 678:

9:42 am PDT, Oct 16, Paul Clos, Michigan

# 677:

5:52 pm PDT, Oct 14, William Debs, Michigan
Corporation that advocates violence towards law abiding citizens should be held criminally libel if anyone follows their suggestions. Advertisers should consider the liability of supporting corporations that advocate violence.

# 676:

11:54 am PDT, Oct 13, MC Rothhorn, Michigan
I am a driver and a bicyclist, but drive more than bike. I sincerely wish to help heal the dangerous rhetoric that creates some kind of 'side' that i must take: either i'm a biker or a driver. I NEED both. I don't need to be scared when I'm biking, that my life is in danger. I don't want to be driving around scared bicyclists either! let's watch out for each other.

# 675:

11:51 am PDT, Oct 13, Robert Saul, Canada

# 674:

11:50 am PDT, Oct 13, Dave Duffield, Michigan
While you stood steadfastly on the position that you weren't inciting violence against cyclists, it was clear that the two disc jockeys involved thought this kind of behavior was amusing and alright.

# 673:

12:47 pm PDT, Oct 12, Name not displayed, Michigan

# 672:

8:40 am PDT, Oct 12, Adam Waller, Michigan
Yes

# 671:

7:12 pm PDT, Oct 11, Chris Maltby, Michigan
Greater Media -- you stink. I will never support anything your company does ever.

# 670:

7:11 am PDT, Oct 11, John Kusnier, Jr., Ohio
Having just returned from yesterday's Tour de Livingston in your fair state of Michigan yesterday, I want to let you know that perhaps it was your utterly irresponsible comments that had helped to make this ride so unenjoyable and unsafe. Over the seventy five mile route cyclists were in almost constant contact with speeding cars and trucks that in many instances had no regard for the cyclists on the road. Read your state law and educate yourselves. Cyclists have just as much right to the road as cars and trucks and we are bound to the same traffic laws as you are. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves.

# 669:

2:40 am PDT, Oct 11, Can Atik, Turkey

# 668:

7:21 pm PDT, Oct 10, GJ Surmont, Michigan

# 667:

12:07 pm PDT, Oct 10, Audrey Webb, Michigan

# 666:

6:54 pm PDT, Oct 9, John Larsen, Michigan

# 665:

4:13 pm PDT, Oct 8, Steve Tamplin, Michigan

# 664:

10:51 am PDT, Oct 8, Mark Hutcheson, Michigan

# 663:

7:44 am PDT, Oct 8, ALPHA WI, Germany

# 662:

12:09 pm PDT, Oct 7, Christina Riddle, Michigan

# 661:

5:35 am PDT, Oct 7, Catherine Pasanen, Michigan
I find it repugnant that radio personalities who the very nature of their jobs reach tens of thousands of people would put this kind of attitude out there. By doing this, it has lowered the bar about acceptable behavior. Regarding anyone encouraging violence against ANY group, these DJ's reach an impressionable and hence worrisome demographic - young males. I am a cyclist as is my husband. I don't think that non-cyclist realize how dangerous riding on sidewalks can be to non-cycling members of our society and I also don't think they understand that a hole in the road can be dangerous and sometimes cyclist have to ride away from the side of the road for safety. I am also a RN whose has seen first hand what a cycling accident can do to a human body. These DJ's and their audience may not realize that even scaring a cyclist may cause devastating injury. These DJ's should be severely sanctioned and censured for their voiced opinions. I think the radio stations and their sponsers should be notified that this will not be tolerated.

William Beaumont Hospital Registered Nurse.

# 660:

2:22 pm PDT, Oct 6, Angel Mitevski, Michigan

# 659:

8:06 am PDT, Oct 6, Name not displayed, Michigan

# 658:

1:54 pm PDT, Oct 5, Name not displayed, Michigan

# 657:

10:00 am PDT, Oct 5, Name not displayed, Michigan

# 656:

8:20 am PDT, Oct 5, Mark Zimmer, Michigan

# 655:

3:50 pm PDT, Oct 4, Paul Pasanen, Michigan
I can't believe that a radio station that I grew up with would air such an ignorant and vile statement. I would like to squash there heads like an acorn! It would be not big loss, maybe no one would even notice!

KLM Bike & Fitness

# 654:

8:32 am PDT, Oct 4, Name not displayed, Michigan

# 653:

5:33 pm PDT, Oct 2, Name not displayed, Michigan
WCSX should never have replaced JJ & Lynn with these guys. They are rude and obnoxious. After hearing what they said about bicyclists, I will never listen to their show again.

# 652:

12:48 pm PDT, Oct 2, Steven Kalis, Michigan
Maybe if you put down your game controllers and go for a nice bike ride it will put you in a better mood. Have a nice day, Steve

Tri-County Bicycle Association

# 651:

9:11 am PDT, Oct 2, Jim Richter, Michigan

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