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Giving the Finger
Yesterday morning, WBAL (Baltimore) Talk Show host Chip Franklin did what all “shock jocks” eventually get around to doing (I’ve always likened it to chimps at a keyboard…) and picked on cyclists as a bunch of arrogant, lycra-wearing, law-breakers who don’t pay their way, etc.
As usual nowadays, while the premise of his rant was small-minded, factually dubious, and certainly obnoxious, he made a point of not advocating harm; equally predictable was the chilling attitude of the callers to show who really do appear to want to hurt cyclists.
We learned from folks who listened to the start of the broadcast that what set Franklin off was an altercation with a cyclist on his way into work that morning. Interestingly, two years ago, an Iowa legislator – chairman of the transportation committee, no less – got into a verbal fight with cyclists and introduced legislation to ban cyclists from certain roads in the state. Bicyclist access to one of the Atlanta area’s premier cycling loops was jeopardized earlier this year after harsh words between riders and a powerful resident of the street in question.
Now, I have no doubt that the cyclist that “got in the way” of Chip Franklin was probably just where he should have been in the road and that the Iowa legislator and Atlanta big-wig were at least partly to blame – and goodness knows I have had my share of close calls and heated “discussions” with taxi drivers, diplomats, double-parkers, and drivers who just don’t want me on the street.
But the WBAL story reminds me that you just never know to whom you might be giving the finger, and what impact that person might have once they get out of their car! Be careful out there!
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May 25th, 2007 at 4:12 am
The problem is that having such rants only encourages some low minded people to do bodily harm. I have not been harrassed in a few months, but sure enough it happened the afternoon of this broadcast. While riding the fog (white) line (there is no shoulder) on my regular route with plenty of visibility on a straight section of road, a driver in a mechanics truck purposely grazed me shouting unprintable words. The funny thing is, as he looked back to see how I would react, he lost control of the vehicle and partially went off the road in front of me. So what was an attention getter for a shock jock turned into a near life and death event for me. Was it really worth it?
May 25th, 2007 at 7:43 am
You don’t even have to “flip the bird” to set motorists off. Just being there is enough to kick in some people’s instincts to protect “their territory”–not unlike getting too close to the fence of an agressive dog.
Case in point–at the end of this past April, apparently my cycling on Eastern Blvd in Middle River set off an MTA bus driver. When he passed me, he acted like he had no idea that his bus pushes a lot of air and causes turbulance to the sides of his bus and a vacuum just before completing a pass. Luckily, I was able to stay upright once he completed the pass.
A little later, I caught up with the bus at a traffic control signal–Eastern Blvd and Orville Rd. The light turns green. I’m ahead of the bus, to the right, and within the white line and the curb. I turn and I signal “watch out” by waving my INDEX finger at the driver, then I continue on my way.
The next thing I hear is the bus approaching… closer, closer. It passes me by inches coming across the white line then swerving back onto the road bed’s travel lane. Let me tell you, I was in fear of my life. This was outright agression by a public service representative. I made sure that I got the number of the bus.
Once I got home, I was angry enough to write MTA, One Less Car, the Baltimore Bike Club, and the Baltimore County Police for advice on how to handle the situation.
I decided that I would not file an assault charge against the driver, but the ball was rolling for an investigation and possible disciplinary action.
As of today, it’s nearly been one month since the incident. I have heard nothing from the MTA. This message is to show that I have not forgotten the incident. It is only because my schedule has been hectic (work, training for bike races as a rider of Team BBC, home owner activities) that I haven’t followed up. Well, that follow up is near.
May 26th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
We go through this business with the self-proclaimed “shock jocks” every year at this time. (March-June)
Personally, I think “Coward Jocks” is a better description of what they do.
I’ve wondered what these guys would do, in the wake of the “Don Imus Episode”, but I’d say the question has been answered.
June 2nd, 2007 at 10:12 am
Nice angry retorts from the bycycle world, but it would be nice if you folks had the facts. What I said was how it is dangerous for bikes to be in traffic with automobiles, and the rudeness and self-righteousness of some riders creates potentially life-threatening situations. I also called for access lanes and roads for bikes only. And yes, for some fee to be paid by bikes for using these roads. A nominal fee. Many callers did express frustration in words that may have seemed innapropriate and maybe even violent, but it’s talk radio, not action radio. They were wrong. They biker who flipped me off heard another car beep, and assumed it was me. THAT indicates to me we need dialogue on both sides.
I would never encourage aggressive acts against byciclists, but would suggest you consider the physics involved and be careful. There are a lot of angry people out there. But I’m not one of them.