Helmet Head

This time the anti-cyclist rant is from Rick Roberts on 760 KFMB in San Diego.

While he makes fun of cyclists in our "bumblebee" outfits and makes a lot of ignorant statements, his main complaint is against cyclists who do not obey the rules of the road. Of course, the broadcast is riddled with statements consistent with the widely held Notion that cyclists should be obligated to stay out of the way of cars.

Unfortunately, there is no transcript, just a podcast mp3.

https://www.760kfmb.com/podcast/rick/...3Hour-3-20.mp3

-=(8)=-

I just read some of the other rants from Mr. Roberts...
The childish 'Bumblebee' comment is consistant with his other
luni-bonix.....
But I would say being intimately familiar with driving and cars circa
2006, bicyclists probably wouldnt even rate 4% as 'rules of the road'
breakers as even the most simple figure extrapolation might indicate.

genec

Funny how Roberts really jumps on the "attitude."

"Cyclists get this attitude as soon as they put on those shoes... "

Meanwhile, he is very antagonistic about anything having to do with bikes... from calling bike tires as thin as condoms to berating cyclists from using Kearny Villa Road (where a cyclist was killed last year. Never mind that KV road is the ONLY surface street in that area for cyclists to transit north and south.

Then Roberts goes on to discuss his "mountain bike" with fat tires and thorn strips... (meanwhile I can't help but envision Roberts, a'la Bush, fumbling on his "bike" rides).

Roberts also discusses the "liberal democratic" jury that "awards a cyclist for running a stop and being hit... " and breaking a femur, "something that happens to a lot of people" (Perhaps a lesson in anatomy is needed for Roberts) Wiki says "The femur or thigh bone is the longest, most voluminous and strongest bone of the human... "

It goes on... BTW for those not in the area... Rick Roberts is basically a conservative talk show host on talk radio station... and of course his call ins were all over this anti-bike rhetoric.

Sounded like one of his producers or assistants is a cyclist that tried to get in a moderate word or two.

Here is the URL for contacting the station...

https://www.760kfmb.com/contact_us/index.php

sbhikes

How about some select quotes?

Cycliste

I don't think sending any correspondance will change anything in his mind, he'll probably use them in the air to support his ranting.

What this guy needs is a challenge, like joining a small group of riders who are going to show him what it takes to travel on a bicycle while respecting all the rules of the road. Then he can talk about it

SamHouston

I'd be willing to bet that most good Americans know that radio talkshow rhetoric is something dredged up to appeal to the lowest common denominator, that's why it's funny. Just listen to his broadcast and if he has said anything that would encourage dangerous behavior behind the wheel and contact a lawyer. I'm sure one letter would cause the bosses of the buffoon to rein him in. They may not be able to afford settlements and representation the way Clear Channel can, I gaurantee they don't want to find out.

genec

Those items I put in quotes:

"Cyclists get this attitude as soon as they put on those shoes... "
"something that happens to a lot of people" (regarding femur breaks) were direct quotes... otherwise you'll have to go with my paraphrasing.


"Bumble bee clothes, with the moon man hat and the padded panties... "
He does the "bumble bee" thing over and over again.

Keeps mixing up Lance Alworth with Lance Armstrong...

BTW Roberts also calls the "fast lane" on the road the "Asian Lane." And then dances around why he calls it that...

A retired cop also gets on and does his song and dance about "those bikers... " doing the whole song and dance about registration of vehicles, paying taxes and road fees and being unlicensed. The same tired old BS.

genec

BTW one phone in guest is named "John" and has "investigated hundreds of motor vehicle/bike accidents... " and says "...the primary problem is that motorists look for horizontal things where as cyclists are vertical... " John is "retired."

Can't help but wonder if this is our old buddy, John Forester... who lives in the area...

Do ya listen to KFMB out there in Lemon Grove, John?

genec

Listening to all the BS, I think SamHouston has hit the nail right on the head... that this is pure radio talk show BS...

But the problem with it is that it does "lather up" the idiots that listen...

slagjumper

Midwest Television, the owner of kfmb AM radio station likely gets tens of thousands in adverts from auto advertising in the San Diego every month. A show like this is a cheap way to get more ad revenue.

When I heard this, emotional, inaccurate, and anti share the road rhetoric, I have to say that I more and more see utility in the rhetorical tenants of VC.

It is so easy to vilify cyclists. But it really is all smoke and mirrors.

NoReg

"lowest common denominator"

That is shooting way too high for radio!

chicbicyclist

Sounds like he's mainly griping about Lance Armstrong wannabes. Still, he's still quite ignorant, wether he gripes on one group of cyclist or not and he still pissed me off, and I'm a non-bumble bee wearing, non-racing bicycle owning, non-thin tire sporting bonafide utility bicylist with my fenders, racks, baskets and upright biking position.

But then again he's the one harping on AM talk radio..... poor guy.

And the "retired" law enforcement guy is just sad. At least we know that the retirement age employment thing is doing its job.

Rancid

well, no one likes a disgruntled veteran feeling like he paid for his right to ride a bike in the US with his blood and sweat and tears feeling trash talked on the radio.....and so I will be writing my e-mail to the station tonight

-=(8)=-

"those bikers... " doing the whole song and dance about registration of vehicles, paying taxes and road fees and being unlicensed. The same tired old BS.

Actually, he does have a point here !
I pay all of that stuff on my car but NEVER drive it.
Where do I apply to get my refund ?

LittleBigMan

Slightly off-topic (but not really,) a good friend had this short conversation with me:

Friend: "You know that rule about yellow flashing lights? I found out the truth about that."

Me: "What's that?"

Friend: "You're supposed to stop."

Me: "What? Where'd you hear that? I know for a fact from the DOT website that flashing yellow is yield and flashing red is stop. Who told you that?"

Friend: "I heard it this morning from the radio D.J."

Me: "I guess it just goes to show you you don't need to know a lot to be a D.J."

Friend:

UCSDbikeAnarchy

"your impeding traffic, too far to the left, floating stops signs"

The host suggests completly segrated bike lines so they stay out of their way.
Calls pulling your kids in a bike trailer a from of child abuse.

blames asian drivers and illegal imigrants for bad drving.

one caller quotes quote that "cyclists have the same rights and responsibility as cars." host responds that cyclists

one person blames a "liberal democrat jury" for awarding pain and suffering damages to a cyclist who was hit rolling a light.

"motorists own the roads becasuse they are the ones that pay taxes."
"no body body wants to see anyone hurt..." but the cyclists need to follow the law, and stay out of my way.
"I'm not against bike riding per-se, but against riding on the road way, if you are not going to stop at stop signs and in general just be a pain in my butt"

I just did a quick scroll through they show, and i must say this seems to bee pretty much on par for talk radio. I think it would be funny if liberal websites starting email campgains against stations spouting right wing retoritc
He seems to be mostly *****ing about the big groups of roadies that come out on the weekends in SD, and whose recreational activity gets in the way of his drving. Thats not to say the his comments are at all ok, but I don't think they are going to turn anyone agianst cyclists. I think hes jsut ignorant and should be ignored.

eubi

Thanks for the article Helmet Head. Too bad.

I felt that San Diego was relatively bike friendly when I lived there in the 50's through the 70's. City Bike Coordinator Michael Jackson helped me with a couple of my bicycling projects.

Time to turn back the clock, I guess...

geog_dash

Ignore the "talk show host." Write to the sponsors.

catatonic

You do know that since BF is a easily mined by google, you have now just advertised for his hate-filled rhetoric.

He is just another radio personality who relies on angering people, and using their protests to advertise his show. You let him win by starting this thread.

Ironically enough, the way to deal with these fools is to send a letter to the station about how you were offended....do not write his sponsor, since it will just let them know that he does have listeners. Maybe send a complaint to the FCC if he is advocating illegal behavior....but making public rants about it is just advertising his show, and that's bad.

ninjaRoller

i think geog_dash has a great idea about contacting their sponsors. Cut KFMB off their sponsors due to this guy and they will be pissed at him.

John E

At least one San Diego County Bicycle Coalition member has emailed a complaint to the FCC. I concur with genec; Roberts may encourage some of his mindless bozo listeners to buzz close to cyclists or to blast them with their air horns.

Roody

The FCC is into anti-democracy censorship. I don't think using censorship for a good cause is any better than using it for a bad cause. Even morons have a right to voice their opinion.

If you want something from the radio station, ask them for airtime to present an opposing viewpoint.

slagjumper

Interesting idea, since I suspect that Ricky and the station is trying to appeal to his auto-related sponsors. I think that this might backfire, because he really made himself and motorists seem ill informed and overly critical. There is going to be an auto association conference in San Diego mid April. The auto association cant want the troubling publicity that car drivers are ill tempered and have a poor understanding of the rules of the road. Though mentioned in passing, there was no discussion as to what "as far to the right as practicable", means.

I can see the value of writing something to the effect that--

As a car driver and cyclist, I did not find Mr. Roberts' anti-bicycle rant a very positive portrayal of auto drivers. Mr. Robert’s harsh rhetoric probably does more to harm the image of motorists, rather then the bicyclists whom he attempted to vilify.

His rant demonstrated and perpetuated his ignorance of the rules of the road. In this time of rising and unpredictable fuel prices he did little more than call attention to the problems with being a motorist. It reminds me how much of a pain it is to wait in traffic. It also protrayed car drivers as impatient, hostile and confined by, rather than liberated by their cars.

https://www.nada.org/Content/Navigat...etroList.htm#ca
New Car Dealers Association of San Diego County
Mr. Dean B. Mansfield
President
10065 Mesa Ridge Ct.
San Diego, CA 92121-2916
(858) 550-0080
e-mail: ncda@ncda.com

Helmet Head

I heard that guy. If you think Forester would say, "...the primary problem is that motorists look for horizontal things where as cyclists are vertical... " you need to read his book again.

genec

I just can't think of anybody retired who might have "investigated hundreds of auto/bike accidents..."

It is not as if "hundreds" of auto bike accidents occur in this area, so it seems that "John" is some sort of specialist.

The voice was that of an older man, in this area (range of radio), retired, who investigates hundreds of auto/bike accidents... I just put 2+2+2+2 together and came up with Forester... however, perhaps there are others.