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California..what's happening out there..?

6K views 29 replies 19 participants last post by  Razel 
#1 ·
..with the Gov. who doesnt think it's important to have a M/C endorcement, MSF knocking off their instructor(s) and attacking other State M/C programs...now a SF radio advocates attacking motorcyclists..

==================
This is one motorcyclists account of what he heard on Live 105 on the
morning of 1/14/06 Infinity Broadcasting Co.


> This morning, turned on live 105.3 and caught them saying how they
>thought it was unfair that motorcycles were able to split lanes, and
>that we should be stuck sitting in traffic with the rest of the cars.
>The DJ "woody" went on to say it was his pet peeve and would love to
>see people open their car door while a bike was splitting.He said he
>wanted to see them "Crash Hard"
>His two morning show cronies just sat there and agreed how great that
>would be.


This thread is making it's way around the motorcycle community.. I
have sent letters to the Radio Station and the FCC.

Members, Their comments were not funny, or cute, they were an
irresponsible act and not a matter of first amendment rights. It is
down right offensive to human kind and they need to be held
accountable. Their irresponsible unaccountability and lack of concern
for the well-being of the community they serve is undeserving of a
license to broadcast. Their DJ, "Woody" as a "professional" in the
broadcast industry, takes on a responsibility to the community he
serves when they broadcast. He has sorely mishandled his responsibility.

I am encouraging the 250 motorcyclists that are in the clubs I chair
to send letters to the FCC in protest to their recent broadcast. I
believe the FCC, as the governing body will not take their comments
lightly. I, as well as the others will be calling for the removal of
their DJ "Woody" and that an investigation into their actions be made.

Lorin Guy
President
Northern California Norton Owners Club
And mediator
Vintage Triumph Riders Group


If you agree you can send letters/ or electronic mail to:

Infinity Broadcast Company at
http://www.live105.com/interact/contact/default.htm

And:

FCC
Enforcement Bureau, Investigations and Hearings Division
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554

# Electronic Mail at fccinfo@...
# Toll Free: 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322)
# Fax: 1-866-418-0232
 
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#2 ·
It's open season on riders.

Just Friday heading home from work (surface street), I had on two seperate occaisions have a car merge into my lane without turn signals being activated or any idea that I was occupying the lane.

Several times I have seen cars on a one-way three-lane street making a left or right turn from the middle lane without activating turn signals. Had a friend total his bike because of this. Luckily he had no major injuries.

It's a jungle out there
 
#3 ·
New BMW option

SAM. Just a small surface to air missile. Capable of vaporising say a Honda Civic. Between cell phone inattention, just plain poor driving skills and now spite. I think half the time you are almost better if they don't see you. You just have to expect they will try to run you over in the most imaginative ways. Either slow way down or speed way up, catch them by unawares.
 
#4 ·
raffyk said:
Several times I have seen cars on a one-way three-lane street making a left or right turn from the middle lane without activating turn signals. Had a friend total his bike because of this. Luckily he had no major injuries.
Try riding in Houston! On my commute to work, I've routinely had individuals make a left turn from the right lane at a 3-lane intersection where left turns are permitted from the left 2 lanes (mandatory in far left lane, optional in center lane). Sometimes ya feel like someone painted a bulls-eye on your backside!

Rusty
 
#5 ·
We'll just have to wait for the first rider to find an open door in front him to sue the station for accessory aggravated assault. This type of action from the radio station approaches enticing hate crime status, perhaps?

More than ever, ride safe and defensively.

While I agree the broadcaster should not be enticing aggressive action against motorcycles (or anyone, for that matter), if lane splitting is causing potential road rage, why would I continue to do so and endanger myself. Legal or not, it's our action that is bringing on this broadcaster's pet peeve to his audience.
 
#6 ·
That moron needs a little education, not an end to lane sharing. What he doesn't realize is he reached his destination sooner because the motorcycles ahead of him lane shared, adding empty space where they would have been if not sharing. There'd be less road rage if cages knew this. Also, many cages don't understand it's legal in CA. It's also safer for the motorcyclist (if done properly) as well. I'll send an e-mail to that station. That dipsh!t should apologize and explain how he was wrong.
 
#9 ·
Spinner said:
Legal or not, it's our action that is bringing on this broadcaster's pet peeve to his audience.
What a crock of sh!t!! It's the broadcaster's biased attitude and uneducated opinion that is the problem. As Steve Carlton mentioned, lane sharing expedites the flow of traffic for all motorists and is safer for the motorcyclist when done responsibly.
 
#10 · (Edited)
Ya know, you'll find most people (not everyone) in California who ride defending lane sharing...mainly because we've tried it and it works.

You will also find people in states that don't allow it (most, but not all) who find that it's not safe. For those folks, perception isn't always reality.

The moron on the radio never stated he wanted the rider to "crash hard". Just that as the story goes around, embellishments seem to get attached. He did state he didn't want anyone hurt, and on the following morning when the excrement had hit the fan hard, he restarted that he didn't want any harm done. Also appologized for being ignorant of the actual status of lane sharing. What he hasn't done, though, is appologized for advocating road rage. Usually, that ends up with someone getting hurt, and I'm willing to bet that 99% of the time a 5000lb vehicle will come out on top of an altercation with a 500lb motorcycle

Anyway, a major motorcycle board there (B.A.R.F) is taking the position that there needs to be something positive from this. The radio station is being asked to provide Public Service Announcements advocating sharing the road, and that lane-sharing is permitted here.

The ironic thing here is just after this "pet peeve" segment, up pops a commercial break for Bay Area Yamaha. Tell me that wasn't fun...so on Friday the 13th (the day after), the manager of BAY comes on, they discuss the stupid events of the day before, he gets some shots in on the three radio "personalities", then suggests (and apparently they've accepted) that he pay for them to take the MSF course, and come by the dealership for a motorcycle. Not sure what the deal is on the motorcycle is, though.

So, most here are taking a wait-n-see attitude toward this. Some are still calling for the removal of the morning show team, though. Last time I looked, the post count for the main thread was over 850 posts, but the hub-bub has seemed to died down...but I haven't checked this morning. No telling.



 
#11 ·
"Free at last, free at last....

Spinner said:
....if lane splitting is causing potential road rage, why would I continue to do so and endanger myself. Legal or not, it's our action that is bringing on this broadcaster's pet peeve to his audience.
Howdy Dave,

The short answer:
Because we have a responsibility to assert and to defend our rights. We must do this do this all the time, especially when challenged by those that are prejudice, ignorant and intolerant.

The longer answer:
As you probably know, there is only one state in the union that "lane sharing" is legal in and it is California. A large minority of us that ride a lot, probably 95% of the motorcycle commuters in major metropolitan areas, "lane share".

In the last two years of daily "lane sharing" I have only had 1 vocal "road rage" cager shout at me as I passed. There have been about 4 "horn honks" as I passed that were probably indicating displeasure by a cage. Considering that I've "shared" with 10's of thousands of cages over the last couple of years I have a pretty good sampling of cage response behavior to "lane sharing". A vast majority of cages will move to open more space on a consistent basis it is clear, to me at least, that the "lane sharing" here in California is well established and very widely accepted.

I regard to your comment that we should cease practicing a behavior that others don't like, I suggest the following; If we give up our rights because someone else believes we shouldn't have that particular right, then it won't be long before we have very few rights left and very few things that can be done in public. If someone doesn't like a persons style of dress and says so, should they feel compelled to change it. If someone chooses a mate that some people object to, should they be forced to give up that partner, or be forced to move away to pacify the objections.

We have come too far to move backwards now.


.
 
#12 ·
Post by the "offending" SF Bay Area DJ today

WoodyLive105 said:
First, let me apologize to everyone for causing such a stir. Believe it or not this wasn't any kind of "stunt" to try to get listeners or anything.......what sense would that make? Anyway, I'm really sorry and I've tried to take it back a million times so far, and have advocated lane splitting and encouraged people to STOP PHUCKING WITH PEOPLE ON MOTORCYCLES on the roads, since the initial comment on the 12th.

At this point I don't know what else I can say other than I'm sorry and trust me, message received loud and clear......don't phuck with bikers. Ya'll are amazing at sticking together.

Besides taking the safety class (which I'll do, I'm actually really looking forward to it. I've always wanted to learn how to ride) I've got some other things cookin' in an attempt to "make good" with you guys and biker boards. Including, but not limited to running some awareness Public Service Announcements about lane sharing.....lots have been asking and suggesting that. So consider it done. They'll be on by weeks end. Is there somewhere I can get some specifics.....facts? We'll need to write copy.

Don't take this out on Dan at Bay Area Yamaha, he had nothing to do with this, and trust me when I tell you he gave an earful to everyone here at the radio station about his displeasure over the situation. You can hate me, that's fine.....I'll understand. But Dan wasn't involved in the original segment, and has done nothing but be a stand-up guy and defend motorcycling.

He's got it right though.......as do most of you on this board.......let's try to turn this into a positive. We on the morning show will be more than happy to help promote a charity event, or something else of the ilk to help get the word out.

Again, I'm really sorry. Not that you have to believe me, but it's my hope that over time all of you can see that I'm not an evil guy. Just a dumb radio DJ. Lesson learned.

Woody (yes that Woody)
Live 105
Somthing positive this way comes, perhaps



 
#13 ·
Amazing

Not that I like to speak harshly of others but this is a pretty weak apology by my standards.
One day he advocates the injury or death of cyclists to stir up some controversy on his radio show and NOW he wishes to host a charity event - great tradeoff there.
 
#14 ·
True, but at this point, he's got no place to turn without stepping in something else. Painted into a corner all by himself, now he has to wait for the paint to dry. Just have to wait and see if he makes good on all his promises, or bails out of town like he did from St. Louis.
However, if the PSA's come out, and awareness is raised even a little bit, might make it safer for everyone here...



 
#15 ·
Right-o Razel...

Razel said:
True, but at this point, he's got no place to turn without stepping in something else. Painted into a corner all by himself, now he has to wait for the paint to dry. Just have to wait and see if he makes good on all his promises, or bails out of town like he did from St. Louis.
However, if the PSA's come out, and awareness is raised even a little bit, might make it safer for everyone here...
If life gives you lemons, better learn to use them and make some lemonade or lemon drops or something else tastey. mmmm lemonade ;-)
 
#16 ·
Don't know the guy, but sounds like a Howard Stern wannabee...and what a lame thing to aspire to. These guys are willing to say anything to get attention. Pitiful. Thing is..maybe he will turn it around. Let's stay on him and see if he makes good. Someone pointing out how lane splitting and motorcycles in general reduce traffic conditions for everyone could be helpful. I just wish there was mandatory prison time for not using a signal when you change lanes! GRRRR!
 
#17 ·
Woody's Lame Response

Steve_Carlton said:
After I wrote an e-mail to 105.3 fm, I looked on their website. Apparently, there's already been an appropriate response to the uproar:

http://www.live105.com/music/co-op/default.htm

I just downloaded and listened to "Woody's (on air) Response" (found via the link above) and my initial reaction was that it was no real apology. Woody finally got around to saying that " . . . people who run motorcyclists off the road are douche-bags" but that was it. No better than 'I stuck my foot in my mouth' kind of response. I appreciate Razel's comments and including Woody's posted apology. However, it my guess that its mostly us bikers who are aware of his posted response and not his radio audience. This douche-bag's actions are going to have to be real loud to make up for his on air words.
 
#18 ·
This is what I wrote the station.

This is not funny. It is irresponsible. If one was injured by the type of action DJ Woody advocated, this station, your parent company, and DJ Woody could/would be found culpable and be held financially responsible for the harm caused. This station owes the citizens of the State of California an immediate apology as well as some sort of sanction against your employee. Perhaps enrolling him in a free Motorcycle Safety Foundation beginner riding course would open his eyes.
For anyone, let alone a "public" figure to advocate actual harm be done to others is grossly inflammatory, and irresponsible.
This correspondence has been forwarded to the FCC.
 
#19 ·
AMA & BARF Response

Bay Area motorcyclists in California turn anti-motorcycle rant into positive

Motorcyclists in the Bay Area of California have again proven the power of grassroots action and turned a negative incident into one that could provide positive benefits for motorcyclists.

Recently, morning disc jockeys on a San Francisco-area radio station, Live 105, complained about lane-sharing motorcyclists and joked about drivers opening car doors in front of riders, causing them to crash. Lane-sharing is legal in California and helps reduce traffic congestion.

Outraged motorcyclists, concerned that the comments could incite car drivers to injure riders, flooded the station with complaints. The Bay Area Riders Forum (BARF), an online message board, played a central role in allowing riders to coordinate their actions.

As a result of the complaints, the on-air personalities apologized and at least one of them has promised to take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation RiderCourse to learn more about motorcycling.

The station also agreed to air Public Service Announcements about motorcycle safety.

To read more, follow the discussion on the BARF message board.

http://tinyurl.com/b3st4

© 2006, American Motorcyclist Association
 
#20 ·
I'm very much 'out of state', but it occurs to me that the win-win here is to get 'Think Bike' safety awareness for cage drivers put out by the station.

I haven't picked up if this guy is much of a rider, but I'm sure somebody could volunteer to get him geared up riding pillion on a 'hot' K (as in temperature!) in Summer on a really busy freeway, doing a report via Autocom! Don't kill the messenger - he might be useful!



 
#21 ·
voxmagna said:
Don't kill the messenger - he might be useful!
An adult who uses the word "phuck" in a public apology is very likely not useful, except for maybe advertising mattress sales on street corners. Just my opinion.

No offense to walking billboards intended.
 
#22 ·
voxmagna said:
I haven't picked up if this guy is much of a rider, but I'm sure somebody could volunteer to get him geared up riding pillion on a 'hot' K...

Maybe he should ride pillion behind Randy Mamola on the 2-place Desmosedici GP bike. That might teach him some respect...
 
#23 ·
voxmagna said:
I'm very much 'out of state', but it occurs to me that the win-win here is to get 'Think Bike' safety awareness for cage drivers put out by the station.

I haven't picked up if this guy is much of a rider, but I'm sure somebody could volunteer to get him geared up riding pillion on a 'hot' K (as in temperature!) in Summer on a really busy freeway, doing a report via Autocom! Don't kill the messenger - he might be useful!
He's supposed to take the MSF beginner rider course as part of his pennance. I can't tell you how many "volunteers" are willing to have him ride pillion during the commute for a taste of reality. Some are still calling for his removal from the radio waves, but that is becoming a smaller and smaller group. He actually joined the board (BARF) and posted his own appology, which in and of itself is pretty risky. Flames, though, have been lukewarm so far, so if he follows through on the PSA's and the MSF course, it could turn out some positive results too.

But, his statement regarding opening doors on lane splitters? Gonna be there for a long, long time.



 
#24 ·
Kneedragger said:
Maybe he should ride pillion behind Randy Mamola on the 2-place Desmosedici GP bike. That might teach him some respect...
I dunno...as a pillion on the Bay Bridge during the commute and lane-splitting at the same time would probably be a bigger pucker factor.



 
#25 ·
Courtesy

I think all of us in California and in other countries that allow "filtering" as the Brits call it, should also try to extend some additional courtesy to the cagers.

When I'm lane sharing, I give a quick wave to folks in cages that move over a wee bit to allow me to freely pass. I know many of my riding buddies do that as well. It can't hurt and it may help. Ride safe!
 
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