I just found this on Digg. Given my recent expierence this kinda crap really pisses me off…
The Playhouse, a radio show recorded at KXJM studios in Portland and syndicated to a handful of other stations throughout the country, has taken anti-cyclist to a new level. �When I hear on TV that a cyclist has been hit and killed by a car I laugh, I think it�s funny,� the host said on the show.
Okay, here’s my theory….
This is a marketing ploy. It is a sick and annoying one, but a marketing ploy none the less.
Last summer there was another morning show that did a similar thing. They had people call in and talk about the rude things they did to cyclists. The show was in Hotlanta if I remember correctly. All the cyclists tuned in, called in and expressed their outrage. The disc jockey and program director had a change of heart and became very pro-cycling and everyone was happy. The cyclists had a warm, fuzzy feeling because they’d changed people’s minds and done something good. The Radio station came off as good guys because they are now enlightened.
What came out during that process is that the broadcasting company that owns that station did exactly the same thing in another town 18 month earlier in a different city and 2 1/2 years earlier in yet a third city. The instance last summer was the third time that this broadcasting company had done basically the same thing.
It would seem that another broadcasting company has learned from the “successes” of this other company.
Do I have any proof of this? NOPE. Maybe it is just a bunch of idiots who are trying to entertain people.
We’ll see how it plays out.
Pete