Missouri Bicycle News

On July 27th we reported that St. Louis area cyclist Dan S wrote about a recent on-air discussion by DJs Thom and Jeff on St. Louis radio station 107.5 The Point:

The discussion . . . turned to how cyclists want to be treated like other vehicles while at the same time blowing through stop signs/lights, cutting through traffic etc. Both DJ’s talked about experiences they had had when this took place then one of the DJ’s I am not sure which stated the next time he sees a cyclist do this he will "open his car door on them" and hit them, then "pound" on them (beat them up). At this point the DJ’s read an email about the subject stating it was from someone who had a friend killed while cycling and that advocating hitting someone was wrong the DJ’s changed their toon a bit but still managed to ridicule the e mailer.

We also issued an advocacy alert and asked bicyclists around the state to contact the radio station.

Thanks to intervention from the St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation, the Missouri Bicycle Federation, and large number of concern bicyclists from around the region and the state this situation has come to a reasonable resolution.

Patty Vinyard of the St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation writes:

I just spoke with Tommy Mattern, Program Manager at The Point 105.7. He did not deny that the comments were made but said that they responded to a listener email that had complaints about cyclists. They said it jokingly, not realizing the harm that it might cause. Our calls and letters alerted them to the fact and they now understand.

So yesterday Thom and Jeff apologized on the air.

They are willing to run Public Service Announcements about bicycling.

They are willing to have a Bike Fed representative on the air to discuss bicycling - the board will decide who that will be.

He promised that no such comments would ever happen on their station again.

Thanks to all who took the time to write, email, and call the station--it does make a difference. permanent link to article: "Dangerous STL DJ anti-bicycling comments resolved"
posted by Brent Hugh at 8/06/2006 05:02:00 PM |comment on this article