Expressions of anger, even threats of violence, aimed at bicyclists seem to be in vogue. The speed at which discussions of cycling turns venomous is perplexing, however.
From those who post vitriolic comments to articles about bike safety, to Rush Limbaugh recently saying, “Frankly, if (a car) door opens into a bicycle rider, I won’t care,” and now a couple Madison radio show DJs suggesting motorists call cyclists “fairies” from their car windows, there’s little sympathy for the well-being of cyclists. Actually, this list includes a lot of people actually wishing ill will on those of us who bike to work or for recreation.
Last August jokers at the same radio station, WJJO, aired a bit of off-base satire in which cyclists were gunned down. The clip is available here, too. Well, they’re back at it, fanning an irrational hatred toward a group of people rather than tapping into something that’s actually funny. This is stupid and reckless stuff they’re peddling.
Surely the DJs and station bigwigs will deny actually advocating the murder of bicyclists. But by feeding the tired stereotype of cyclists as effete elitists, they’re revealing more about their own insecurities and homophobia.
Somebody needs to get these bozos out on bikes and in traffic so they understand the dangers we face. They need to know that cyclists run the gamut: Some of us are bike commuters by choice, others out of necessity (whether it be to save gas money or lose weight). We’re students, professionals, grandparents, schoolchildren. A few of us are even extraordinary athletes.
These radio personalities really need to get out of their studio bubbles and hang out with those of us who ride to justify the beer we drink later or the blue collar wrenches many of us are in our garages and bike shops.
But what they really need to do is stop scapegoating people and making our streets less safe than they are already. Cyclists are getting killed out there, and that’s no laughing matter.