The article calls it a "prank".

[donnambr]

I thought "pranks" were things like ringing a doorbell and running off. I guess that's a wimpy 20th Century one. Here's one for the new millenium.

[rheidis73]

I thought "pranks" were things like ringing a doorbell and running off. I guess that's a wimpy 20th Century one. Here's one for the new millenium.

A prank? Whatever! I think they should have used a better word for that one.

[Kitsune06]

People have no appreciation at all for bikers... ugh!

[salsabike]

If it were my local paper, I'd be writing a letter to the editor real soon. I would also try to call the reporter. We have to do what we can to educate those folks.

[DeniseGoldberg]

Well, that article certainly rubbed me the wrong way. I used the "contact us" link on that web site, and sent the following to the general manager:

I was appalled to read this story on your website: http://www.local6.com/news/9706172/detail.html

Referring to an individual shooting a cyclist by saying that the cyclist "...found himself the target of pranksters" is a very poor description. The young man who took it upon himself to shoot any type of gun at another individual should have to pay for his actions, yet this story is told as if it was a normal occurrence. I hope that the individual with the gun has been identified and arrested. And I hope that in the future your organization will be more careful with your descriptions of occurrences like this one.

I suspect my email won't make any difference at all, but maybe the message will hit home.

--- Denise

[salsabike]

Thank you, Denise, for inspiring me to imitate you. This is what I emailed to their news director:


There are cyclists all over the country seeing the below article and wondering why on earth you would call this a "prank". It's assault, and really dangerous. I think you should print an apology to your readers for poor reporting on this one.

[Deborajen]

I just sent an e-mail to the News Director also. Good idea sharing the link for that story. Maybe getting feedback from several parts of the country will help emphasize how unappreciated that kind of poor reporting can be.

Deb

[Deanna]

I sent an email also. How irresponsible of a news organization to belittle an assault like that.

[7rider]

Omigosh....
A few years ago, when I lived up in Ipswich, MA, I was riding home when I heard a "POP" come from the woods behind a house off to my left.
From the corner of my eye, I actually saw the pellet come at me, and POW! It hit me right in the thigh.
Caused a nasty little welt, no serious physical damage.
I rode my bike immediately to the local police station and reported it.
They were surprisingly blase' about it. Said they had reports of someone shooting at cars and garbage cans "over there". It didn't seem to phase them that now this sniper was shooting people, not just inanimate objects.
I guess they, too, view being shot with a pellet gun just a "prank".
Sigh.

[spokewench]

I was targeted and hit by a paint gun once on my way home from work on my bike. By the time I figured out what had happened the vehicle was too far away to read the license plate. I sprinted to try and catch the vehicle at the major road where they had to turn and almost caught them but not quite!

Being shot by any gun is an assault! I wish I could have caught the perpetrators that shot me. Those paint balls leave a really weird nasty red round bruise! But they could hit you in the eye and cause serious damage!

[rheidis73]

That is way cool that ya'll wrote to the publisher. I didnt' think about doing that. There might be something written up with all the email that they got on that one.

I can't believe that others of you had been hit with a pellet gun. Just one more thing we have to worry about when cycling down the road.

[RoadRaven]

I remember hearing about some guys in South Africa taking pot shots at cyclists - I think they killed a couple...

Its never funny, or a prank - its assault with intent - even a pellet gun - having been shot in the butt with one, as a "prank" - its def no joke.

[KnottedYet]

I wrote to the news, too. Just two sentences, but I said what I needed to say.