Sent to a local news station

[Andrea]

After having multiple rude driver experiences on a ride yesterday, I sent the following email to a prominent local news station. Maybe it will help...


Hi, I'd like to ask for a bit of your help.
I am a cyclist. Not a motorcycle- I ride a bicycle. Actually, a couple of different bicycles. I have one that I use for training and racing in bike races, and I have one that I use for getting to work and running errands. All in all, cycling helps me stay fit, have fun in competitions, and save some money on gas (I drive if the weather is bad or if I've got a long way to go). However, it's painfully obvious that most motorists don't realize that cyclists have the same rights to the road as cars do. I get yelled at, honked at, have things thrown at me... you name it. Sometimes people even go so far as to swerve towards me like they are going to hit me. I know that being forced to wait a few seconds behind someone going 15-20mph on a bike can be frustrating, but honestly, what good does it do anyone to act out towards cyclists? I think a lot of it boils down to people not understanding the laws. First, cyclists and cars follow the same rules (and yes, I know some cyclists who break rules by running stop signs, etc... but there are just as many drivers who are guilty). Second, there is a recently passed law that states motorists must allow three feet of space between their car and a bike that they are passing. Motorists will often try to remain in a lane while passing a cyclist riding in the right side of the lane. I can tell you from experience that being lightly brushed by the rear view mirror of an SUV is a large part of why a single cyclist may choose to ride in the middle of a lane of traffic- it forces cars to wait to pass using part of another lane. Annoying and rude to drivers? Potentially. Safer for the person on the bike? Definitely. Self preservation wins out in that case.
SO, that being said, I plea to you- please help cyclists in this area by providing some sort of news story outlining the laws! I think that a lot of the issue is ignorance. If you can help by letting people in on the rules, then maybe those of us on two wheels can feel a little safer on the road. Thank you for your time and consideration.

[mimitabby]

nice letter. I hope it gets published.

[Bad JuJu]

An excellent letter! (And I'm not just blowing smoke--I teach writing.) Maybe they'll just publish the letter itself, since it makes the points very well on its own.

[MM_QFC!]

Also, (hopefully) it might prompt them to develop a story...assign to a reporter and reach out to a local cycling club/riders, along with irritated/ignorant drivers in order to enlighten all...?

[short cut sally]

What a very nice letter..hope it gets published. It brings out great points of the law that we as cyclists are "allowed" to be on the road just like all the other vehicles, and hopefully you get some great responses and respect from that letter.

[Trek420]

Also, (hopefully) it might prompt them to develop a story...assign to a reporter and reach out to a local cycling club/riders, along with irritated/ignorant drivers in order to enlighten all...?

That would be a story I'd like to see; take a non-cycling reporter (maybe with help from an experienced rider) and have him or her out on the road to see what we encounter daily. I bet it would open a few eyes.

[rij73]

That was great. Let us know if they answer you!

[Geonz]

http://yieldtolife.org/

[Geonz]

That would be a story I'd like to see; take a non-cycling reporter (maybe with help from an experienced rider) and have him or her out on the road to see what we encounter daily. I bet it would open a few eyes.

That depends on the reporter. I sent the one who wrote *this* piece of sadness a letter of my own.

[Andrea]

Thanks everyone! I haven't heard anything from them yet, but I'll let you know as soon as I do (if I do).

[nic840]

As a fellow cyclist and former Assignment Manager of a TV news station I think I can help you out on this one.
Your letter has some great points but when approaching a news station you need to think visually and what you can offer them.
Is there some kind of advocacy group that is planning an event in your area, some big ride you can plug this off of or is there some kind of ride-along you can offer to them.

Unfortunately they are not going to seek you out until something awful happens such as someone gets hit by on a bike or an accident happens. This is just the way news works. I know it stinks...kind of why I don't do it anymore.

A great approach you can take is pitching it to a "Morning" Program in your area as a "live" segment. I know in many areas May is promoted as "Bike to Work" Month. If you plugged it along with something like that where you could have a morning anchor acutally ride to work in the morning. Have fun with it and pitch it as educational. I think they would be more open to doing something if it was visual, fun and informative.

You could chapperone them to work and explain the "rules of the road" and other things peope driving in cars don't think of. If they don't do it live offer it up to them in the form of a package. They would follow you and do a 1-3 minute complete story that they could air along with a possible live.

Follow up your e-mail with a phone call and take it from there. Get a name of someone on the Assignment Desk who is in charge of booking stories for the program you are looking to get something aired on. Ask for an anchor/reporter by name, get their e-mail and have at it! Keep calling...trust me we got phone calls 24/7, e-mails galore and are listening to police scanners all the time. Be short and to the point and offer up the things I listed above and hopefully they will bite!
Good luck and keep us posted. If you have any questions please let me know!

[Deborajen]

Good points, nic840. My husband used to work in broadcasting and said pretty much the same things about needing something visual and that, unfortunately, it isn't likely anything will be broadcast unless something awful happens.

Another thought that came to my mind was that a local car dealership in our area has started doing PSA's for safe driving, etc. The owner happens to be a cyclist and he's thrown in a few PSA's for sharing the road. Sometimes if there is a local merchant who is into cycling, particularly one that advertises with the t.v. station, they could be helpful in pushing for a safe cycling story - ? Couldn't hurt to put a bug in the merchant's ear.

Deb

[sundial]

Did ya send it to Rock 103?