BIKE: Fwd: Clear Channel

[dick ryan]

Thanks Eric.

Here's a copy of what I sent in just in case it helps motivate anyone -

Oh - does anyone know anything about a rally at the Thompson Center 
before the CAMPO meeting on the 17th?

Dick Ryan

Begin forwarded message:

> From: dick ryan <dicryan>
> Date: Wed Nov 5, 2003  8:42:45  PM US/Central
> To: johnhogan
> Cc: <omarthompson>
> Subject: bike riding
>
> Dear Clear Channel,
>
> Last Friday, I had two people honk at me and one yelled at me to "get 
> off the road".
>
> This is in downtown Austin, Texas, on slow moving bike friendly 
> streets with plenty of room to pass, and I am a 56 year old grey 
> haired conservative looking and conservative riding bicyclist.  I 
> wasn't doing anything to provoke honking or yelling, in one instance I 
> was simply waiting at a light.
>
> There are people out there who simply don't like bicyclist. My theory 
> is that they wish we were not there.
> They don't realize that the alternative to the bike is not a blank 
> space, but another vehicle.
> We are doing our part to reduce congestion and to clean the air - as 
> well as keeping fit so the public doesn't have to pay for our hospital 
> and obesity bills. I also pay just as much for road repair and 
> construction in the City of Austin as any driver. That is because I 
> pay property taxes and for our city streets, that is from where the 
> funding comes.
>
> The danger we face, every day, is - that we can very easily be killed.
>
> If someone throws something at us, or drives too close to us, it can 
> result in our going out of control and could result in death.
>
> Encouraging vehicle drivers over the radio to throw things at us or to 
> try and run us off the road could result in my death - needless to 
> say, I don't want that to happen. Drivers who already "hate" 
> bicyclists could be easily provoked to do such things-
>
> I will listen to no Clear Channel stations until verbal attacks on 
> bicyclists by CC de-jays stops-
>
> Tax Paying Bike Riding Retiree,
> Dick Ryan
>