Clear Channel Radio Update

Yesterday I participated in another conference call with League of
American Bicyclists Executive Director Elissa Margolin and
Communications Director Patrick McCormick, as well as other cyclist
advocates involved in the Clear Channel issue. The League
representatives met in person with John Hogan, CEO of Clear Channel
Radio, to discuss the issue and how to move forward constructively.
Let it suffice to say that CC is very embarrassed by the actions of
its DJs and by all of the negative publicity the company has received.
They appear very serious about wanting to prevent this from ever
happening again, and about making things right by promoting safe
cycling through their media channels.

Below are a few news items providing more information.

-Steve Goodridge
VP, North Carolina Bicycle Club

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Bike League News:
LEAGUE AND CLEAR CHANNEL RESOLVE CYCLISTS' CONCERNS

In a letter to Elissa Margolin, the League's Executive Director, John
Hogan, President and CEO of Clear Channel Radio, said, "the comments
made by Clear Channel Radio stations in Cleveland, Houston, and
Raleigh were inappropriate and intolerable ... As CEO of Clear Channel
Radio, I do not support or condone the anti-cyclists messages and have
taken steps to insure they do not occur again." The letter was written
following a November 5 meeting between Margolin and Hogan at Clear
Channel's headquarters in San Antonio, TX. Hogan and Margolin
discussed ways in which the company could work with the bicycling
community to promote safe bicycling and sharing the road and agreed to
meet in early 2004 to review progress and chart next steps. Margolin
said, "The League is pleased with the response from Clear Channel
Radio. The comments broadcast on stations in Cleveland, Houston, and
Raleigh were indeed egregious, but the company's redress has been
aggressive and the measures taken to prevent any reoccurrence are
heartening. CEO John Hogan has clearly demonstrated that any
programming that endangers cyclists will not be tolerated and we
applaud his leadership on this issue. We are particularly pleased that
Clear Channel will work with the bicycling community to help make
America's roads safer for everyone." Martha Roskowski, America Bikes
Campaign Manager, and Sue Knaup, Thunderhead Alliance Executive
Director, both expressed their support for Clear Channel's statement.
Knaup said, "I look forward to building this important partnership
with one of America's leading media companies to help promote safe
bicycling in America's communities and to encourage motorists and
cyclists to share the road."


The letter can be found online as a scanned image at
http://www.bikeleague.org/educenter/clear_channel.pdf

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Clear Channel moves to woo bicyclists
Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO - Clear Channel Communications has joined forces with the
League of American Bicyclists to promote cycling.

That's after some on-air personalities at Clear Channel radiostations
had suggested mayhem against bicyclists.

In recent months, broadcasts in Houston, Cleveland and Raleigh, N.C.,
included suggestions to throw bottles at riders, hit them with open
car doors and blast horns. Listeners called in to agree, vent and
share stories.

In announcing the alliance on Thursday, officials for the nation's
largest radio group said they will tolerate no more anti-bicyclist
rhetoric by its disc jockeys.

"We look forward to a very productive partnership with this important
organization, focused on promoting safe conditions for bicyclists,"
John Hogan, president of the company's 1,200-station radio division,
said in an e-mail.

Representatives with American Bicyclists, which represents more than
300,000 riders, met with officials at Clear Channel's San Antonio
headquarters Wednesday to air concerns about "shock jocks" encouraging
motorists to harass cyclists.

Clear Channel said the comments were not meant to be serious. The
company has issued an apology and has disciplined some employees,
including firing a Houston producer.

Also, all three stations have since started running public service
announcements to educate drivers about bicycle safety.

Clear Channel stations have promoted or helped sponsor bicycling
events for years - more than 100 since 2002.

The company even had a team of riders in this year's Bike to the Beach
ride from San Antonio to Corpus Christi to raise money for the
Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The cycling group and company officials intend to meet again early
next year to discuss further steps.