Just thought I would follow up Dave's e-mail by bringing your attention to the 'glaciers' movie being broadcast in the US for the Competitive Enterprise Institute: http://streams.cei.org/ <http://streams.cei.org/> 
It contains a brief but rather striking slur on cycling as an archaic, uncomfortable and unsuitable mode of transport in comparison to more technologically-advanced, CO2-emitting alternatives.
Simon
 
Doctoral Researcher in Sustainable Energy Policy
Environmental Policy and Management Group
Centre for Environmental Policy
Imperial College London
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SW7 2BP 
Tel:      +44 (0)20 7594 7313 
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________________________________

De: Cycling and Society Research Group discussion list de la part de Dave Horton
Date: jeu. 18/05/2006 18:03
À: [log in to unmask]
Objet : anti-cycling rant from NZ


I wasn't going to forward this, but (obviously!) have now decided to, because I think further theoretical/intellectual investigation of what's going on here might *potentially* be fertile (and at some level an important political intervention) ..
 
It's evidence (if some were needed!) (from New Zealand) that the Jeremy Clarkson media-mentality is not confined to the UK, and that stigmatisation of the cyclist and marginalisation of cycling is ordinary, to the point that it's routinely incorporated into masculinised everyday banter and insidiously reproduces discrimination of the one urban mobility practice that could - given a chance - get us out of the social and ecological dystopias people like this guy (and Clarkson) seem to celebrate our driving - nay, acclerating - towards ..
 
I'm never quite sure how to respond to it, though. It's like these kinds of accusations increase my self-consciousness about being the kind of green liberal that I'm ordinarily quite happy to be, but which somehow in this kind of talk is also held up - like cycling - as being 'wrong'/'pathetic', almost some kind of crime. It's like the acceptability of, even a kind comic bohomie embodied in, this kind of banter immediately extinguishes the very possibility of critique ...
 
On the one hand, I think this kind of representation of cycling is inevitable, something to be expected, and so perhaps dismissed with a simple shrug of the shoulders as we get on with our pro-cycling business ..
 
But on the other hand, do we have something to learn from groups who've been here before, or are still here today - women, ethnic minorities, alternative sexualities, any other marginalised and discriminated against group .. Because cycling is somehow elective, does that make discrimination against cycling different from discrimination against a person for something (sex, ethnicity) much more embodied?
 
Any thoughts, anyone?
 
A "dull, glum cyclist" somewhere in the north of England, ;-)
 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Paul Andrews <mailto:[log in to unmask]>  
To: Dave Horton <mailto:[log in to unmask]>  
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2006 7:45 AM
Subject: Fw: [can_forum] Paul Holmes says cyclists should not be on the road


Dave, In case you ever wondered about our rationale for returning back to this country have a look at this one from a very popular (or maybe not so popular nowdays) NZ media twit. This guy is one of NZ's most well known Radio/TV personaliities... Just wondered if you wanted to respond as well.
 
Feel free to pass onto other comrades....
Cheers Paul
 
 

For those who have missed this, Paul Homes had one of his little moments on air yesterday. The edited transcript is attached.

 

As a first response, I have asked the Bicycle Industry Association to send a note to its members noting Holmes' outburst. This is to take advantage of the adage that station mangers respond most quickly to advertisers unhappy at programming. I have reproduced the note sent to Diana Dreaneen at BIANZ below.

 

I would urge people to send the transcript round to their networks to initiate a response to Newstalk ZB directly, and also letters to the editor. ZB has an on-line message facility (http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/# <http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/> ). 

 

ZB is part of the Radio Network, Private Bag 92198 Auckland. Ph 09 373 0000. The fax number for ZB Talkback programming is 0800 00 3299.

 

As a further step, I will send a letter to the above once I get feedback from people on this. On the one hand, I do not want to provide Holmes with more ammunition, as his tendency is to lash out at critics, and this could just reinforce the negative message. On the other hand, the station needs to know his comments are stupid (though sadly, as I note below, this may be seen as a good thing because it attracts audience and hence provides more leverage for advertising. In other words, being stupid sells). 

 

Another recourse is complaining to the Broadcasting Standards Authority, but I will hold fire on that at the moment.

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

Sent to Diana Dreaneen this morning.

 

 

Hi Diana - as discussed. I have attached a suggested message from me you might like to send out with it - or not, as the case might be.

 

I'd appreciate it if this could be sent out reasonably quickly.

 

Thanks!

 

Stephen

 

 

The following was broadcast by Paul Holmes on Newstalk ZB. This is being sent to you informatively, given the large number of people who listen to Newstalk ZB nationally, and the implications this might have for cycle safety of cyclists. It also has implications for cycle sales, given it could act as a disincentive for people to take up, or continue, cycling.

 

A comment from Stephen Knight, BikeNZ's Advocacy Manger, follows the transcript.

 

Thanks to John Lieswyn, Acting Transport Planner, Palmerston North City Council, for bringing this to the attention of the cycling community.

 

 

 

 

Broadcast at 7:41 am Wednesday 17th May 2006

 

....We've always believed on this program that cycling only leads to trouble.  Now I'm not talking about recycling, of course, which is possibly a very good thing...(brief discussion of recycling)

 

No, we're talking hopping on a bicycle in silly black tight lycra pants and taking the machine on the road, which leads only to sore legs and traffic hazards.  Cyclists, as every motorist knows, are a terrible untidy and unpredictable menace on thoroughfares built for cars.  They have no business on the streets, bicycles because they get in the way, they hold you up especially when they are ridden by people who think they are going as fast as cars and they seem to get some sort of delight in going almost as fast as cars...well they don't, they do go quite fast but not fast enough and so they hold you up invariably when you try to turn a corner.  But the people who like to ride the two wheeled machines are dull people, generally, glum people, and a (unintelligible) environmental in their kind of disposition, apart from Sarah Ulmer whose brightness shines out radiantly, cyclists are always dull people, humourless people who tend to vote Green, and if they don't vote Green they tend to vote for more welfare.  And now we find the Telecom leaker...is a cyclist.  Not only does he get on a cycle...not only does he wear the silly lycra pants, he belongs to a club whose very existence is because of bicycles! (thumping the table, raised voice) Not only does he have a propensity to hop on a bicycle in the lycra pants, he seeks community with others and they form a club, and and and they, and all it's because of it's bicycles!  He belongs to a club and they get together and they ride bikes!  Not just any bikes, either, bikes with MANY GEARS!  Gears!  As if gears on a bike mean anything.  Hahahaha.  And upside down handlebars!  Silly.  This Michael Ryan is friends at this bicycle club with a man called Peter Garty, a senior Telecom man.  Another reason to worry about Telecom!  At this very senior level they have got a chap who likes to ride bicycles and put on the lycra pants, and has joined a club to so do.  

 

(Launch into Telecom story)

 

What is also sad in this matter is Mr. Ryan was giving Mr. Garty a ride home from the cycle club IN HIS CAR! So he was on the path to self  improvement!  He was in a motorcar!  He was almost on the path to righteous road use, that is to say, see, he was in a motorcar, but he blows it all...by betraying a state secret for which he has probably lost his job...So Mr. Ryan is a goner.  Mr. Garty gets away scot-free...

 

They will not be seeking each other's company at either the cycling club or on bicycles, certainly they will not be exchanging lycra pants...

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Knight, BikeNZ's Advocacy Manager and former radio journalist, makes the following comment:

 

"While Holmes is given to these kinds of off-the-cuff tirades as a demonstration of what he would see as his biting sense of humour, his real aim is to play to the prejudices of listeners to maintain and boost audience ratings. He has been broadcasting so long that he probably does this subconsciously. You can see this in his incorporating the idea that cyclists are probably humourless lefty liberals, knowing that his audience overwhelmingly react negatively to this. Such a technique reinforces the idea that Holmes and the listeners are dealing with a group of people who are not 'one of us', and so can be treated as an enemy. This allows freedom to say whatever you like. 

 

"The obvious fact that there is absolutely no evidence supporting his claims, nor that the vast majority of cyclists also drive, is ignored. His approach is also dangerous because Holmes trades on the impression that he is a 'journalist' and therefore can be trusted to tell the truth. He is not, and never has been, a journalist. He is an salesman whose tool-of-trade is broadcasting.

 

"His unethical technique is accepted by radio management because it boosts listenership and, consequently, makes it easier to sell advertising. 

 

"Specifically, the message reinforces the idea that cyclists should not be on the road and it is acceptable to get annoyed with them. Given a significant number of vehicle drivers already have a poor attitude (and not just to cyclists, but anyone else who gets in their way), this message is potentially very dangerous, as it could (in the minds of those listening) reduce the culpability of a driver who hits a cyclist. After all, they were 'asking for it' because they 'shouldn't be there' and, anyway, they wear funny clothes and vote Green. Incredibly ham-fisted but effective.

 

"Of course, Mr Holmes will simply respond - See, cyclists have no sense of humour. This will be designed to further alienate the group he is picking on, while appearing to be a reasonable fellow who is just making a joke. This might be an acceptable technique among unethical broadcasters, but it is extremely dangerous for the group he happens to pick on for rating purposes."

 

 

 

 

Stephen Knight

Advocacy Manager

BikeNZ Inc

PO Box 1057

Level 5, Prime Finance Building

142 Lambton Quay

Wellington

 

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