BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Tried to post this in the other thread but my post was blocked. My guess is the links caused the spam filter to block me.

Ugh, we don't want Marty Griffin getting involved. For those who don't know his history:

http://www.g20media.org/marty-griffin

http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A22839

http://2politicaljunkies.blogspot.com/2006/12/rob-owen-spanks-marty-griffin.html

http://www.thetartan.org/2005/12/5/forum/kdka

http://community.livejournal.com/pittsburgh/1220738.html

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing asobi. The guy is scum and does shoddy reporting. Dude can't even figure out the name of the EEFC

He could help or really hurt the situation. You never know which way he will go. We should call and email to ask him why DA hasn't filed charges against kid who killed Fox Chapel cyclist.

Couldn't agree more on your take of Marty Griffin.The man is a total A-hole, having already met him, while I was at the Convention Center.He comes off as arrogant and just so much smarter than the average joe on the street.I wouldn't be surprised if he even plays devils advocate and take the position against bicyclist.I heard him on the radio talking about bicyclists who shouldn't be on the roads.He's a total jerk who never gets his facts straight.Why did KDKA hire him in the first place??I'm in favor of a reporter fetting involved,but definitely not him!!

I'm listening now, and I'd say the coverage is pretty sympathetic. At least until the callers start calling in and foaming at the mouth about "those %^&*(( should just get off the road".

Oh, and we all ride ten speeds, apparently.

He's already generalized us as "skinny guys riding ten speeds" - literal quotation

So far he's been very sympathetic. Line is that this is symptomatic of a society out of control. Nice interview with Ryan's sister. Ryan to be interviewed next. Funniest thing is that he keeps referring to "these are attacks on kids who are just riding their ten speeds...." Says his dream bike was a Raleigh Grand Prix as a kid -- used it everyday to get everywhere -- living the dream in his words. It sounds like he gets it. Says the attacks on cyclists "sicken him."

10 speeds are better than bikes with no brakes.

The show is awesome so far. Neighborhood sticking together, etc.

If he gets off track, maybe we can get Mary Robb to track him down and give him a good solid head slap.

Sure, and then first caller plays the race card. Marty's discouraging that line of thought/discussion. Interesting.

So what if we where all kids on tens speeds? Does that make us less of person? Everyone with 2 wheels or even 1 has a right to the road and to not be beaten for wanting to ride home fromm work at night

Funny his idea of a biker is a skinny white kid. A little out of touch on that point. There are a lot of us (not so skinny) middle aged riders out there.

I don't know how anyone listens to this. So many commercials, so little content.

@bikinggirl

As one of those not so skinny middleagers I agree.

Dont suppose there is anyway to hear it now that its over?

in the 80s basically a 10 speed = road bike. It made me chuckle the way he kept saying we just want to be out riding our 10 speeds.

as for the "skinny white kid" quote, the rest of that sentence was about those who have been attacked. Haven't all of the attacked been thin, white, young men?

I'm wiith rsprake though, talk radio is a totally annoying format to listen to.

@rsprake and Tabby

Agreed, but isn't that pretty much all commercial radio? I hit the mute button between segments

Dang, I thought this thread was going to be about a skinny white kid beating down a bunch of miscreants. Kick Ass!

they just said they're gonna revisit it on radio @ noon

thanks justin I will give it a listen.

Griffin can be an opinionated jerk, and talk radio basically gets ratings by starting on-air flamewars, but he does try to talk about current local issues and he actually brings experts in to talk about them instead of just acting like his opinion is the truth. He has a lot of influence, especially with "average" Pittsburghers who would otherwise never think about us. So if he gets it at least a little bit right - and it sounds like he did - I'm all for it.

It was a nice segment and the people calling in cared more about the violence than the fact that it was people on bikes being targeted.