RTE appears to be sticking by its item on The Late Late Show on Friday. The segment has angered many cyclists and campaigners. But amid calls for an apology RTE has posted the segment, as a standalone item, on its playback website.
Dublin Cycling Campaign has lodged an official complaint to RTE about the cycling segment on last week's Late Late Show.
However, the national broadcaster has since posted the segment of the show as a standalone item on the RTE 'player'.
The item in question saw a selection of guests who were asked to "bin" things that annoyed them.
RTE broadcaster Maura Derrane chose to bin "arrogant cyclists". Her choice resulted in a conversation among the panelists in which cyclists were compared to farm animals.
It was also said cyclists riding several abreast did so deliberately to annoy motorists. A helmet was placed in a bin on set to sigify the "binning" or arrogant cyclists.
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Just some casual cyclist hatred on tonight's @RTELateLateShow. #latelate #bikelash pic.twitter.com/XpWayslrg4
— Dublin Cycling (@dublincycling) January 12, 2018
Host Ryan Tubridy asked the audience if they agreed with the binning of arrogant cyclists. And there was overwhelming suppor; as seen in the show of hands from the audience.
As a result of the segment, the Dublin Cycling Campaign is now seeking an apology on the show this Friday.
It notes the assertion by Maura Derrane that cyclists rode abreast to annoy motorists was not challenged by Tubridy.
The campaign is also objecting to another guest, James Kavanagh, comparing cyclists to animals. Furthermore, it says his contribution was greeted with laughter from other guests.
Dublin Cycling Campaign has, in its complaint, also said author Eoin Colfer suggested cyclists not carrying children were not entitled to as much space on the roads.
It has also objected to Tubridy asking the audience to say whether they favoured the binning of cyclists riding “two, three or four abreast". The campaign points out it is legal to ride two abreast.
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And, finally, the complaint also takes issue with a cycling helmet being placed into the bin. It says this equates “cyclists to trash or something disposable”.
It says each of these contributions on the show “could be seen as inciting prejudice or hatred towards all people who cycle”.
As a result, the campaign believes the item contravened the “code of standards of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland”
That code stipulates that no broadcast material should “stigmatise” or “condone discrimination” or “incite hatred” towards other people or groups in society.
The campaigning group says the item was aired against the backdrop of 15 cycling fatalities on the roads last year.
It wants an apology on this Friday’s show. It also wants it clarified that cycling two abreast is legal.
“If RTE is unwilling or unable to correct the record and issue a public apology,” the complaint states, “we will be pursuing this complaint with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland”.
We have sent the following complaint to @rte about Friday's @RTELateLateShow segment on cyclists which we believe contravened the code of standards of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.
Individual complaints can be sent to [email protected] #LateLateShow pic.twitter.com/P3k8L9iHVV— Dublin Cycling (@dublincycling) January 14, 2018
On the show Derrane said she liked cycling but was “really bothered” by cyclists riding three or four abreast.
“Really there’s no need because; are you in competition with a car? You’re never going to be faster. And (cyclists do it) almost to piss people off; I know that.”
Kavanagh then took it up: “They’re like the farm animals,” he said cyclists riding several abreast.
“Sheep or cows or whatever; they don’t move. Cyclists are like that as well.”
Derrane then told Kavanagh to hush and said she believed cyclists riding in the way she described did so because of arrogance.
She then said she didn’t want to throw cyclists in the bin. Rather, “arrogant cyclists” should go in the bin for 2018.
Author Eoin Colfer chipped in and said some cyclists were using “fake baby carriers” in order that cyclists would give them more room.
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