Disappointing Ride of Silence

[Geonz]

What, exactly, does the city require a permit for? I'd want to see the written policy.
I think most places get around that by not making it a parade or a race. After all, there is no registration, no t-shirt, no fee; if people decide to make a caravan and drive to the same place together, they don't need separate insurance. Bicycles as vehicles don't, either.
Now, if an edict has already been laid down and doing it anyway would be in defiance of that, I don't think I'd do it 'cause the point of the ride is to *get* respect, not build barriers. However, I would be sniffing around to see if somebody sitting behind a different desk would have a different perspective. And... I'd be looking well in advance for the donations.

About publicity: around here, email is turning out to be the most effective wayof getting people out for things. Of the 62 people at our Urbana Master Bicycle Plan meeting, 30 of them were there because of emails. Flyers, etc. had reached little groups of 7 or 8. I think it went the same way here... and Iwas kicking myself for *not* making sure I got to the bike racing email list because they had not gotten the word (one of 'em joined us halfway through coming back from a training ride). However, we're a college town and it seems the active people are active online.
A cheap way of spreading the word is putting up posters in bike shop and gym windows, too.

[mtbdarby]

Geonz, it goes before the city council here and about 10 different departments to decide how to rate it: class A, B or C. According to their documentation, a bike ride is considered class B thus, the insurance requirement. Pretty sad I think....

[Geonz]

So it's already set Looks like you want to start collecting... what a RACKET.

[mimitabby]

well, MTB you are moving, right?

maybe your new hometown won't be so ridiculous!

besides, you could always just all magically meet and ride together for a while...

[mtbdarby]

well, MTB you are moving, right?

maybe your new hometown won't be so ridiculous!

besides, you could always just all magically meet and ride together for a while...

I sure hope so - the new town has a bike trail! I saw how you got around it on yours. That's an idea to keep in mind. I found out after that our bike club has insurance that covers members of the club only. But yeah, it is a racket in this town. Too bad, I had a lot of interest so I was bummed. Next year I'll get on the ball and start earlier.

[tangentgirl]

You could post a notice on Craigslist to advertise it next time around. Local weekly newspapers often keep calendar sections - send them a press release or listing.

[DrBee]

What, exactly, does the city require a permit for? I'd want to see the written policy.

Here in BR the ride would have been considered as a parade if we had the police escort us.