The Chainlink

Through Sunday - save $10 on our car-free bike ride

The next time LSD will be closed, it will be open for bikes (not x-c skis) for our big fundraiser, MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive!

 

Sign up through Sunday, Feb. 6 and you can save $10 on any registration package at www.bikethedrive.org.

If you sign up at an MB Financial Bank banking center through Feb. 6, you'll save $10 AND get a stainless steel water bottle.

We hope you can join us this Memorial Day weekend for our biggest fundraiser and a great ride!

 

Thanks much,

Ethan Spotts, Marketing & Communications Director, Active Trans

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on February 3, 2011 at 1:28pm

I was about to sign up but as I read more of the website it seems to me that participating in this event might be a bit more risky than I had previously thought.  So I think I'll pass.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on February 3, 2011 at 2:15pm
What do you think the risk is, James?
Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on February 3, 2011 at 2:19pm

It just seems, reading the requirements to participate the event, that many more rules and safety devices are mandated to get into the ride than that which the state DOT and city authorities require for riding in traffic anywhere else in the state by anyone with a bicycle on the publicly accessible roads and highways.

 

I can only assume that this is because this event is more dangerous than riding in the street at any other time like I do every day.

Permalink Reply by Melanie K on February 3, 2011 at 2:49pm
I believe that is because in order to get a decent insurance rate on events like these, as well as get Lake Shore Drive shut down entirely (not counting blizzards) they have to make concessions such as requiring safety gear such as helmets.  Of course, I think you already know this and are just making a statement. I'm signing up regardless if I have to have safety gear and follow rules, mainly because it is a non-issue to me, and I had a wonderful time last year biking the entire length of the drive and back, North to south, and south to north, over and over again. It was a great experience and extremely enjoyable.
Permalink Reply by Duppie on February 3, 2011 at 2:51pm

Ethan,

Don't feed the trolls.

Active Transportation Alliance said:

What do you think the risk is, James?
Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on February 3, 2011 at 3:12pm

You got me Melanie.  Since there is no real data proving that wearing a bicycle helmet is  safer (or even that it could be more dangerous) it can not be a "safety" issue.  It's an agreement with "powers that be" that want it this way.  But since there is a very possibility that wearing a helmet could be actually dangerous it might be that this requirement puts some people actually at MORE risk.  But this doesn't seem to bother the sponsers who will make decisions on what kind of dress code there is without any regard to scientiific studies of what is safe or not.


If they are willing to knuckle under to unscientific demands which have no known bearing on the safety of participants either way might they also make other demands which could also put people at risk?

 

I guess I'm just not willing to take that risk. I look forward to the day so I can ride in peace (although with LSD closed this event is actually forcing MORE traffic down my regular routes and making my commute even less safe. I better wear my magic underwear.  I am convinced that god will save me if I wear my magic underwear...

 

Melanie said:

I believe that is because in order to get a decent insurance rate on events like these, as well as get Lake Shore Drive shut down entirely (not counting blizzards) they have to make concessions such as requiring safety gear such as helmets.  Of course, I think you already know this and are just making a statement. I'm signing up regardless if I have to have safety gear and follow rules, mainly because it is a non-issue to me, and I had a wonderful time last year biking the entire length of the drive and back, North to south, and south to north, over and over again. It was a great experience and extremely enjoyable.
Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on February 3, 2011 at 3:13pm
I haven't read a post by James in weeks.

Duppie said:

Ethan,

Don't feed the trolls.

Permalink Reply by Melanie K on February 3, 2011 at 3:14pm
I just want the stainless steel water bottle.
Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on February 3, 2011 at 3:16pm

Just don't sign up?



James Baum said:

You got me Melanie.  Since there is no real data proving that wearing a bicycle helmet is  safer (or even that it could be more dangerous) it can not be a "safety" issue.  It's an agreement with "powers that be" that want it this way.  But since there is a very possibility that wearing a helmet could be actually dangerous it might be that this requirement puts some people actually at MORE risk.  But this doesn't seem to bother the sponsers who will make decisions on what kind of dress code there is without any regard to scientiific studies of what is safe or not.


If they are willing to knuckle under to unscientific demands which have no known bearing on the safety of participants either way might they also make other demands which could also put people at risk?

 

I guess I'm just not willing to take that risk. I look forward to the day so I can ride in peace (although with LSD closed this event is actually forcing MORE traffic down my regular routes and making my commute even less safe. I better wear my magic underwear.  I am convinced that god will save me if I wear my magic underwear...

 

Melanie said:

I believe that is because in order to get a decent insurance rate on events like these, as well as get Lake Shore Drive shut down entirely (not counting blizzards) they have to make concessions such as requiring safety gear such as helmets.  Of course, I think you already know this and are just making a statement. I'm signing up regardless if I have to have safety gear and follow rules, mainly because it is a non-issue to me, and I had a wonderful time last year biking the entire length of the drive and back, North to south, and south to north, over and over again. It was a great experience and extremely enjoyable.
Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on February 3, 2011 at 4:00pm

James, it's a fun event and as Melanie said, we have legal and insurance requirements as the organizing organization for an 18-20,000 person bike ride so we have to be up front about safety and legal waivers.

 

It's also our biggest fundraiser, approximately 86 cents out of every dollar raised goes back into bike, walk and transit advocacy (where we hope everyone wins).

 

If you choose not to join us, that's certainly OK.

 

Thanks much,

Ethan, with Active Trans

Permalink Reply by Vondo on February 3, 2011 at 4:18pm
I might have totally missed the answer to this question on the bike the drive site, but if I'm bringing a 5yr old on a trail a bike, do they need their own registration number?
P
Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on February 3, 2011 at 4:28pm

Sure, Vando...our rule is "if you pedal, you pay."

 

So, a child in a trailer is free (no need for a rider number) but a child on their own bike or a tag-along bike attachment behind a parent's bike would need to be registered.

 

It's $15 for youth 17 and under (includes T-shirt) for basic registration or $20 for youth if you are doing the Two-Ride Package (Bike the Drive and Four-Star Bike Tour 8/28/11).

 

Hope this helps!

 

Ethan, with Active Trans

 

 

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