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Coming up on May 20, 2006 is the Tri-State Trails Tour III Bicycle Ride. I have posted about it in the past, go to www.siouxlandtrails.org & click on the registration form for more info.
One of the ways members of the foundation promote the ride is by handing registration forms to people we see stopped with their bikes along the trail system while we are using the trail ourselves. Not all of us do this, & it is nothing formal. More of a if we see someone we will approach & speak with them & ask if they'd like a form.
A week or so ago the foundation president was on the riverfront trail & he spoke with & handed a form he to a guy he saw along the trail with his bike.
A few days later the foundation received a letter in the mail with the blank form from this person. The letter basically said he will not do the bike ride because he does not agree with the words HELMETS ARE REQUIRED that are printed on the form. Nor does he agree with having to sign the waiver of liablity or to having to pay to participate in the ride. From what I understand he was not very nice in his wording about it.
The foundation president sent a reply letter explaining participants have to sign the waiver to do the ride. We have the right to not allow people to participate in the ride if they do not sign. This is a requirement by our insurance company & the communities in which the ride route goes through, there are 3 of them. It was also explained that the money particpants pay goes into an account that the foundation uses to pay out in the form of grant money to the communities who need it to improve the bicycle facilities. The ride is 100% sponsored with monetary donations or in-kind. So none of the hard costs of the ride is paid for by participant registrations. It was also explained the HELMETS ARE REQUIRED is on the form to encourage people to wear them.
I do not know for sure but it could be a possibility that the insurance policy says participants have to wear a helmet or they can be refused participantion in the ride. I will have to check to see if that is the case. If it is then we are complying with the policy by having the wording on the form. During the past 2 rides there has not been on single person who did not wear a helmet during the ride. Hopefully the same will happen during the 3rd on May 20.
This is an educated guess. but it seems this person is the type that does organized bike rides, does not pay for them or wear a helmet during them as a matter of protest & brags about it. I hope he does not show up on May 20 to try & participate in the ride. I knew this was a good year to not be ride director. though I am safety director so I may have to deal with it if he does show.
One of the ways members of the foundation promote the ride is by handing registration forms to people we see stopped with their bikes along the trail system while we are using the trail ourselves. Not all of us do this, & it is nothing formal. More of a if we see someone we will approach & speak with them & ask if they'd like a form.
A week or so ago the foundation president was on the riverfront trail & he spoke with & handed a form he to a guy he saw along the trail with his bike.
A few days later the foundation received a letter in the mail with the blank form from this person. The letter basically said he will not do the bike ride because he does not agree with the words HELMETS ARE REQUIRED that are printed on the form. Nor does he agree with having to sign the waiver of liablity or to having to pay to participate in the ride. From what I understand he was not very nice in his wording about it.
The foundation president sent a reply letter explaining participants have to sign the waiver to do the ride. We have the right to not allow people to participate in the ride if they do not sign. This is a requirement by our insurance company & the communities in which the ride route goes through, there are 3 of them. It was also explained that the money particpants pay goes into an account that the foundation uses to pay out in the form of grant money to the communities who need it to improve the bicycle facilities. The ride is 100% sponsored with monetary donations or in-kind. So none of the hard costs of the ride is paid for by participant registrations. It was also explained the HELMETS ARE REQUIRED is on the form to encourage people to wear them.
I do not know for sure but it could be a possibility that the insurance policy says participants have to wear a helmet or they can be refused participantion in the ride. I will have to check to see if that is the case. If it is then we are complying with the policy by having the wording on the form. During the past 2 rides there has not been on single person who did not wear a helmet during the ride. Hopefully the same will happen during the 3rd on May 20.
This is an educated guess. but it seems this person is the type that does organized bike rides, does not pay for them or wear a helmet during them as a matter of protest & brags about it. I hope he does not show up on May 20 to try & participate in the ride. I knew this was a good year to not be ride director. though I am safety director so I may have to deal with it if he does show.