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I've started a project organising a ride starting next year that will benefit the trails of the tri-state area.
Its going to start out as part of the Lewis and Clark Expedition celebrations but continue as a ride to benefit and increase the trails in this area.
My next step is to get a commotte together so the details can get "ironed" out and the ride can take place.
Anyone ever organise a ride in their area? How did it go? Is the ride still going on?
Stay tuned more details to come.
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What sort of scale of ride are you thinking of? I regularly lead rides with Bicycle Gold Coast around here, but they're not on a massive scale, but one did get a mention in a national newspaper last week. One thing you might want to think about is having the riders sign a waiver to say they won't sue you if they do something stupid (better worded than I just did).
Update 10/06/03:
So far I have a proposed route and lenght planned, with a start, stop & half way rest stop point. The ride wil be about 30 miles long round trip. Most of the ride will be on the bike trails in 3 states, 3 counties & 3 differant cities/towns.
The date is tenatively going to be May 15th 2003.
Stay tuned, more details to come.
It might be an option to consider having a couple of different route options of differing lenght. 30 miles is a long way to some people.
In my area, the most popular ride distance is about 45 miles. Usually rides offer 10, 20, 45, and 62 mile options. If you want good attendace, you need to offer some options.
Don't forget about liability insurance to cover your oganization.
First of all this ride is going to be in part a benefit for the local trails in the tri-state area. So it makes sense that as must of the ride as possible is on the trails.
Second the first 2 years of the ride will be part of the Lewis and clark celebrations. So the ride is going to follow as much os their original trail as possible, which is along the Missouri river.
Because of these 2 major factors the route is somewhat limited. Any rider can at any point turn around and go back to the start if for whatever reason they can not do the whole route. Plus the route does go through a city park, another good turn around point.
30 miles is not a long way to ride, not by any means. I've seen inexperienced riders and young children ride further before. Plus this route is very easy so it should not be a problem.
And yes there wil be a waiver of liability that all riders have to sign if they want to do the ride. And helmets will be mandatory too. If either of these 2 things are not done by any rider then they will not be allowed to do the ride.
A couple comments:
1. A waiver of liability is pretty standard but is not a substitute for insurance. IANAL, but I don't believe that waivers of liability provide very strong protection, especially from claims of negligence on the part of the organizers.
2. Unless you have the legal right to control who can and cannot use the trails on the day of the the ride, you cannot prevent someone from riding without a helmet. You could possibly refuse services (sag, refreshments, etc.) and you could disqualify someone from a competition, but if the ride is being held on public streets and trails, there's not much you can do to actually enforce the 'requirement' that helmets be worn. By the same token, you can't stop freeloaders from riding the route without paying.
3. 30 miles is a long way for a lot of people who normally ride bike paths. If you want to make shorter routes 'out and back' that's fine, but you should plan them and mark the turnaround points. Otherwise, many potential riders will stay away. Also consider the safety considerations of heavy two-way traffic on those parts of the trails.
You might want to touch base with an organizer of charity rides in your area. I'd contact a group that holds a ride and ask them who coordinates their ride. You'll probably save yourself many hours.
30 miles is not a long way to ride, not by any means. I've seen inexperienced riders and young children ride further before. Plus this route is very easy so it should not be a problem.
30 miles is not a long way for you or I to ride, but I know of plenty of people who wouldn't even get close to it.
A couple comments:
1. A waiver of liability is pretty standard but is not a substitute for insurance. IANAL, but I don't believe that waivers of liability provide very strong protection, especially from claims of negligence on the part of the organizers.
2. Unless you have the legal right to control who can and cannot use the trails on the day of the the ride, you cannot prevent someone from riding without a helmet. You could possibly refuse services (sag, refreshments, etc.) and you could disqualify someone from a competition, but if the ride is being held on public streets and trails, there's not much you can do to actually enforce the 'requirement' that helmets be worn. By the same token, you can't stop freeloaders from riding the route without paying.
3. 30 miles is a long way for a lot of people who normally ride bike paths. If you want to make shorter routes 'out and back' that's fine, but you should plan them and mark the turnaround points. Otherwise, many potential riders will stay away. Also consider the safety considerations of heavy two-way traffic on those parts of the trails.
You might want to touch base with an organizer of charity rides in your area. I'd contact a group that holds a ride and ask them who coordinates their ride. You'll probably save yourself many hours.
1. A waiver of liability will keep riders from sueing the organisers of this ride should they or any of their property become injured or damaged because of their own actions or the actions of others not attached to organising the ride. For example: If they pull out in front of a car and the car hits them or if they crash in to another rider. Whether or not we will need insurance to protect us as the organisers is unknown at theis time, we will cross that bridge when we come to it. This ride os not a major tour or race so there is no need for insurance to be provided by the organisers for the riders themselves.
2. As the ride will be on public use roads and trails a helmet policy is enforceable as you put it. But there will the statement on the registration form HELMETS REQUIRED FOR ALL RIDERS. This is on every form I have ever seen and filled out for any ride I've ever done. and I'd say about 99% of the riders wear a helmet. This is a good reason for the waiver.
There will be wrist bands issued to all riders who pay and register. Without the bands they will be refused SAG service, refreshments and the post ride meal, and they wil be required to show the band. If its one thing I can not stand its free loaders. As fas I'm concerned they are nothing less then pariahs.
There are always a bunch of them on RAGBRAI every year. They think it is funny to take up space in the campgrounds and eat the food which makes it harder for the actual paid riders to have a place to camp and have enough to eat.
The roads and trails will not be closed to only the ride participants. I never expected that. So if anyone wants to ride the same route with out paying then thats fine, they will just not be able to enjoy any of the ride amenities, except medical assistance, shouuld anyone need it. And thats only because that is not something that should ever be refused regardless of the reason why.
3. There will be makred turn around points but there will only be snacks available at the half way point. All riders will be made aware of this fact for those that do not or can not complete the entire route.
I strongly suggest you consult with a lawyer before you rely on a simple waiver of liability to shield your organization. A waiver MAY help you win a lawsuit, but I doubt it prevents one from being filed. I suspect that a waiver will also not shield you from any and all potential liability claims. For example, if you server tainted refreshments at a rest stop, your waiver will probably not shield you. A good lawyer should be able to give you proper advice. For what it's worth, I overheard a ride organizer earlier this year discuss how expensive insurance was for the charity ride I was doing. They, of course, had a waiver, but still saw the need to purchase an insurance policy for the ride.
Would you really refuse a drink of water to a thirsty cyclist? What if he claimed to have lost his wristband? Do you really expect your volunteers to be checking wristbands before letting people fill their bottles? I've ridden many charity rides and never has anyone demanded to see my ride number before I could get a drink or a cookie. I can understand checking wristbands before serving an after-ride meal, but I can't imagine refusing a drink of water or powerade to someone on the ride.
I strongly suggest you consult with a lawyer before you rely on a simple waiver of liability to shield your organization. A waiver MAY help you win a lawsuit, but I doubt it prevents one from being filed. I suspect that a waiver will also not shield you from any and all potential liability claims. For example, if you server tainted refreshments at a rest stop, your waiver will probably not shield you. A good lawyer should be able to give you proper advice. For what it's worth, I overheard a ride organizer earlier this year discuss how expensive insurance was for the charity ride I was doing. They, of course, had a waiver, but still saw the need to purchase an insurance policy for the ride.
Would you really refuse a drink of water to a thirsty cyclist? What if he claimed to have lost his wristband? Do you really expect your volunteers to be checking wristbands before letting people fill their bottles? I've ridden many charity rides and never has anyone demanded to see my ride number before I could get a drink or a cookie. I can understand checking wristbands before serving an after-ride meal, but I can't imagine refusing a drink of water or powerade to someone on the ride.
Ok now I think you are blowing things out of proportion here in your thinking on how me & the commitee are going to organise and run this ride.
Of course I would not refuse a drink of water to anyone. And water will be free from the drinking fountain or taps that are available. What I was refereing to is drinks like sports drinks, soda etc. And of course the food. And if anyone loses their wrist band their name wil be on a list and each area that serves food and drink will have list of names of all registered riders.
One reason for such "strict" guidlines is I've heard of and seen organised events have their sponsorship pulled by the in-kind sponsors because people were not honest and took unfair advantage of the situation and the event organisers did not keep a close enough track on who had paid and was registered and who had not.
And if I have anything to do with it this will not happen in a event that I am organising and hosting. My good name and reputation is on the line & I'll be damned if it will be drug through the mud because of a few parasitic dishonest people who think it is fun to try to shake and screw things up. Especially at a event that is designed to improve the community in which I live and support.
As far as the waiver and such are concerned, let me just say this: Time will tell if any insurance is warranted and even needed, but the signing the waiver will be a pre-condition for anyone who wants to participate in the ride, and that includes me and the organisers.
Now if you don't mind I would like to stop debating this issue. I think this "horse" has been beat up enough, don't you? I'll let you know how it goes during the planning and what is decided upon & what isn't.
Glad you got security locked down tight. Tom Ridge will be proud.
Update 10/06/03:
The date is tenatively going to be May 15th 2003.
Stay tuned, more details to come.
Surely you mean 2004?
Surely you mean 2004?
Yes I meant 2004. Thanks.
And hey Iowa City is not that far from Sioux City, only about 350 miles. So why not come up and join us for the ride?
Again thanks.
Update 10/14/03:
So far have 5 people on commitee, myself, my wife, (GOD bless her for helping me with this), 2 other people from the bike club and another person who is a cycling enthusiast and in support of a better trail system.
I have one other person to ask. But if that falls through then 5 people will be fine. Hope to have the first meeting sometime in the next week or 2.
First commitee meeting this weekend, either Saturday Oct 25th or Sunday Oct. 26th @ El Fredo's Pizza @ 6:00 pm. More details and day of meeting coming soon.
Update 10/27/03:
Change in meeting time & date. Meeting was not held this past weekend. It will instead be on Sat. Nov. 1st, 2003 @ 7:00 am.
Meeting's agenda will be as follows but not limited to: Basic outline of bike ride, assigned duties given to commitee members so ride can take place & future goals of commitee's plans to help benefit the rec. trails in this geographical area.
Details on things discussed @ meeting to come.
Update 11/06/03:
First meeting was a success.
Commitee has decided that we will become a non-profit organization to help benefit the trails in the greater Siouxland area.
On the commitee is a attorney and a couple of CFO's. They are going to get the documents drawn up for us to become a non-profit organization.
The rest of us has taken on the responsobility of doing the "ground work" for the bike ride.
This includes getting prices from places we will need services from to do the ride so we can have some sort of budget. This is important before we go asking other organizations and major companies for money to fund the ride.
Some of you may wonder why would anyone want to do this to improve cycling in their community. Well its simple really. I've come to realize that just going out and riding, belonging to a bike club and even being part of the bike club's board of directors is not enough anymore. Maybe at one time it was enough. Now its time I work to do more. Thats why I got this commitee together to get this "off the ground". Hopefuly it will be a success.
Stay tuned more to come.
John.
I strongly suggest you consult with a lawyer before you rely on a simple waiver of liability to shield your organization. A waiver MAY help you win a lawsuit, but I doubt it prevents one from being filed.
Agree that you ought to consult a lawyer. I'm sure you can find a good soul who'd do it pro bono.
But remember: no waiver prevents a suit from being filed. Anybody with enough money for the filing fee can sue anybody for anything.
Agree that you ought to consult a lawyer. I'm sure you can find a good soul who'd do it pro bono.
But remember: no waiver prevents a suit from being filed. Anybody with enough money for the filing fee can sue anybody for anything.
If you read my last update you'd see that there is an attorney who happens to be a cyclist, (or is that the other way around?) that is a member of the commitee. He is is providing what ever legal help that is required.
We are covering ALL OF THE BASES when it comes to planning for the bike ride, etc.
Your ride sounds like a great idea and I applaud you for investing the time and energy into organizing it.
I have organized several smaller group rides and it can be a very rewarding and worthwhile experience for both the organizers and the riders.
A couple of suggestions:
1) Have rest stops every 10 miles. Most people who have the tenacity to do a ride can do 30 miles, but many will want/need breaks after 10 miles. Most will absolutely need a break after 15 miles.
2) Have plenty of SAG wagons cruising with the riders to offer assistance and rides. Bikes are going to have problems, riders are going to get hurt/exhausted, tires will go flat.
3) You will want insurance, especially for a ride open to the public. Insurance for a single bicycle ride costs several thousand dollars. See if you can hook up with an organization so that you can use their insurance - perhaps paying only a nominal special fee. Are there any trail groups that may have insurance, or can you get your ride sponsored by a company who could provide insurance, etc. Have the riders sign an indemnification agreement. An indemnification agreement won't stop you from ending up in court, but it can help you get cheaper insurance. A indemnification agreement CAN help you and your insurance company in court, despite what all the nay-sayers might tell you. You might be able to find a sample on the internet or use the wording from one of the other rides you have been on.
Your work will be much appreciated and remembered by many for a long time.
Update: Had second STF meeting.
Things are taking shape in regards to us becoming a 5013c non-profit organization, we have our articles of incorporation and by-laws written up.
The annual bike ride was discussed. The sub-commitee for that needs to get together to start "locking down" the details of the ride. Thankfully we have plenty of time to do so.
So we are on our way. Things are looking up and looking good for us.
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