Memorial Drive between downtown and Shepherd Drive is normally off-limits to bicycles, pedestrians, and other non-motorized traffic, though the signs posting it as such have largely fallen into disrepair or disappeared. The minimum posted speed limit of 40 MPH should, of course, preclude most bicyclists from legally using Memorial in this stretch, so, for those who want to be able to blast up and down Memorial, this is your chance.

This was MUCH more scenic when green space was more prevalent, but the green spaces north of Memorial and south of Allen Parkway were mostly simply unused private land, which is now largely developed, with the renaissance of the old West End and Montrose.

Nobody has done this ride before, because this is the first one. FWIW, all or most police officers working this event are unpaid volunteers, unlike most athletic events which use paid overtime funded by sponsors. Y'all might want to keep that in mind if y'all attend.

Why the short, relatively boring course? Well, there are very few access points for this stretch of Memorial Drive, requiring just a few officers and resources to close it off, and two very nice alternate routes for the public to use to get around the closure. Closures going through neighborhood streets or downtown requires massive coordination and manpower.

I don't yet know if I will be there, as a rider or to work the closures/TCON part of it.