DC Bike Ride – successor to BikeDC?

[chris_s]

@americancyclo 134035 wrote:

are they going to stop us from riding?

There’s always that. Nobody is going to demand your kid’s birth certificate. “He’s three. He’s small for his age.” is really all you need, but on principle I’d really like to see the policy changed (and am in contact with them about it).

[sjclaeys]

@consularrider 134030 wrote:

Closed city streets are not cheap. I expect the $4.48 fee goes to the registration website operator. Also an extract from an email I sent to WABA asking about volunteering as a ride marshal. “… the DCBR is not a WABA ride or event … WABA is a founding partner of the ride, so while we are not directly involved in the operation of the event, the DCBR organizers are making a substantial grant to support WABA’s advocacy work and community organizing for Vision Zero. We’re so thrilled this event is taking place and are invested in its success …”

Bike DC in 2011 cost about $35 and there were closed roads, so I’d imagine that the Ride DC cost is not just for closed roads. Also, although it may not officially be a WABA ride or event, WABA is certainly acting like it is in its advertising and promotion.

[dasgeh]

@Tim Kelley 133926 wrote:

Why do you think they did it that way?

Is that to maintain the 6mph average pace needed to complete the route in the allotted time? Or maybe insurance reasons?

This isn’t an issue of kids on their own bikes. This is kids on adults’ bikes, btw. I am told insurance wouldn’t be a legitimate reason, especially given that they’re now ok with 3yo. They are claiming “public safety”, which makes no sense. A 2 year old on a parent’s bike poses no risk to the public. And a parent with a young kid on their bike is about the safest kind of rider you’ll find.

[dasgeh]

@chris_s 134038 wrote:

There’s always that. Nobody is going to demand your kid’s birth certificate. “He’s three. He’s small for his age.” is really all you need, but on principle I’d really like to see the policy changed (and am in contact with them about it).

But that’s the problem with 3 as opposed to, say, 1. If you have to have a cut off, for 1 you can hide behind the pediatricians’ (misguided) guidelines. You can also say most kids are one. It would be hard to pass an 8month old off as a 3 year old.

And just between us and the internet, they are working on it. The problem may have been they started with someone else’s (NYC’s) policy, and changing a policy is hard with lots of stakeholders.

[PotomacCyclist]

Additional background on the event, from The Washington Business Journal:

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/breaking_ground/2016/02/d-c-to-launch-massive-bike-ride-around-monuments.html

They are describing it as a “massive bike ride” for some reason. Probably because they are comparing it to NYC’s Five Boro Bike Tour.

– Capital Sports Ventures (CSV) is the organizer. Founding sponsors include Events DC, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, and WABA.

– They expect 8,000 riders this year and up to 18,000 in future years.

– Tickets cost $50 until Feb. 28. Then $60 after that.

– This is CSV’s first event. CSV is a “sports-focused venture capital firm and consultancy” founded in 2013 by Greg Bibb, former executive at Monumental Sports & Entertainment (the company run by Ted Leonsis, and used as the ownership/operations structure for the Wizards, Capitals, Mystics, Verizon Center, the Kettler Iceplex in Ballston, and the Patriot Center on the GMU campus). CSV’s mission: sports advising, investment in sports-related businesses and event creation.

– The event costs in the “high six-figures.”

– It is a for-profit event.

– Some proceeds will go toward WABA’s participation in the nationwide Vision Zero campaign. WABA will run an event in each ward of DC regarding traffic safety. They will also host a regional summit to get jurisdictions to sign on to Vision Zero. (DC and Montgomery County have signed on. I think that means they have committed to the summit.)

– The event includes a post-ride festival with live entertainment on Constitution Ave NW near the U.S. Capitol. The performers have not been announced yet.

[Kitty]

@MFC 133934 wrote:

I don’t mind supporting WABA, but this seems pretty-flipping expensive for a 17-mile bike ride.

@sjclaeys 134021 wrote:

I signed up to get the WABA discount. Looks promising and I want to show support. However, note that there is a $4.48 fee added on to the price. It would be good for WABA to give more details on what we will get for $52.48 besides a 17 mile ride with closed roads.

I was admittedly a bit disappointed, 17 miles is nothing to write home about, and its really expensive at $48. But in the end I decided this was one of those “support the concept”/”show solidarity” things and signed up. Perhaps I was thinking that investing in it now would make it bigger and better in the future?

Besides, I had to think back to just a few years ago when the idea of riding 17 miles would be too much; where riding in the street wasn’t something that I did; and I didn’t see monuments on a commute. I figure I’m not the target demographic, but if it gets the new and curious into cycling in DC, it being more causal is better than a mileage grind.

Besides, WABA promised us a Century this year. 😎

[dbb]

This is an opportunity to show the organizations that we rely on (DC Government, NPS, Arlington County, Montgomery County, etc) that cycling is important and popular. If you can, please sign up. The cycling community in the DC area can build off the success of this ride.

[Tania]

@dbb 134123 wrote:

This is an opportunity to show the organizations that we rely on (DC Government, NPS, Arlington County, Montgomery County, etc) that cycling is important and popular. If you can, please sign up. The cycling community in the DC area can build off the success of this ride.

Your words sold me on registering for this…until I looked at my calendar. That’s the same weekend at Dirtfest and I’ve already registered for that.

[americancyclo]

@PotomacCyclist 134074 wrote:

– Capital Sports Ventures (CSV) is the organizer. Founding sponsors include Events DC, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, and WABA.

– This is CSV’s first event. CSV is a “sports-focused venture capital firm and consultancy” founded in 2013 by Greg Bibb, former executive at Monumental Sports & Entertainment (the company run by Ted Leonsis, and used as the ownership/operations structure for the Wizards, Capitals, Mystics, Verizon Center, the Kettler Iceplex in Ballston, and the Patriot Center on the GMU campus). CSV’s mission: sports advising, investment in sports-related businesses and event creation.

Interesting. I got an email from WABA that said:

It’s organized by a professional event organizing firm (they put on the Rock and Roll Marathon, they do great stuff)

I don’t see any mention of it on CSV’s website. All I could find was this reference:

The Managing Director of Capital Sports Ventures (CSV)…served as Vice President for the Greater Washington Sports Alliance [which] created several new annual sporting events under his direction including the District of Columbia’s own National Marathon (now known as the Rock ‘n’ Roll USA Marathon)

Also, apparently, the #DCBR is more strict than Freezing Saddles.

Can I ride an electric bike?
No, you may not ride an electric bike.

[Jason]

I have a friend from out of town who is considering signing up but has a few specific questions:

Will there be bathroom breaks along the route?

The dotted lines… are they still blocked off roads or bike trails?, what do they mean?

Is the route entirely on pavement?

Will the changes in direction be clearly marked /identified?

[consularrider]

@sjclaeys 134039 wrote:

Bike DC in 2011 cost about $35 and there were closed roads, so I’d imagine that the Ride DC cost is not just for closed roads. Also, although it may not officially be a WABA ride or event, WABA is certainly acting like it is in its advertising and promotion.

For comparison the Rock n’ Roll marathon is $135 (but you get a cool swag bag). Roads are closed longer and it covers a wider area.

[dbb]

@Tania 134127 wrote:

Your words sold me on registering for this…until I looked at my calendar. That’s the same weekend at Dirtfest and I’ve already registered for that.

You can still register

[dasgeh]

@dbb 134123 wrote:

This is an opportunity to show the organizations that we rely on (DC Government, NPS, Arlington County, Montgomery County, etc) that cycling is important and popular. If you can, please sign up. The cycling community in the DC area can build off the success of this ride.

The flip side: if a for-profit, expensive, exclusive event does take root, will the governmental groups feel less pressure to do a true open streets, which would be free and open to all? I don’t see this as a slam-dunk good thing for cycling in the region.

[Steve O]

@dasgeh 134161 wrote:

The flip side: if a for-profit, expensive, exclusive event does take root, will the governmental groups feel less pressure to do a true open streets, which would be free and open to all? I don’t see this as a slam-dunk good thing for cycling in the region.

If by “take root” you mean thousands of people participating, then I respectfully disagree.

(edited after dasgeh’s “?”) To clarify, what I mean is that if this event “takes root,” meaning thousands of people participate and it grows each year, then I see this as a very good thing for cycling in the region. Even if that means the governmental groups never get involved and some for-profit group makes money from it. Still good IMO.

[dasgeh]

@Steve O 134171 wrote:

If by “take root” you mean thousands of people participating, then I respectfully disagree.

?

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