I was one of the "mature" riders who accompanied the mostly Tech crowd on the Tour. What I saw was bunch of good natured folks having a good time on a very nice Spring day. The stops lasted no longer than 15 to 20 minutes and the participants were very courteous towards the neighbors of each stop. Kudos to the police. I believe their presence deterred any really bad decisions and I personally observed them quickly rendering aid to a biker who had a mishap. Nice job!
THANK YOU to all who participated and made it a fun event. I could only be there at the beginning but the students I spoke with are interested in making part of this a family event with games etc for kids. Of course they still want 'their part' but that is to be expected. It is fun remembering those student days and getting a chance to be apart of it again. From a silver hair (as one of my friends called me).
I would really like to commend and thank the safety committee for removing the drinking from the tour and making it what appears to be a great family event!! excellent job!
I haven't participated in the past because of the drinking but I look forward to the Fall.
There was still drinking. And some participants even drank too much, but all in all, I think it was an event in which the positives vastly outweighed the negatives. - Helen Liggett
There was drinking, but the Tour did not provide alcohol. Many students byob, many drank sodas and energy drinks and some stops offered refreshments like icecream or cookies. When the Tour passed down 30th, one AWESOME family handed out H2O!
This is an event in a family/student neighborhood bordering a university in a liberal precinct in a conservative town. I rode for the first time and other than a handful of fools, this was a balanced event. It shouldn't be held at the taxpayer's expense though.
The PUBLIC and park drinking was done away with. The officers and tour leaders made it clear that NO drinking was permitted while riding, no alcohol allowed on city property in addition to ALL laws being followed and enforced.
Evidently none of you were in my backyard when the "boys" of the group made in an outdoor urinal. I had to personally run them out of the backyard. They dropped trash and beer cans all over the yard. Fortunately, my neighbors who volunteered to be a stop on the route cleaned up my yard. There must have been 50-60 bikes laid out in the grass and when I tried to put a stop to some of the behavior, I was booed by the crowd. So, while I may be silver haired and want to get along with the students, my opinion has not changed.
Kim, So sorry you had a negative experience. Thank you for your feedback.
Next year, if the parade permit is issued, the route can be roped off, which should eliminate bikes parked in yards (they had to have them out of the street because the parade permit was denied -that led to bikes parked in yards.)
People in your back yard is a Class B misdemeanor criminal trespass. Urinating in inappropriate places can be handled by more porta potties - that would end the criminal trespassing, as people looked for private places to urinate, absent adquate porta potties. A permit being issued would also solve that, as the city's porta potty supplier could contract with TDTT and have sufficient porta potties.
I am glad the Tour volunteers and participants took care of all the beer cans in your yard, so that part seems to be working.
As for the booing - that is just rude!
I bet most of these problems (except the booing) can be eliminated or greatly lessened.
Ive got a suggestion. Why dont we let the people who live in Tech Terrace vote if we want to have the Tour or not? I saw plenty of drinking of beer cans as well.
It isn't something for the residents to decide whether they want to have it or not. This started as a student run event from scratch and that is the way I'm sure the students would like to keep it. The majority of Tech Terrace residents are college students, so its understandable that there will be house parties and social events which involve drinking. TDTT I don't believe ever expected there to be over 1000 participants. But whether yall decide to vote or not on whether to have it, there will still be an afternoon where students will ride their bikes around the neighborhood and have a couple drinks at a friends house that lives nearby.
I was one of the "mature" riders who accompanied the mostly Tech crowd on the Tour. What I saw was bunch of good natured folks having a good time on a very nice Spring day. The stops lasted no longer than 15 to 20 minutes and the participants were very courteous towards the neighbors of each stop. Kudos to the police. I believe their presence deterred any really bad decisions and I personally observed them quickly rendering aid to a biker who had a mishap. Nice job!
ReplyDeleteThere were too many dudes. Need to get more girls next time.
ReplyDeleteRedbeard,
ReplyDeleteThat's the first I've heard you call yourself "mature"... Do you have witnesses?
Best regards,
Turd Fergeson
THANK YOU to all who participated and made it a fun event. I could only be there at the beginning but the students I spoke with are interested in making part of this a family event with games etc for kids. Of course they still want 'their part' but that is to be expected. It is fun remembering those student days and getting a chance to be apart of it again. From a silver hair (as one of my friends called me).
ReplyDeleteI would really like to commend and thank the safety committee for removing the drinking from the tour and making it what appears to be a great family event!! excellent job!
ReplyDeleteI haven't participated in the past because of the drinking but I look forward to the Fall.
My children and I will ride!
There was still drinking. And some participants even drank too much, but all in all, I think it was an event in which the positives vastly outweighed the negatives.
ReplyDelete- Helen Liggett
There was drinking, but the Tour did not provide alcohol. Many students byob, many drank sodas and energy drinks and some stops offered refreshments like icecream or cookies. When the Tour passed down 30th, one AWESOME family handed out H2O!
ReplyDeleteThis is an event in a family/student neighborhood bordering a university in a liberal precinct in a conservative town. I rode for the first time and other than a handful of fools, this was a balanced event. It shouldn't be held at the taxpayer's expense though.
ReplyDeleteThe PUBLIC and park drinking was done away with. The officers and tour leaders made it clear that NO drinking was permitted while riding, no alcohol allowed on city property in addition to ALL laws being followed and enforced.
ReplyDeleteBrandy Davis
Evidently none of you were in my backyard when the "boys" of the group made in an outdoor urinal. I had to personally run them out of the backyard. They dropped trash and beer cans all over the yard. Fortunately, my neighbors who volunteered to be a stop on the route cleaned up my yard. There must have been 50-60 bikes laid out in the grass and when I tried to put a stop to some of the behavior, I was booed by the crowd. So, while I may be silver haired and want to get along with the students, my opinion has not changed.
ReplyDeleteThank you for letting us know Kim. Will you provide your address so we can follow up?
ReplyDeleteKim,
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you had a negative experience. Thank you for your feedback.
Next year, if the parade permit is issued, the route can be roped off, which should eliminate bikes parked in yards (they had to have them out of the street because the parade permit was denied -that led to bikes parked in yards.)
People in your back yard is a Class B misdemeanor criminal trespass. Urinating in inappropriate places can be handled by more porta potties - that would end the criminal trespassing, as people looked for private places to urinate, absent adquate porta potties. A permit being issued would also solve that, as the city's porta potty supplier could contract with TDTT and have sufficient porta potties.
I am glad the Tour volunteers and participants took care of all the beer cans in your yard, so that part seems to be working.
As for the booing - that is just rude!
I bet most of these problems (except the booing) can be eliminated or greatly lessened.
-Helen Liggett
Ive got a suggestion. Why dont we let the people who live in Tech Terrace vote if we want to have the Tour or not? I saw plenty of drinking of beer cans as well.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't something for the residents to decide whether they want to have it or not. This started as a student run event from scratch and that is the way I'm sure the students would like to keep it. The majority of Tech Terrace residents are college students, so its understandable that there will be house parties and social events which involve drinking. TDTT I don't believe ever expected there to be over 1000 participants. But whether yall decide to vote or not on whether to have it, there will still be an afternoon where students will ride their bikes around the neighborhood and have a couple drinks at a friends house that lives nearby.
ReplyDeleteVIVA Tech Terrace! VIVA Tour! VIVA la vida!
ReplyDeleteYou can vote. Renters can't. That's a loaded deck.
ReplyDelete