Well, of course it was the bloody lawyers. The following clause, until recently a condition of the Around the Bay ride this year, is so obviously the handiwork of over-zealous lawyers:
17. Only standard, two-wheeled, human-powered bicycles are permitted on the 250km, 210km and 100km Ride options. Unicycles, recumbents, scooters, motorised and power-assisted bicycles, child seats, tagalongs, trailers and animals are not permitted on the 250km, 210km and 100km Ride Options.
Since revised to read:
17. Only standard human-powered bicycles are permitted on the 250km, 210km and 100km Ride options. Unicycles, scooters, motorised and power-assisted bicycles, child seats, tagalongs, trailers and animals are not permitted on the 250km, 210km and 100km Ride Options.
And my suscpicion is proven in the letter that arcadiagt5 received in reply to a complaint that recumbents were specifically excluded:
Our initial decision followed from an extensive risk management process, which we undertook following last year's event. Until we are in a position to implement full road closures along the route, we need to consider all possible risks to our Riders and, where appropriate, implement mitigation strategies.
Frankly, I fail to see how a recumbent is subject to considerably more risk than any other bike. In any case, surely the burden of risk (regardless of chosen vehicle) lies largely on the rider?
Since publishing the new Terms & Conditions of Entry, we have received a number of requests to re-consider our decision regarding recumbents.
I'll bet they have!
After several lengthy conversations, and having considered the strong arguments put forward by riders such as yourself, we have decided to amend the Terms & Conditions so that recumbents will now be permitted to participate in all ride options on 21 October.
And quite right too. Why on earth did they even consider banning recumbents in the first place? Someone over at BV needs to have a good hard look at their approach to PR. What's the point of talking about "more people cycling more often" if you're going to proscribe what they can ride?
Although it doesn't really concern me (Around the Bay isn't really my kind of ride) I'm pleased that wiser heads at BV have overruled the legal eagles and achieved a good result for all cyclists. Let those recumbents roll!
Yeah, I saw it mentioned on a number of forums also.
I can (sort of) see the point with tagalongs/trailers—they do make the vehicle a bit longer overall, so maybe a bit of an inconvenience to other riders? But again I don't see how banning tagalongs (especially from the shorter events) is encouraging cycling, particularly among the young.
And the ban on child seats in the 50km event is ludicrous. This seems to be suggesting that child seats make bikes more dangerous, which is the sort of rubbish you'd expect the lawyers to come up with. (Generalising from a sample of one, my Co-Pilot can easily sit through a 50km ride without causing risk to me or disturbance to others.)
Alas, I think those other conditions are going to remain because there aren't the same vocal lobbyists prepared to push those issues. But fixing only the squeaky wheel doesn't mean you've got it all right.
A rather passive-aggressive final sentance there, so why don't YOU also go into bat for tagalong riders & families? You seem to have a lot to type about the subject - so logically, take the next step and support folks who use tagalongs or trailers. Doesn't take much to show support or concern to the powers that be.
Yeah, I hate that whole passive-aggressive thing. But, hey, what can I do about it?
I am fairly disillusioned with BV nowadays. I know they do great stuff and we have a lot to be thankful for but their PR leaves a lot to be desired.
Last year for RTB and the jersey debacle they were downright rude with their tone.
The cost of RTB is a joke. Especially when you compare it with other rides like the Alpine Classic, which is a superior event with better food and organisation. Granted that it is a smaller event.
If you ride a bike the BV is "banning" then ride anyway and don't do a ferry crossing. Its not like they can stop you!
I've got no real grumble with BV, but then I don't often do any of their massed rides. Personally I'm not very interested in Around the Bay (it's just not my sort of thing) but those ride conditions just struck me as a little odd and too restrictive—and therefore worthy of comment.
Comments
This issue was pretty much all over, bar the shouting, earlier this week, i.e.: mucho discussion on Audax, OzHPV, VicHPV and VicBUG Chat, followed by mass form emails sent out by BV as damage control. Probably the flowon from a hike in premiums, although it would be worth asking for a detailed response at the next BV AGM. Still don't care much for the ban on tagalongs or trailers either.