BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Events like this aren't cheap; there are shirts to print, cops/emergency responders to hire, food, insurance, signs, etc. Your registration money isn't being used to promote cycling, it's being used to hold this event. It's the event itself, with the thousands of people coming out for it, that promotes cycling in Pittsburgh.

In short, the registration fee goes to BP and goes to support the work that they do--everything from the fees to support and maintain this forum and the rest of the website, to producing the city cycling map, &c, &c. Why do the ride instead of just giving the money directly to BP? Why ride MS150 instead of just giving the money directly to MS research? Why run Race for the Cure [or Charity Race of Your Choice] instead of giving the money to Komen [or Favoured Charitable Foundation]?

Bike-Pgh has a bit of traction now. They've been in the forefront of making two-wheeled stuff happen in this town for over a decade. They've had a long list of good ideas, and "Gee, if only we had X more resources, we could tackle Project Y," and so on. Taking on Pedal Pittsburgh itself was a big Project Y, since it wasn't theirs to start with. Huge overhead, huge responsibility, but now with that momentum they've built up over the years, they have the structural wherewithal to make it happen. But it does take plain old money to really pull it off. See list above. Where it only takes a couple hundred bucks to secure one permit for a simple street closure like a neighborhood fair, it takes thousands of dollars to underwrite the costs of all that police work for a city-wide event. Maybe tens of thousands. If they do pocket a couple of bucks after it's all over, then good. Other stuff they do: Pay for the costs of engineering studies to justify bike lanes, plus associated legal fees, and other services, which push the paper and urge the process along to make those physical things happening. That stuff doesn't come for free. I'm sure Scott or Erok can give you a more detailed explanation.

Because you get to ride your bike on a beautiful August day with a marked route and thousands of your closest friends. Safety in numbers.

Because it's fun. Because the route has been marked for you and someone has flagged road hazards along it. Because it's supported with rest stops. Because there will be others riding that same route who will stop if you have a mechanical or any other sort of problem. Because just participating supports biking here. Because you get an opportunity to meet other local riders - some of the folks here from the MB and some that have maybe never posted here. Because you like to ride. Just because.

To take a contrarian posture (surprise) you dont have to go. Really. But you're intrigued. Somewhat interested. What is it? What is this thing so many disparate people seem to enjoy? What's it like to try a different type of cycling, to be one of 2400, to see what streets filled with bicycles feel like? Whar's it like on Monday morning to say OhYeah, i did that. Didnt you? The answer to your question might be: to satisfy your curiousity and expand your world. Also tshirts

Thanks StuInMcCandless, great explanation. All others were great too! See ya there!

(sarcasm) I noticed blue marking on the asphalt. I'd now like to express outrage at that. I didn't bother counting, but it looked like a lot.

Maybe next year if I have some experience riding in a group, I'll consider it.

buffalo buffalo wrote:In short, the registration fee goes to BP

Is that to help clean up the oil spill?