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Move All Bike Races from Prospect Pk. to Floyd Bennett Field — Brooklynian

Move All Bike Races from Prospect Pk. to Floyd Bennett Field

cementbottom
cementbottom
edited November -1 in Park Slope
Contact Elected & Park Officials to move all Bike races from Prospect Park to Floyd Bennett Field!

While reading about all the early morning whistle blowing and menacing bike races in Prospect Park, we need to Contact Elected & Park Officials to have them move all bike races from Prospect Park to Floyd Bennett Field!

As a frequent bicycle rider in Prospect Park, I have challenges in dealing with all the bike races in the park on the weekends. The racers, their marshals and other people involved in the races have absolutely no consideration for the rest of the bicyclists, joggers, walkers, skaters, etc. using the road at the same time. Everyone (other bicyclists, joggers, walkers, skaters, etc. ) gets shoved into one lane while the racers enjoy the 2 lanes for their extremely fast races which go on for several hours at a time and they do not care about anyone else using the park.

Prospect Park is not the place for high speed Bicycle Races!

We should all contact our local elected and park officials to have these bike races moved to Floyd Bennett Field in South Brooklyn where there are 5+ miles of open and abandon (airplane) runways and they could race/speed around and not interfere with the residents of the surrounding neighborhoods who want to get a bit of exercise on a weekend morning without having to fear for our lives. There is also plenty of parking for these folks.

Most of the bicyclists who participate in these rides can drive just as easily to Floyd Bennett Field as they drive to Prospect Park to race and menace the local population. And if you do not believe the amount of racers that drive to Prospect Park for these races, just check out the Wolman Ring parking lot when those races happen and look at the completely filled parking lot in the early mornings on the weekends with all the bike racks on the cars.

CONTACT OUR LOCAL ELECTED AND PARK OFFICIALS TO GET ALL OF THESE BIKE RACES OUT OF PROSPECT PARK AND MOVED TO FLOYD BENNETTT FIELD FOR EVERYONE'S SAFETY!

Comments

  • forumnewtek
    forumnewtek
    If you really want to make this more effective, instead of posting how WE SHOULD ALL DO THIS AND THAT.....

    Make it easy (easier) on people.

    Find out who the local officials are, along with their names and contact numbers/emails, etc.

    Write a sample letter.

    Ask people to print it and mail or email it.

    People are lazy (myself included).

    If you want people to get motivated to take action for something, make it as easy as possible for them to do so.
  • flo
    flo
    Seriously??? I vote nay. FYI-there already is bicycle racing at Floyd Bennett Field.

    Am wondering if this furor over racing includes triathlons and biathlons and other sanctioned races in the park. I hear there's a scary race coming up soon. Brooklyn Biathlon. Prepare to be menaced by those racing on foot and on wheels.
  • rwdotcom
    rwdotcom
    ^ yah, I'm not saying I'd sign it, I'm just saying that a "WE ALL NEED TO CALL AND PROTEST" post isn't really going to inspire people to do shit.
  • opossumqueen
    opossumqueen
    Personally, I don't mind the races. It's annoying to occasionally get caught inside the park while the really big races go through, but that's planned for and there are marshals and signs and I can avoid the space on those occasions if I don't want to deal with it.

    What's frustrating to me (and I think most of us bitching about the cyclists) is the those who treat the road like a race is going on when it is not. There are bikers on the park road daily almost any time of day, larger groups at certain times, that seem to have little regard for the safety or enjoyment of the park by anyone (even other people on bikes) but themselves, totally ignoring the lights and crosswalks.
  • bhirt
    bhirt
    ^+1
  • opossumqueen
    opossumqueen
    I could see how you might mistake some of the day crowds, like the lunchtime riders, for a race. Just saying'.
  • whyfi
    whyfi
    OpossumQueen wrote: What's frustrating to me (and I think most of us bitching about the cyclists) is the those who treat the road like a race is going on when it is not. There are bikers on the park road daily almost any time of day, larger groups at certain times, that seem to have little regard for the safety or enjoyment of the park by anyone (even other people on bikes) but themselves, totally ignoring the lights and crosswalks.
    Tell me about it...

    :twisted:
  • opossumqueen
    opossumqueen
    Hahaha. That group is the WORST!
  • bobofbklyn
    bobofbklyn
    OpossumQueen wrote: Hahaha. That group is the WORST!
    Especially when they are wearing the spandex. MY EYES! MY EYES!
    :puker: :pukel:
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    Flexichick wrote: [quote=OpossumQueen]Hahaha. That group is the WORST!
    Especially when they are wearing the spandex. MY EYES! MY EYES!
    :puker: :pukel:

    2 laps = 2 beers

    By the end of the summer, I'm sure we will look better in Spandex. (but you'll never know, because I don't think we own any).

    sort of looks like us:
    image

    as opposed to Spandex parrots:
    http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=4724328&size=md
  • brokechick
    brokechick
    just wait until my south slope roller derby team starts training in the park this summer. you will long for the peaceful days of speeding bicycle hordes.
  • whyfi
    whyfi
    whynot_31 wrote: sort of looks like us:
    No, that pic has a few reasonably attractive people in it. Now, when *I* start attending the midnight rides...
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    WhyFi wrote: [quote=whynot_31]sort of looks like us:
    No, that pic has a few reasonably attractive people in it. Now, when *I* start attending the midnight rides...

    You have nothing to worry about.

    Last time we were out, this guy lapped us.

    image
  • flo
    flo
    http://www.treehugger.com/galleries/2008/12/11/guys-bikes/lance-armstrong-bike.jpg

    Hey Whynot...it's never about what you wear..(just a friendly suggestion/dare for your next midnight ride) :)
  • serenity
    serenity
    Flo wrote: http://www.treehugger.com/galleries/2008/12/11/guys-bikes/lance-armstrong-bike.jpg

    Hey Whynot...it's never about what you wear..(just a friendly suggestion/dare for your next midnight ride) :)
    For the love of Allah, do NOT give him any ideas. :shock:
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    hmmph
  • booklaw
    booklaw
    Which guy lapped you? The heavyset guy with two legs and two wheels, or the heavyset guy with four legs?
  • arches
    arches
    A bike race out of Prospect Park to Floyd Bennett sounds like fun. Especially if we can get Ocean Parkway closed to auto traffic for the day. I'll start drafting my letter right away...
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    booklaw wrote: Which guy lapped you? The heavyset guy with two legs and two wheels, or the heavyset guy with four legs?
    shhh. Flo seems to think I'm hot and I don't wanna ruin a good fantasy
  • arches
    arches
    whynot_31 wrote: shhh. Flo seems to think I'm hot and I don't wanna ruin a good fantasy
    How do you know llamas don't factor into Flo's fantasy? Don't limit yourself.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    arches wrote: [quote=whynot_31]shhh. Flo seems to think I'm hot and I don't wanna ruin a good fantasy
    How do you know llamas don't factor into Flo's fantasy? Don't limit yourself.

    I think Flo should be next
  • flo
    flo
    Flo cannot comment on where Whynot fits on the hotness scale, having never seen the mutt. :) She does however have a regular riding partner and he indeed wears spandex. (its not what you're thinking Whynot or Arches...the spandex is only for the bike.) :) Furthermore she doesn't use the internets for anonymous flirting and swears that she rarely refers to herself in the third person because that is lame, unlike her spandexed ass on a bicycle, which of course is beyond cool no matter maligned the fabric may be. Flo is friendly on the internets. Don't get confused by it.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    Arches-
    Clearly, she is trying to avoid answering your question about the llama.
  • flo
    flo
    whynot_31 wrote: Arches-
    Clearly, she is trying to avoid answering your question about the llama.
    :lol: I have been exposed.
  • brooklynpotter
    brooklynpotter
    obviously, the OP has never actually been out to floyd bennet field. it's not nearly as close at it looks. really. it makes coney island look like it's next door
  • idlewild
    idlewild
    Biking to Floyd Bennett is a healthy ride to say the least. I'm guessing if there's a group ride that Ocean Parkway to Neptune/Emmons and the Belt would be the route? I hope it's not OP to Ave U then Flatbush.
  • foz
    foz

    Of the 90 or so daylight hours available to Prospect park visitors, the bicycle races occupy about 3 hours (occasionally 6 when there are races on both Saturday and Sunday - about 4 weekends in a year).

    The races start at 6:30am sharp and usually wrap up by 8:30-9am at the very latest.

    The bicycle races are sanctioned by USACycling, carry insurance, have marshals posted at each entrance alerting visitors, and have pace cars leading each group.

    Race organizers have the highest consideration for pedestrians and at the start of every race, riders are warned that deviating into the joggers lane, which is diligently lined with cones before each, can lead to a season-long suspension from racing.

    Visiting bicycle racers patronize local businesses.

    Some racers actually ride as sponsored riders for local businesses.

    Race spectators patronize local businesses.

    Many racers live in neighborhoods surrounding the park and don't have cars to get to obscure, out of the way, dangerous to get to, ugly old pothole infested runways.

    Prospect Park bicycle racing and it's wonderful spectacle of orchestrated colors, beauty, and display of raw power add to the uniqueness of Park Slope itself.

    Don't take my word for it, here's an interesting write-up from another Brooklyn periodical: http://www.brooklyntoday.info/component/content/article/2-general-news/175-cyclists-in-prospect-park-huffing-puffing-suffering.html (if a moderator needs to edit out this bit I understand)

    If someone wants to write their local rep and request a ban to the prospect park races, please do so. But please do so from an informed position.

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