When I heard the Annapolis Triathlon wasn’t granted it’s permits I was very frustrated so I wrote a letter to The Capital newspaper, the local Annapolis paper. It was tough to edit to their 300 word limit. What follows is the 300 word version and a version I would have liked to have published.
Published Version:
August 6, 2008
Editor:
Communities all across the nation are supporting triathlons but locally we can’t seem to make it work.
Isn’t being part of a community about supporting your community’s activities and events? As a community we choose to support running events, boat shows, faith communities events and more. All of these events impact our daily lives some more then others. As a member of the local community I take it in stride and support the events as some day I would hope for the same support for the events that I participate in.
For those who worry about the impact on their businesses what about the lost revenue of your fellow business owners who would benefit from the triathlon? The participants in the triathlon won’t be traveling alone they bring friends, families and their wallets. In a slumping economy the community needs to support events.
In the State of Maryland the bicycle is classified as a vehicle with all of the same requirements and restrictions as a motor vehicle with a few exceptions. Triathletes spend hundreds of hours training on public roads and are skilled at doing so in a safe manner for themselves and others. By affording the organizers some of the same benefits the other events use such as having officers directing traffic at major intersections, managing traffic as large groups leave venues a triathlon can be run safely on the local roads, with no more impact to the community then we already experience in support of events.
I know that many people are working hard to provide a safe event route for a successful event and it seems that they are close. I would urge the community to come out to support this great event as the community has come out to support the many other great events locally.
Non Edited Version:
August 6, 2008
Editor:
Communities all across the nation are supporting triathlons but locally we can’t seem to make it work.
Isn’t being part of a community about supporting your community’s activities and events? As a community we choose to support running events, Navy games, boat shows, the faith communities various events, events at Sandy Point State Park and more. All of these events impact our daily lives some more then others. As a member of the local community I take it in stride and support the events as some day I would hope for the same support for the events that I participate in. In a diverse and busy community it is going to be nearly impossible to satisfy everyone’s concerns. There is going to be opposition.
I am surprised that the people who oppose the triathlon can’t seem to work and support the event for one more year when many agree that the proposed Saturday date for 2009 will alleviate many of the oppositions concerns. For the business owners who worry about the impact on their businesses what about the lost revenue of your fellow business owners who would benefit from the triathlon? The local running stores, bicycle stores, swim related business, restaurants, bed and breakfasts and more. The participants in the triathlon won’t be traveling alone they bring friends, families and their wallets. In a slumping economy the local community needs to support events such as a triathlon.
In the State of Maryland the bicycle is classified as a vehicle with all of the same requirements and restrictions as a motor vehicle with a few exceptions. Triathletes spend hundreds of hours of time training on public roads and sharing them with motor vehicles and are skilled at doing so in a safe manner for themselves and others using the roads. By affording the organizers some of the same benefits the other events use such as having officers directing traffic at major intersections, managing traffic as large groups leave venues a triathlon can be run safely on the local roads, with no more impact to the community then we already experience in support of other events.
I know that many people are working hard to provide a safe event route for a successful event and it seems that they are close. I would urge the community to come out to support this great event as the community has come out to support the many other great events locally.
