Comments on: Austin Bike Culture Calendar Events: 5/7- 5/13/09

By: elliott

elliott — Fri, 08 May 2009 13:46:35 +0000

This may be self-selecting, but I’ve been on about 50 ACA rides, a half dozen meetings, and an off and on member for 7 years. I’ve never heard people on rides complain about the helmet rule. It is a membership lead organization so I people want to change the requirement it can be changed by the members.

By: JasonATXBS

JasonATXBS — Fri, 08 May 2009 13:15:06 +0000

Lights are a legal issue, and can get you pulled over (rare though it may be). A helmet on the other hand is a personal safety issue.

It is their ride, and they get to make their own rules, it just frustrates me that several interesting sounding rides would be spoiled by this helmet rule. It seems like the rides would get much greater exposure and attendance if they relaxed that one rules. But then again, maybe that element is one that the older, more distinguished membership of the ACA would rather not be associated with.

Maybe it’s time to start the Austin Bicycle Club (ABC) and be an organization open to ALL local cyclists. I swear I need 4 more hours to the day or something, then I’d really get some shit done.

By: elliott

elliott — Fri, 08 May 2009 12:31:04 +0000

Honestly, I believe it is due to insurance reasons. Most clubs carry some sort of insurance, and the helmet thing is usually a requirement. But having said that, it’s their club and their ride so they can do whatever they want. There are night rides all the time that require lights and I don’t hear anyone bitching about that. If you don’t like the rules, skip the ride or join ACA and work to change them.

By: JasonATXBS

JasonATXBS — Fri, 08 May 2009 04:44:45 +0000

I posed an open question over the ACA’s helmet issue on my site. Should be interesting to see what response (if any) I get. That Wednesday ride looks interesting, but the whole mandatory helmet thing is for the birds.

By: Red_Licorice (Red Licorice Events)

Red_Licorice (Red Licorice Events) — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:29:20 +0000

RT @austinon2wheels: Where ya biking this weekend? Our calendar highlights for this week are now up! http://tinyurl.com/csuhog

By: marcus

marcus — Thu, 07 May 2009 17:09:38 +0000

Jason, re: the Farmer’s Market — their site says “This Saturday, May 9, we will hold the market on the parking lot as usual. Come and join us for a great Mother’s Day Celebration.”

As for the helmet required thing… yeah, the ACA people seem to be very obsessed with following “rules” of their own. I don’t know if they are just really uptight or there’s some strange issue with insurance or whatever, but I am getting pretty annoyed with it, honestly.

By: JasonATXBS

JasonATXBS — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:12:10 +0000

Couple notes: You might want to mention on the ACA rides and the Wednesday Night Farmers’ Market Ride (sponsored by the Sierra Club) are all HELMET REQUIRED rides. I wonder what they do if you show up helmetless…

Also I don’t think you guy are going to be at the Farmers’ Market, and if you are you’re going to be very lonely. They canceled it due to SWINE FLU. D’oh!