A ride run on public trails on public land is not the Boston Marathon-
where the city closes the streets for the event just as St. Pete, FL
closes the streets for the St. Pete Grand Prix. The KY Derby is run on
private property. When is the last time a public land managers has
closed it's trails to all other users and allowed only AERC members on
the trails. No the AERC does not have to modify it's rules on a regular
basis - however the AERC must realize where it's jurisdiction begins
and ends.
A special use permit from a public land manager does not give a RM the
authority to run the facility - it gives the RM permission for
non-exclusive use the facility for a special event - nothing more.
If a ride is run on private trails - then the RM is in charge of
everything from the time the riders show up till the go leave. If it is
on public land the AERC is a user just like all the other users.
Truman
On Apr 6, 2009, at 1:53 PM, Barbara McCrary wrote:
I see your logic, Truman, but it doesn't
fly. How do you think management of the Boston Marathon would take it
if John Doe runner ran along with the Marathon on the same course on
the same day. Or how about someone riding along with the Kentucky
Derby? If it can't be nailed with a rule, then at least it is
extremely tacky and unacceptable behavior. As a ride manager, I would
DQ the friends with whom the DQ'd rider was riding and I would raise
the roof with the person who went back onto the trail with a horse that
was DQ'd for bad behavior. Imagine putting other riders at risk with
this kind of behavior. Why does AERC have to make or change rules for
every person who can figure out some way to circumvent the intentions
of the sport? And people complain that rules have become too extensive
and why don't we go back to the good old days when there were only 6
rules for an endurance ride. Answer: Because someone comes along who
thwarts the rules and intentions and makes it complicated, that's why.
Grump, grump....
Barbara
=
-- "There is always a well-known solution to every human
problem--neat, plausible, and wrong
"There is always a well-known solution to every
human
problem--neat, plausible, and wrong." H. L. Mencken
