07.28.08
A bandit is someone who rides an event without properly registering and paying the cost.
I was surfing the internet and came upon a few comments by past and possible future bandits justifying their conduct. The justifications generally question the right of Park officials or "ride promoters" to limit their freedom. Some of them see themselves as glorious outlaws and take pride in their banditry.
I want to respond.
My immediate response is to ask, what's so special about the last Thursday in July? The National Park is open to the public every day in the summer, and anyone who chooses can ride a bike over the course. Just get on the bike, pay the entrance fee and there you go.
Riders who want to ride the RAMROD course on the last Thursday in July are not there because that is the only day they can ride. They want to be there because we are there. Whatever it is, they want to be part of the show, part of the crowd, part of the event.
Some justify banditry because they tried to get in but did not make it past the lottery.
The National Park limits the number of riders to a maximum of 800. We are not allowed any more riders. All of us face the same limit, most of us get around the limits by volunteering to support the ride. We volunteer and we get in next year for certain.
I have come to know many of the National Park Rangers. These are good people. They care a great deal about the wonderful natural treasure over which they have responsibility and they spend their work lives at considerable personal sacrifice to balance the competing interests that surround the Park. They work under incredibly difficult political, economic and environmental pressures and it is my experience every one of them is trying hard to do the right thing.
They have limited the total number of riders to 800. I might question that decision, but I do not also have to answer to the complaints of Park visitors who find themselves caught up in delays and tight spaces on the narrow Park roads. The Park Rangers have set limits on the number of riders and we have worked with those limits for 25 years.
The Redmond Cycling Club, which is responsible for organizing RAMROD, is not a monolithic organization or a greedy "ride promoter". We are a small cycling club with fewer than 200 members. We are a nonprofit organization with no paid full time staff and no office.
RAMROD can only happen because there is a small army of volunteers who love this ride and work very hard to make it happen every year. Our organization efforts start in January and there are literally thousands of volunteer hours that go into making this event possible. We are allowed to do this ride every year because we are experienced and dedicated cyclists and we do a good job.
The fact is that out of control banditry can threaten the ride's continued existence. It is a direct slap in the face to all those volunteers for all of their hard work and caring.
Any bandit who actually poaches the food and drink we provide is legally guilty of theft. I am assuming none of you would do that.
But this is a tough course and things can go wrong with you or your bike. We provide an ambulance and a team of dedicated HAM operators to patrol and protect the riders. If you get in an accident we are going to rush to your rescue even though you are not registered. Our support team will get tied up with helping you and will not be available for someone else in need. If you need a sag we will end up providing it, again making one less vehicle on the road to assist others.
You can provide your own support vehicle. But that means adding to the traffic problems on the course. Registered riders are not permitted to use personal SAG vehicles, but you are special and can do what you want? Why? So you can be part of OUR ride?
I encourage all of you to take a second look. If you want to ride the RAMROD course go ahead, just do it on another day.
Don't ruin it for the rest of us.
George A. Thornton
RAMROD Director