Thursday, April 16, 2015

City leaders chase Muskegon Bike Time out of town!

Muskegon Bike Time - News and Updates:
"...8 years of planning, organizing and funding Steel Horse Alley, the City of Muskegon has chosen to re-classify the 2015 Muskegon Bike Time as a different event, subject to new rules and policies.  
Two years ago, the Muskegon City Commission had concerns about the growth of Bike Time and strongly suggested that we develop plans for the event beyond the downtown location.
The Commission predicted that downtown space would diminish as the properties were sold and developed.
In response to their desires, this year we announced a plan that permits growth, by expanding the event to the former Great Lakes Downs property just outside of Muskegon and owned by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians.
Under this new ruling by the City of Muskegon, which allows for “others to hold events and supply the vendors,” it seems the City wants to define programming for Bike Time. 
The new ruling creates an untenable liability risk, where Muskegon Bike Time would be responsible for creating the space for other events and vendors to operate, but we could be held liable for safety issues that remain beyond our control.
Under these circumstances we cannot, in good conscience as a nonprofit, responsibly accept this liability.
Therefore, unfortunately Muskegon Bike Time will not be creating Steel Horse Alley on Western Avenue in 2015...
In the interest of complete transparency please see our letter to the City of Muskegon in the link below."

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