Politics & Government

Partiers Beware, Night Court Scheduled for Friday

At a press conference on Main Street Wednesday, officials discussed a number of new measures to crack down on unruly behavior at this year's bike race.

At a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Councilman Curtis Jones reminisced about the first Philadelphia International Cycling Championship 27 years ago. 

"It started as a completely family-friendly event," he said at the Manayunk Development Corporation on Main Street. 

Now, nearly three decades later, the event brings to mind partying, drinking and unruly behavior. But local, state, city and police officials are promising to get the event back on track.

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In attendance were Jones, state Rep. Pam DeLissio, D-194, Councilman William Greenlee, Deputy Mayor Everett Gillison and David Chaunner, president of Pro Cycling, the organization that puts the race on.

Although she acknowledged the bike race as the beginning of Manayunk's renaissance, Jane Lipton executive director of the corporation said. 

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"We are the only part of the course that has problems like this on race day," she said. "This is not a bike race problem, it's our problem."

And the issues surrounding the 156-mile race are being taken very seriously, Gillison said, $100,000 more seriously this year. 

With that money, robo-calls were made and fliers were handed out to residents along the race route by representatives of the 5th district police department. 

In what Jones called a "pre-emptive strike", officers also visited known party houses and spots where underage drinking occurs. 

In addition, Gillison said addition officers will be on the street and extra barricades will help regulate high-traffic areas. 

To emphasize officials new "zero tolerance" policy, night court will be held Friday from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. at the 5th district headquarters on Ridge Avenue. 

This, representatives said, will hopefully set a tone for the weekend. 

Although citizens are unhappy with the direction the event has taken in the recent past, Chaunner said the racers have no complaints. 

"They love Manayunk," he said of the athletes that are coming from more than 30 different countries to participate in Sunday's race. "[This type of behavior] is not what the event is about. Maybe changes are overdue but they are going to be made this year."

Although all involved understand that the atmosphere of the event is not going to change overnight, DeLissio said the biggest questions can't be answered until the race is over. 

"This grassroots initiative has been very impressive," she said. "But now we need to look at meaningful data and see if we are on track, if we have been successful."


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