Neighborhood Group Opposes Saturday Bike Race

With no contrary votes or abstentions, the Manayunk Neighborhood Council voted Wednesday to oppose the proposal to move the Philadelphia International Cycling Championship to Saturday.

Colloquially referred to as the Manayunk Bike Race, the event has occurred on a Sunday in June for the past 27 years. The Pro Cycling Tour, which organizes the race, —to the consternation of neighborhood groups.

The Central Roxborough Civic Association and Manayunk Development Corporation have supported keeping it Sunday, with the Manayunk Neighborhood Council concurring.

"We think it's too late to change it for 2012. They should come back with everyone at the table next year with all the city stuff worked out," MNC President Kevin Smith said. 

The bike race (comprised of local civic members, residents, city officials, development corporations and race officials) about the move, citing a financial hardship. The Saturday race would save money on police overtime. Additionally, the race proposes a shorter professional race and an amateur race as a revenue source.

However, the neighborhood fears the morning/afternoon event could turn into a crazy, day-night drinking fest. The development corporation opposes it, as the race is a major hit to Main Street businesses.

Smith argued that even if the race saved money on overtime, the neighborhood would want increased enforcement to combat against a rowdy Saturday night. 

One female resident said she observed a noticeable improvement in 2011 due to the work of the Bike Race Committee. She wasn't sure if the day made a difference.

"To me, some people are going to act like idiots either way, no matter if it's Saturday or Sunday," she said.

Another resident said a Sunday bike race was like the Super Bowl, with merchants losing business, but a Saturday race would be much worse.

State Rep. Pam DeLissio (D-194) attended the meeting and said she suggested some new sponsors the bike race hadn't considered. She said the added sponsors plus the new amateur race could help financially.

"To me, it seems kind of late to push it to Saturday," the lawmaker said.

Dave Bass lives on Levering Street, along the famed Manayunk Wall.

"I like the bike race. I roll with not being able to use my car. I even like the atmosphere," he said, adding it improved in 2011 due to publicity.

"My young neighbors told me they heard there was no BS this year, and we saw no problems," he said.

However, Bass opposed the move.

"As much as I like the bike race... it's hard for me to worry about the how Pro Tour is going to run its business," he said.

The Philadelphia International Cycling Championship starts downtown, travels along Kelly Drive and into Manayunk by way of Main Street; it then turns up Levering and Lyceum streets via the steep hill called the Wall, before winding through the narrow neighborhood streets and returning to Kelly Drive.

The neighborhood council's decision referred to 2012 only, and has yet to take a long-term stance on the race's future.