Posted on 02/12/2009 9:40:44 AM PST by NormsRevenge
Like banishing beads and masks from Mardi Gras or removing the red carpet and gold statues from the Academy Awards, the banning of floats, beer and nudity at this year's Bay to Breakers will take all the fun out of it, many longtime revelers say.
City leaders and sponsors of the 98th annual wacky footrace announced several major changes Wednesday that detractors say will turn the over-the-top, only-in-San Francisco party into a 12K footrace like any other race in any other city in the world.
At the May 17 event, police will cite or arrest anybody openly drinking alcohol or appearing to be drunk, and will physically remove floats and any other items on wheels like shopping carts with kegs in them, officials declared.
People dressed in oversized costumes must run at the back of the pack, walkers must stay to the right while runners stay to the left, and no in-line skates, bicycles or skateboards are allowed. Nudity is not allowed, though police said they aren't planning to issue citations for indecent exposure.
At least the Elvis costumes can stay.
Gabrielle Harris, a 29-year-old publicist who lives in San Rafael, has run the race three times and called the changes devastating.
"We all kind of leave our hearts in San Francisco, and Bay to Breakers is a huge part of the reason," she said. "It's one of the most amusing and unique events I've ever experienced."
Amusing to participants, yes. But increasingly not so fun for neighbors along the route that stretches from the Embarcadero to Ocean Beach.
Leela Gill, a board member of the North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association who lives on Baker Street, said she loves the race and has watched from the sidelines - ... But last year was out of control, she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
That’s like
No beads at Mardi Gras.
No playmates at Playboy mansion.
No conservatives in the GoP.
(shudder)
Heh!
I’ve done the Bay to Breakers a number of times. All the naked guys, (and there are plenty) tend to be out of shape, flabby sorts who ‘cause of the race, could just run naked in the street and not get arrested.
The chicks for the most part were equally disgusting with some exceptions.
I’ll miss the alcohol. It brought a Mardi Gras atmosphere.
no floats and the kicker, no shopping carts with kegs..
da noive..
"People were vomiting, drinking and throwing trash along the route," she said. "The Panhandle itself was trashed, and the neighborhood around the Panhandle was trashed. Residents were shocked at the disrespect people showed."Tolerate incivility. It IS San Fransicko after all...
Typical government. On one hand they invest in ethynol power and then on the other they they ban it.
I know, Thanks.
I hate having to excerpt.
That’s like no beads at Mardi Gras?....
Not quite....beads don’t quite compare to hairy asses stuck on bike seats...
... then nudity is allowed.
Aw, man! I ran the bay-to-breakers once. This nekkid chick passed me, she has nothing on but sneekers!
Improved my time considerably.
Man, that chick could run.
Which makes sense ...
Give it a gay theme and all will be allowed.
Is this why they call it “San Fransicko?”
Well, the third one is true...
So, it’s ok for men to have sex, while dressed as slaves, drunk, high, and diseased, in the streets, in front of God, women and children, but-you can’t have a beer?
The residents are complaining now, after all these years? When, in fact, Bay to Breakers running down their street has been a factor in the high values of their homes.
I can think of a couple of good reasons...
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