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Thanks to everyone who came out to Bay to Breakers on Sunday and helped make a great 100th celebration. We asked you to show up, and you did. En masse. And you enjoyed yourself as much as you could, under the quasi-restrictive circumstances.
We saw incredible costumes, knucklehead bibs, strollers, wheeled objects, drinking and partying, all to celebrate our community, our city and our right to have fun.
Neighborhood complaints are down significantly and many Panhandle residents found the fencing and restrictions on music to be too draconian and want them reversed. We look forward to their help and more music in the streets next year.
What we fought for that worked
Fencing at Hayes and Divisidero. Last year, the majority of neighborhood complaints came not from the Panhandle but from neighbors in surrounding areas who saw the crowd spill into their neighborhoods because AEG had inadequately barricaded the bottom of Hayes at Divisadero. This year there was solid fencing guiding people from Hayes onto Divisadero, resulting in an elimination of past problems.
Shorter lines at porta potties. We finally got AEG to provide six-man urinals, and it made the difference. We observed no lines or minimal lines to use the facilities, and reports of public urination plummeted. There were, however, many complaints among race participants that the potties in the Panhandle were impossible to access, because the entire park side of the Panhandle was fenced. We need a more sensible placement or elimination of the park side fencing to provide access to the potties and the park.
What still needs to change
More Toilets. The number of porta potties needs to increase dramatically. AEG claimed to have increased the number of toilets from 811 in 2010 to 1226 in 2011, but AEG also insists that they provide resources only for registrants. Given that registration increased from 33,000 in 2010 to 55,000 in 2011, the toilets provided per registrant actually went down.
In 2010, there was one toilet per 41 registrants. In 2011 there was one toilet per 45 registrants–a decrease.
7am start. All this did is make it colder out with less spectators. Bad idea. Let’s go back to 8am or even 9am.
Drunk tent scare tactics. The drunk tent stories that were splashed all over the pre-race headlines were pure publicity stunt courtesy of Sam Singer. The only tents on the course were the Red Cross medical aid stations there every year.
Alcohol ban. Another publicity stunt. No surprise that this proved impossible to enforce once again. We thank the cops for being cool as usual and as expected.
Float ban. Given that alcohol was as present as ever, how would the presence of floats be harmful? The float ban must be lifted so that creativity and pageantry can be restored.
Overkill on the fencing. The fencing did help in many ways, but blocking the toilets on Fell Street was senseless, as was blocking residents from crossing Fell Street to go home and get to work (also illegal). Closing off Alamo Square Park was completely unnecessary and over the top. This is the best spectator spot on the route.
Where was the music? We heard a total of four bands on the entire 7.46 course. That’s it?! AEG limited the number in order to reduce partying while making the four shut down at around 11am, before most people could even hear them. The city also only issued 9 sound permits for the entire day.
What is this, Footloose? People can’t dance in the streets in San Francisco?
Cap on registration. AEG punished loyal participants who wanted to register in the last few weeks, but couldn’t because they capped registration. Adding insult to injury, AEG threatened anyone who showed up without a bib with “legal action”. Another publicity stunt.
Registration fee too high. If it’s lower, more people will pay it, without coercion tactics such as a cap and threats of legal action. We like $15 or $20.
Major goals for 2012 B2B
- Bring back the floats
- Bring back the bands and let them play
- Move the start time back to a reasonable hour
- Remove registration cap and lower fees
- Return this event to the control of a local non-profit
We can attain these goals. Bay to Breakers is embarking on a brand new century. Stay with us as we continue to fight for the spirit of Bay to Breakers and thank you for your continued support.
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