What a week;Monday we heard that shutting down the streets and a escort for this years event was not going to happen. Not because of the City of Wichita not wanting to, but more that KDOT would not allow the interchange at Meridian and 235 to be blocked for the amount of time that it takes to get all the bikes through.
A few phone calls, couple of emails and a few facebooks posts got the ball rolling. Mayor Brewer said that he was aware of the problem and would go to work on it to see what "his" office could do to help us, and insure safety for the ride.
Tuesday, the Mayor called and thought he might be close to a solution to the problem. Four hours later that solution fell through when the Highway Patrol said they didn't have the money in their budget to shut down the interchange, but he was still hopeful that we could come up with
another solution.Wednesday the phone rings "Mr Oswald, I have the Mayor on the line, could you please hold"
Kurt I think we're close to having something worked out, (insert our private conversation here) and I will be calling you before 3 pm today.
2:55 pm rolls around and the phone rings, "let me read you the press release, I think you and your friends are going to be happy"
The Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County Sheriff, Kansas Highway Patrol, Park City Police and KDOT have all joined in to take the run back to Broadway, opening up the bridge just for the bikes, and we're providing escort for the run. That was the best news I've heard in weeks!
It's pretty damn cool when the Biker Community rallies around something as important as helping out the kids for Christmas, it couldn't have been down without all of the support of you the riders, the Mayor, the WPD, SO, KHP, KDOT and the News media.
Special thanks goes out to KSN, the Wichita Eagle and KFDI for all the support and coverage they gave us.
NOW - RIDE SAFE AND WE'LL SEE YOU SUNDAY
2 comments:
You can also thank 107.3 The Brew for all they do to get the word out. They advertise it 12 times a day plus talk about through the day. They are a very big supporter not only to the Toy Run but for Motorcyclist in general. 3 of the people who work there ride motorcycles, 1 is a life member of A.B.A.T.E. of Kansas. I would like to thank that radio station for all they have done.
Way to go Kurt!! Jen B.
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