Neighbors Try To Curb Public Drunkenness During Bike Race
MANAYUNK, Pa. (CBS) - While the big, all-day pro-cycling race is about to roll into Philadelphia on Sunday, a coalition of groups from Manayunk and Roxborough wants to make sure the party atmosphere from the locals doesn't get out of hand. The city promises it will crack down and make arrests.
Jane Lipton of the Manayunk Development Corporation says one party house brags about emptying 20 kegs on race day, "That's an unbelievable amount of beer. There's no one carding anybody, there's no one like a bartender who's supposed to look someone in the eye and say 'you have had enough, you're flagged.'"
Neighbor Don Simon, who chaired the Community Bike Committee, says they want to change alcohol-fueled destructive behaviors, by initiating a zero-tolerance policy on public drunkenness, underage drinking and unruly house parties.
"Our ultimate goal is to make the race a family friendly event, for everyone to enjoy responsibly," Simon says.
Race organizer Dave Chauner says he supports the move, "The last thing we want to see happen is someone stagger out into the road and get hit by one of our international guests. That's not what this bike race is all about."
Chauner says the city turned around the Mummer's Parade, which was on a similar course, "Now the Mummers Parade does not have near the issues and problems it seemed to be going in."
Deputy Mayor Everett Gillison says there will be more police, as well as more barricades for traffic flow, and a night court, to haul in those behaving badly.
Reported by Steve Tawa, KYW Newsradio 1060
