Important message from Ross about the NRC

During the last few laps of the Bill Patterson Memorial A-event at the NRC on June 14 two vehicles entered the course at separate times near the end of the event.  Both vehicles proceeded to drive in the opposite direction of the cyclists.  One vehicle approached corner 4 on the last lap as the cyclists where rounding the corner.

The NRC received a complaint from an employee in one of the vehicles.   As a result we are no longer allowed to use the long course and are one complaint away from being expelled from the NRC. An attempt has been made to open a dialogue with the NRC to try and rectify this situation.  At this time (June 21) there has been no reply.

Regrettably until construction is finished on the regular course all events will take place on the warm-up course. 

Below is the message from the NRC:

Mr. Knight,

We have received a complaint regarding conduct by the bike users during the extended course event held Tuesday night, June 14th.  An employee was leaving work at 7:45 Tuesday evening and attempting to leave the property via Chataway Avenue only to be verbally abused, run off the road and had his exit blocked. Unfortunately this is not the first complaint we have received regarding the practices of a few of your riders.  Regrettably the actions of these few negatively impact the many riders you have which do respectfully use NRC property.

Complaints in the past have caused the cancellation of the Ontario Criterium event and now will result in the cancellation of any further extended course events.

Employees of the National Research Council work varied and long hours to accomplish their programs.  As such they are worthy of respect, especially on their own campus.  Priorities must be for their safe and enjoyable use of our property regardless  of licences for recreational use or how important our licensees believe their events are.  Should any other complaints be received the licence between Seenite Sports and the National Research Council will be terminated entirely.

Comments

[Rod Diaz]

This is bad news, Ross. What should we (as in the Ottawa bicycle community) try to do in this respect?

[Doug van]

Did anyone get this incident on video? Might be relevant in light of the letter to have the evidence of the marshals waving their arms and yelling about the impending danger . . .