The Jingle Bell Runaround

[barry-rafkind.livejournal.com]

Any other Davis Square residents around here whose Sunday schedules will be inconvenienced by The Jingle Bell Run? I complained in more detail about it over on Somerville Voices.

Comments

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

FWIW, I believe they are way overstating the hours of the road closures. It's just a 5K -- even the people who walk it will be done in an hour. There are 5500 registered runners, so closures are necessary, but they generally open the roads as the runners clear it, and the last 1/2 mile or so is on the bike path, too.

I'll be running it to support anomie666 (who is doing his second 5K ever, woot!) and encourage folks to come out and cheer. It's a great time and there are always fabulous costumes.

There are a good half-dozen Davis-area races every year, all of which result in road closures. Plus the Memorial Day Parade, ArtBeat, and whatever else I'm forgetting. Personally, I'm glad to live in an are with so much going on.

[Edited to fix errors.]

[secretlyironic.livejournal.com]

Wait, Christmas is approaching? How come I was not informed about this annual event further in advance? And this weather thing! How dare people actually run during a weather event? What will we ever do if it snows? Or for that matter if there's a parade?

At least you don't live anywhere between Hopkinton and downtown Boston. I'm told they have even larger and more inconvenient road races along that route.

Seriously: You must really hate disadvantaged children to be so angry about a charity event that closes a few roads for a few hours.

I have parade rage!

[kpht.livejournal.com]

I can one-up you here - in my town I'm blocked in or out by a parade on July 3rd at 6 PM. I'd love to know who thinks that is a great time that would keep inconvenience to a minimum. It's not like anyone goes on vacation for the 4th or anything! One year I literally broke down and cried after a horrible day at work and sitting in an hour of traffic, and the police told me there was no way to access my house and some fat lady with a lawn chair yelled at me for blocking an intersection (while talking to police mind you). It's the one day I hate living where I live, and I want to firebomb the goddamn parade.

Re: I have parade rage!

[kpht.livejournal.com]

And yeah, mine's not a charity event, just a parade where being a drunken ass is encouraged. It sucks to be minorly inconvenienced, but c'mon, you've got it way easier than me, dude.

[craigindaville.livejournal.com]

I'm not a DS resident, but I can imagine that the lack of warning is a real pain in the butt. I have to say, it seems like there is no information anywhere about what route the race will take-- the website for the organizers just says that registration is closed. No info on start time, end time, route, etc etc etc. I'm sure if you're one of the runners you got that info, but anyone who lives in the Square (or wants to come and cheer folks on) is left completely in the dark.

Re: I have parade rage!

[ron_newman]

sounds horrible

[barry-rafkind.livejournal.com]

If you'd read my SV blog post, you'd understand that my anger has nothing to do with the charity aspect of the event.

[ron_newman]

I live 2 blocks from Davis Square and did not get any robo-call or e-mail from the city.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, the person who organizes this race is a great guy, but the worst web site designer ever. All the info is there, but because he changed the front page, you can't actually get to it.

Here's the route. (http://www.baevents.com/jinglebell/jinglebell-2009coursemap.gif)

[barry-rafkind.livejournal.com]

Thanks, for the link. I'm sure one of the myriad web designers in the area would be happy to help the organizer improve his website. Do you have his contact info?

It actually looks like there's a break in the route near Grove Street. Does anyone know (perhaps from experience), whether there will be a drivable path in/out of the mostly-enclosed area over there?

[808.livejournal.com]

This happens to me in Watertown because they have a bizarre Treaty Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Watertown) parade. Kids, fire trucks and the firing of fake guns right outside my window at 8am. But I just chalk it up to living in New England and have grown to enjoy these types of events. Where I grew up, in Dallas/Ft. Worth, every suburb is the same and devoid of any character. It's strip malls and 5 lane roads as far as the eye can see.

I don't see why the city should have to "consult you" (as you say in your blog) but I do see how more notice should have been given.

Re: I have parade rage!

[kpht.livejournal.com]

and that's why it's called the fishtown horribles parade.

[barry-rafkind.livejournal.com]

Well, as a tax-paying resident who lives within the perimeter of the race, I expect to be given advanced notice of any such road closures as well as the opportunity to have my say on the matter before the plans are finalized. It's just disrespectful of the City and event organizers to have left residents in the dark about this.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

It's not like they set up jersey barriers or even lock down traffic for very long. I'm surprised you haven't seen other races, since they happen pretty often.

But I'm gathering you need to drive and are either starting or ending somewhere within the loop. What time do you need to get out/in?

As I said above, it's just a 5K.

[m00n.livejournal.com]

One way to avoid the inconvenience is to transport yourself without using a car ;-)

[ilai]

I just got a robo-call this afternoon about it (I live up near Teele Sq) which seemed kind of late. On Thursday I saw the workers putting up signs everywhere and was wondering what was going on.

[jadelennox]

The 87 bus is always redirected by these things and the MBTA never knows about it -- the drivers wing it, and occasionally someone handwrites a sign and posts it at Clarendon if the bus is rerouted that early. I've missed countless Sunday events because the races through Davis and the T don't talk to one another.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

Seriously, this is your biggest problem in life?

Next you'll be complaining about airplanes.

[slinkr.livejournal.com]

Maybe you should consider moving to a neighborhood where nothing fun ever happens.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

Often my favorite plan. Not my favorite plan for my major errand of the weekend, "buying a Christmas tree". But hey, I can do that today.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

Obviously, welcome to living in the city where things happen.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

I got the CTY mail and calls yesterday.

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

The race is tomorrow, right? So you have 2 days notice? Plus, aren't there races like this with this exact route 2 or 3 times a year? I live within the loop, so usually when I know these races are coming up, I move my car to somewhere outside the loop (like I am doing tonight). That's why I am glad for the 2-day notice, IDK, it's a pretty minor inconvenience to me,

[tamalinn.livejournal.com]

This.

[tamalinn.livejournal.com]

Wow. Aren't you an Ebenezer Scrooge.