The Mayor's Office of Special Events is expected to change a recent policy that would have barred all motorcycles from any city parades. The ban would have been effective immediately, impacting the city's upcoming gay pride parade and with it Dykes on Bikes, a group whose rides have been one of the event's constant highlights. This would have also impacted the Dyke March.
On Monday, Cindy Gatziolis of the Mayor's Office of Special Events told Windy City Times that a new letter is being issued that rescinds a portion of those restrictions. 'Throughout the remainder of the Parade season, Parades will be limited to two units comprised of motorcycles, with no more than 50 cycles per unit. The two units must be separated by other types of parade units such as floats. This is purely a safety issue,' Gatziolis said in an e-mail.
The original letter sent to the coordinators of city parades bans machinery potentially dangerous to spectators and staff working parades. Some of the machinery/vehicles being barred include motorcycles; pocket ( mini ) motorcycles; motor scooters; and three- and four-wheeled all-terrain vehicles.
Some believe that recent accidents have led the office to change the rules. According to MidwestMotocross.com, Frank Griseto, a 55-year-old DuPage County sheriff's deputy, was hit and killed by a car in December 2004 while participating in a Toys for Tots parade.
The original letter had caused concern in the LGBT community. Bill Kelley of the Advisory Council on LGBT Issues commented by e-mail that '... motorcycles present no more intrinsic danger to others than cars do. On its face, this 'regulation' would prohibit a parade of motorcycles by motorcyclists, which would be illogical and at odds with much past practice. In addition, major organized elements of the local sexual-minority communities involve the regular use or display of motorcycles ... .'
