City Council last week adopted an amended road race policy which would reduce the total number of races allowed per year and create a comprehensive notification process for affected residents.
Karen Tam
Raleigh\’s Road Races have been the source of much contention lately
The policy was proposed by the Law & Public Safety Committee, which is chaired by Councilor Mary Ann Baldwin.
Under the policy, no more than 95 race, walk or parade events which result in street closings will be allowed per year, with a maximum of four per weekend. The previous annual cap was 100.
Karen Tam
Runners jog through the Oakwood neighborhood in downtown Raleigh in February 2011. Photo by Karen Tam.
While the plan does not put specific limits on the number of events that can be held in certain neighborhoods, new races will not be allowed in high-impact neighborhoods around downtown including: Mordecai, Oakwood, Boylan Heights, University Park and Cameron Park.
The fees for events will be increased, ranging from $200 to $350 per, and fees for smaller, neighborhood events will decrease.
Removed from the policy was a grandfathered clause that would have allowed historic races to continue at their previous dates and locations, regardless of whether the races were in compliance with current city policy.
The policy was approved 6-2, with councilors Russ Stephenson and Thomas Crowder voting against it. Both said the policy still allows more races than are good or necessary for the city, and will do little to temper the conflicts past races have brought about.
