Beer, nudity banned in Bay to Breakers race
Heather Knight, Chronicle Staff WriterThursday, February 12, 2009
More...(02-11) 20:29 PST -- Like banishing beads and masks from Mardi Gras or removing the red carpet and gold statues from the Academy Awards, the banning of floats, beer and nudity at this year's Bay to Breakers will take all the fun out of it, many longtime revelers say.
City leaders and sponsors of the 98th annual wacky footrace announced several major changes Wednesday that detractors say will turn the over-the-top, only-in-San Francisco party into a 12K footrace like any other race in any other city in the world.
At the May 17 event, police will cite or arrest anybody openly drinking alcohol or appearing to be drunk, and will physically remove floats and any other items on wheels like shopping carts with kegs in them, officials declared.
People dressed in oversized costumes must run at the back of the pack, walkers must stay to the right while runners stay to the left, and no in-line skates, bicycles or skateboards are allowed. Nudity is not allowed, though police said they aren't planning to issue citations for indecent exposure.
At least the Elvis costumes can stay.
Gabrielle Harris, a 29-year-old publicist who lives in San Rafael, has run the race three times and called the changes devastating.
"We all kind of leave our hearts in San Francisco, and Bay to Breakers is a huge part of the reason," she said. "It's one of the most amusing and unique events I've ever experienced."
Amusing to participants, yes. But increasingly not so fun for neighbors along the route that stretches from the Embarcadero to Ocean Beach.
Leela Gill, a board member of the North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association who lives on Baker Street, said she loves the race and has watched from the sidelines - often on a couch carried outside - for 20 years. But last year was out of control, she said.
"People were vomiting, drinking and throwing trash along the route," she said. "The Panhandle itself was trashed, and the neighborhood around the Panhandle was trashed. Residents were shocked at the disrespect people showed."
500 Porta Potties
Sponsors last year put 500 Porta Potties along the route, 100 more than the previous year. But still, participants relieved themselves anywhere, including the sides of buildings, front yards and throughout Golden Gate Park. Mayor Gavin Newsom beseeched the group before the race to clean up after itself, but sponsors say 35 tons of trash - including huge floats - were left behind.
Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, whose district includes much of the race's route, called the crackdown "severe but possibly necessary as a result of the catastrophe of the last two years."
Nathan Ballard, press secretary for Newsom, said the mayor "supports quirkiness and zaniness" but that he was fully supportive of the crackdown.
"We're going to back the Police Department on this one," he said. "You're still going to be allowed to dress as Michael Phelps taking a bong hit or whatever suits your fancy, but we're trying to reduce some of the health and safety problems that have been impacting the neighborhood in recent years."
But fans of the race weren't buying the claim that Bay to Breakers will retain any of its heart or flair. At least one blog, a Web site and four Facebook groups were formed Wednesday to protest the changes. One Facebook group called "SAVE the BAY to BREAKERS!!!!!!!" had close to 400 members by Wednesday evening.
You can number Zach Berke, a 29-year-old Richmond resident, as among the most outraged. He's helped organize 400 to 500 friends and acquaintances for a party-within-party for the past few years.
"It's the floats we really feel are key," he said. He and his friends have started a Web site -
www.savebaytobreakers.com - where they encourage people to divest their money from ING, the race's main sponsor.
Many fans upset
Many fans said this is one more example of San Francisco events becoming boring or getting quashed altogether, especially following the cancellation of the Castro's Halloween party, which became marred by violence. By contrast, nobody was arrested during the Bay to Breakers festivities last year.
Elizabeth Archer, a 27-year-old Seattle resident, had planned to visit the city for a week in May to help her friends build a float and run the race in a toga. She's seen her friends' pictures for years and has always wanted to participate, but she's canceling her trip.
"No one's going to visit for a standard G-rated parade," she said. "People don't travel to cities just for footraces. The spirit's just gone."
Who to call
Want to share your thoughts on the changes to Bay to Breakers?
Race organizers:
info@ingbaytobreakers.comMayor Gavin Newsom:
gavin.newsom@sfgov.orgPolice Department:
sfpd.online@sfgov.orgFor more information on the changes, go to
links.sfgate.com/ZGCX.
Bay to Breakers by the numbers
7.46 Number of miles in length of course
60,000 Number of participants last year
500 Porta Potties along the 2008 route, 100 more than in 2007
35 Tons of trash left behind
E-mail Heather Knight at
hknight@sfchronicle.com.
This is (was) a great fun race. Joannie was the first woman to beat the cenntepide and she carried lobster mitts with her to cook the 'pede. That's an Olympic gold medalist having fun with the race!! It was one of my first races in the Bay area.
