tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post116671038942712769..comments2021-02-22T18:37:11.549-06:00Comments on Chicago Biker Blog: Toys 4 Tots - Time for a Change?CgoBikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155213270152865639noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post-67682821776138164752017-03-26T14:26:16.619-05:002017-03-26T14:26:16.619-05:00Get on your bikes and ride! It's for an awsome...Get on your bikes and ride! It's for an awsome cause. If can't handle it stay home, but for those that can come out. Just dress warm and ride safe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post-51093874724977791142010-07-22T17:10:35.783-05:002010-07-22T17:10:35.783-05:00To get more toys and riders I believe the date sho...To get more toys and riders I believe the date should be moved to November the first Sunday or the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Still close enough to feel like Christmas and yet more likely to be better ridding weather. If the City is going to charge for doing next to nothing to help the parade, maybe we just meet in the woods have a party and drop the toys. Everyone should e-mail the TFT people with their wishes about this great event.olestarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post-51779456395474567282010-05-03T11:27:49.823-05:002010-05-03T11:27:49.823-05:00Absolutely October would be great time. Nothing wo...Absolutely October would be great time. Nothing worse than riding in the snow, sleet and freezing cold.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post-21607426117763813582010-04-15T14:45:17.273-05:002010-04-15T14:45:17.273-05:00I agree with the idea for change. Better weather m...I agree with the idea for change. Better weather means a safer ride and more riders coming to support a good cause.MichaelBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post-84899866722838916632010-01-14T07:01:25.124-06:002010-01-14T07:01:25.124-06:00I remember going one unussual year when the temps ...I remember going one unussual year when the temps were in the upper 40's and the attendance was awesomely huge! If it's really all about kids and toys then cut the macho crap and move the date to where more people will attend and the kids will get more toys! I think moving it a month earlier would be a smart move. How about the first Sunday in November? It would still be close enough to Thanksgiving and Christmas to tie in with the Holidays. The weather in early November is ussually much nicer. Like many said, it's not the cold, it's all of the salt and ice! Those that want to prove how tough they are can always go on a New Years day polar bear ride!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post-27611294460019828292009-10-31T09:20:23.937-05:002009-10-31T09:20:23.937-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post-22131963919841165112009-09-20T11:13:54.368-05:002009-09-20T11:13:54.368-05:00Since King Daley wants to charge, how about starti...Since King Daley wants to charge, how about starting in Berwyn on Ogden Ave (Route 66) and heading west. Or Rosemont at River & Higgins and heading west. Or Evanston heading up Sheridan. I'm tired of all the red light cameras interfering with Patriot Guard rides, etc. Sundays are great because there are too many things scheduled for Saturdays. DO IT FOR THE KIDS.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post-41537419919738632862009-05-06T08:13:00.000-05:002009-05-06T08:13:00.000-05:00please change the date, for the kids benefit. the ...please change the date, for the kids benefit. the first two weeks in nov . . no salt, no snow, and more toys for tots.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post-70197282645079320892009-02-04T23:50:00.000-06:002009-02-04T23:50:00.000-06:00As a 25 year participant in the Toys For Tots ...As a 25 year participant in the Toys For Tots event and a few years as one of the board of directors and organizers of the event it has come to my attention from comments from hundreds of bikers that its time to change the date of the event and also the ending destination . The event has traditionally started at 83rd and Western and ended at the USMC reserve center on the North side of Chicago . The facts are that it has snowed, sleeted and rained for the last four years of the event .Masive quantities of salt have been applied on all of the main streets in Chicago each year. You could not get there or go home without geting a layer of salt on your bike and undercarriage . Parking at the end is minimal or no longer available due to the CTA expanding its lot with new buidilngs .There have been accidents reported due to weather and some fatalities related to the event. The Marines always have a manpower shortage for the event and have said for many years that they would be very receptive to receiving the toys at an earlier date. They stated that they can recieve toys starting in September . When applying for a parade permit for this years Toys For Tots with the City Of Chicago the <BR/>organization was told that this year they can expect to pay<BR/> 10 -15 thousand dollars to the city to cover expenses for <BR/>Police , fire . salt trucks <BR/>traffic management etc . The TFT org. has never had to pay a fee to the city to put on the evnt . The cash strapped city of Chicago is making it more and more difficult for the TFT org to put on the event .The city has also proposed changing the date and the route. The TFT org Board of Directors are stubbornly sticking with the "Tradition " of doing the ride on the first Sunday in December . The reality of all of this is that thousands of bikers have stopped coming to the event due to dangerous conditions . Thousands less toys are brought in to aid kids . Perhaps the event has had its days of glory and its time to reorganize or have bikers roll in to a new centralized location on their own and not have to deal with the city , parking gridlock and objection from all involved .<BR/>The solution is in the voices of the masses that participate to help kids . Send them your comments @ chicagolandtft.orgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post-21547426070039921432009-02-04T16:02:00.000-06:002009-02-04T16:02:00.000-06:00As a charity event, it would make more sense to do...As a charity event, it would make more sense to do it in warmer weather. Warmer weather = more riders = more money for kids. The goal of this event is to collect for the cause and not to see who is the most macho rider.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post-84961761982436185202009-01-27T23:06:00.000-06:002009-01-27T23:06:00.000-06:00Skip, All Chicagoland Bikers should contact TFT's ...Skip, All Chicagoland Bikers should contact TFT's and ask them to reschedule the parade for the 2nd week in November. with the bad weather we have been having in the last several years, tha only ones losing are the "Tots", VinceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post-13166100765833501462008-12-08T19:44:00.000-06:002008-12-08T19:44:00.000-06:00Maybe if the parade was moved to the Sunday before...Maybe if the parade was moved to the Sunday before Thanksgiving, there would be more participants, which means more toys :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post-13934617648251488802008-12-08T14:19:00.000-06:002008-12-08T14:19:00.000-06:00Once again, the organizers of Toys For Tots have f...Once again, the organizers of Toys For Tots have failed to realize the importance of moving the date of their event a few weeks earlier because of "Tradition". I say, "the hell with tradition", and think about the safety of participants and those who refuse to participate because of dangerous, icy conditions that usually prevail on the first Sunday of December. In at least one accident, a biker was seriously cut by his windscreen after his bike went down on a slippery patch. Last year a rider was killed on Western Ave. when a cager pulled from a side street.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post-91353490920183589732008-09-26T06:07:00.000-05:002008-09-26T06:07:00.000-05:00Oct or Nov dates would be best. Less DANGER of be...Oct or Nov dates would be best. Less DANGER of being killed!!! Better turn out. More toys for the tots. I used to go when I was a bit younger and more bullit proof. But I havent attended for years now due to the extreme conditions that pose those threats. It`s not worth losing your life for a damn toy! C`mon people, get it right. But that would be to simple. Oh yeah I forgot, this is in Chicago.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post-88422003225157503832008-05-30T16:58:00.000-05:002008-05-30T16:58:00.000-05:00Nobody that has a nice bike and cares about its fi...Nobody that has a nice bike and cares about its finish and detail wants to ride after salt trucks have been out spreading their "cheer" on the roads. I say it should be 1st or 2nd weekend (before Thanksgiving) in November at the latest - they'd get a LOT better turnout. Each year by Thanksgiving our two bikes are already in winter storage at the Harley dealership.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post-59983785266213104702008-04-03T23:31:00.000-05:002008-04-03T23:31:00.000-05:00YES, move it. so many people skip it because of th...YES, move it. so many people skip it because of the weather. it would get way more people, especially from the suburbs. it could be 10, 20 thousand bikes every time, but for the ice and 5 degree weather.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post-60349661157479259312008-03-03T10:48:00.000-06:002008-03-03T10:48:00.000-06:00I think July is bad idea cuz too many people outsi...I think July is bad idea cuz too many people outside during summer and possible more driver out of control.... NO THANKS! Keep this way in December first sunday! keep tradition going on!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post-37614881306067253392008-02-23T11:22:00.000-06:002008-02-23T11:22:00.000-06:00I think so. I agree with people in this blog about...I think so. I agree with people in this blog about the fact that it's for a good cause but it should also be enjoyable and safe for riders. It does make sense that more people will join in during better weather which will benefit Toys for Tots.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post-57577116400136447812008-01-22T18:37:00.000-06:002008-01-22T18:37:00.000-06:00The whole idea of the ride is to benefit the kids ...The whole idea of the ride is to benefit the kids while enjoying a great ride. If the ride was moved up to October or so, we would have more people ride which means more support for the kids who need it and those who ride would enjoy it more. <BR/><BR/>TCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post-91678164495567986392007-12-17T17:38:00.000-06:002007-12-17T17:38:00.000-06:00No later than November; ditto on the salt. Don’t ...No later than November; ditto on the salt. Don’t mind sayin’ the cold is an issue also, I don’t mind ridin’ in it out of necessity but I don’t go lookin’ for it. TFT is a great charity but I won’t likely participate at that time of year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post-10112162171207143902007-11-06T15:58:00.000-06:002007-11-06T15:58:00.000-06:00The ride should be held in September or October. ...The ride should be held in September or October. It would be nice if the end of the riding season if capped off by the Toys for Tots ride. I do not mind the cold but I do mind the inclement weather.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post-17673493644039898752007-09-30T14:30:00.000-05:002007-09-30T14:30:00.000-05:00I've been to several,some were shall we say,not so...I've been to several,some were shall we say,not so nice and very dangerous! More people would show up. Cleaning the salt off takes longer than the ride! And if anyone remembers,they didn't even finish the first ride on two wheels!<BR/><BR/>MOVE THE DATE!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post-28139436315772385682007-09-13T20:12:00.000-05:002007-09-13T20:12:00.000-05:00vxispcfmI think it is not a bad idea just because ...vxispcfmI think it is not a bad idea just because it seems it would give the tots volunteers more time to deal with the toys.It is a hard call though just because you feel more like you are doin something than just givin a toy and tannin on the bike.jel111https://www.blogger.com/profile/00099763786584654741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post-35794615712811822682007-08-21T18:54:00.000-05:002007-08-21T18:54:00.000-05:00Better weather means more riders and more spectato...Better weather means more riders and more spectators. All in all, holding the event around the middle of November would have a significant positive impact. I agree, move it to November.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17546085.post-48688640245822142012007-06-19T16:30:00.000-05:002007-06-19T16:30:00.000-05:00I go back to 1982 when I attended my first Toy run...I go back to 1982 when I attended my first Toy run. When the request came to change from Saturday to Sunday, there was strong resistence to the change, but eventually no one even remembers that the run was originally held on the first Saturday in December.<BR/> Moving the date up just a few weeks could go a long way to having consistantly better weather for the run. A new tradition is in order! The membership of the Chicago A.B.A.T.E, HOG and Norton Owners have all voted and agree!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com