City – Failure to Follow Bike Ride Schedule Could Put Future Permits at Risk [AUDIO]

The City of Missoula granted a permit for the 'Bare as You Dare' bike ride on Sunday that was specifically scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 pm. however, the ride began almost an hour early.

City Communications Director Ginny Merriam said on Monday that the individuals or group that reserved Kiwanis Park did not adhere to the timeline specified in the permit granted by the Missoula City Parks Department.

"When somebody gets a permit and does not adhere to what is expected in the permit, there is a chance that the next time the group would apply for a permit, that it would not be granted," Merriam said. "There's certainly no ordinance that says they wouldn't get a permit next time, but there would certainly be at least a discussion about the importance of adhering to the parameters of the permit, and there is the potential that the organization would not receive a permit again."

The timeline listed on the city's website specifically said the ride would begin at 11:30 a.m. and end at 12:30 p.m. at Kiwanis Park, however, the ride actually got underway almost an hour earlier, at about 10:40 a.m. This caught many on the ride's route by surprise, in that they expected not to view the mostly naked riders for another hour, however, Merriam said Missoula police units were already stationed along the route.

Merriam said that, as of Monday morning, no one had as of yet expressed a desire to apply for a permit for a second annual 'Bare as You Dare' bicycle ride.

There were no arrests, protests or injuries reported during the event.

City Of Missoula Communications Director Ginny Merriam