Kim Zettler's plan to let the RUBs sleep downtown

They're post-menopausal baby boomers with paid-off mortgages and money coming out the wazoo.

They ride $25,000 Harleys and park them at night beside the Mercedes-Benz.

They're called RUBs - Rich Urban Bikers - and to Sault Ste. Marie's tourism, hospitality and retail sectors, they're the hottest thing since drag pipes.

You'll be able to spot some of these born-to-be-mild Easy Riders during this morning's Ride for the Cure, an 11 a.m. motorcycle rally ride down Queen Street in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Next week, hundreds more will be in town for the Christian Motorcyclist Association of Canada's 10th Anniversary Rally.

And the core area will reverberate with the thunder of big bikes from August 15 to 18 as the Sault Ste. Marie Downtown Association puts on its second Let It Ride Rally.

Tent campground at downtown park

"The Let It Ride Rally is now recognized as one of Ontario's top 50 events by Festival and Events Ontario," says Downtown Association manager Kim Zettler.

Zettler will be at Monday's meeting of City Council, asking for permission to establish a temporary 'Tent City' at Clergue Park, between the downtown library and the Seniors Centre.

"The Tent City acts as an addition to the accomodations available within the community," Zettler says in a copy of her presentation faxed to City Hall this week.

Clergue Park would not be available for use by campers or recreational vehicles, Zettler says.

Zen and the art of attracting biker bucks

Like the temporary Tent City being established at White Pines Collegiate by the Christian Motorcyclist Association, Clergue Park would not siphon business from Sault-area accomodation establishments, she maintains.

"It enables the rally to attract many of the targetted Rich Urban Biker element who travel from rally to rally equipped with tent or bed rolls only. "At this time accomodation establishments ranging from hotels to bed-and-breakfasts already have reservations in place for Let It Ride Rally participants travelling to the Sault for the event."

Zettler and her staff have distributed 5,000 packages promoting the event across Canada and the United States.

24-hour security

She's been working since last November to organize the Tent City component and says she now has support from the City's police, fire and community services officials, as well the Economic Development Corp. and the Algoma Health Unit.

"Twenty-four-hour security will be on site for the duration of the rally - two exclusive security guards posted at the Tent City site," Zettler says.

"The site will be cordoned off by snow fencing. Access will be given [only] to those presenting both Let It Ride Rally registration and Tent City credentials. Hi Tec Security will be providing officers."

Location suggested by police

The Clergue Park location was originally suggested by police because it confines rally participants to the core area, allowing safety and security efforts to be concentrated there.

At Monday's meeting, councillors will be asked to approve Zettler's request, subject to her getting written permission from police and fire officials, the City's legal and community service staffs, and the Algoma Health Unit.

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