Cyclists enraged over parade float of SUV hitting biker

Saturday, July 9, 2016, 3:51 PM - The Columbus, Ohio Doo Dah Parade prides itself on being unrestricted and outlandish. However, some say one float crossed the line.

Social media lit up Monday following the city's annual July satirical parade after an unknown man drove a black SUV with a bicycle attached to the front and a pair of stuffed legs coming out of the vehicle's sunroof. A bright yellow sign was also attached to the driver's door that read, "I'll share the road when you follow the rules."

Parade-goers reportedly booed the float as the SUV continued along the route.

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Organizers do not register participants and there is no entry fee, meaning anyone can show up with a float. The parade celebrates, "freedom of speech through humour," according to their website. There are only two rules: No blatant advertising and no full nudity, the Columbus Dispatch reports.

Amateur competitive cyclist Spencer Hackett who lives in the city, took to Twitter to express his views on the controversial float.

"The #DooDahParade organizers should be ashamed. Unbelievable," he posted.

Hackett told CBC he has attended the parade for the last 10 years and not once has been offended by one of the displays.

"It's always kind of been politically incorrect, but not necessarily threatening or divisive," he said. "This piece sickened me. As a rider that has been hit four times and have had numerous friends hit, I found it very disturbing and lacking of any satire."

Different cycling communities from around the world have weighed in on the issue.

Parade organizers say they will not be changing any parade policies.

"The people who enter the parade are not professional comedians and give it their best shot. Sometimes their humour is on target, sometimes it's a near miss, sometimes it's a total dud," the parade's chief organizer Deb Roberts told CBC. "I am sorry to those who get offended by some of the humour, but that is what Doo Dah is."

Other edgy entries in the parade included impersonators of Jesus and the Pope. A man dressed in a gorilla costume portrayed Harambe, the primate killed by Cincinnati Zoo officials in May after a child entered its enclosure. 

The designer and driver of the bicycle-themed float remains a mystery. According to Hackett, the vehicle's license plates were covered with ones that read "bike h8er."

SOURCE: CBC

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