Deal Reached on Ride to Montauk Permit

A multi-thousand-person bike ride planned for Saturday that East Hampton Town officials had sought to prevent will go on in a reduced form after a settlement was reached between its organizer and the town on Friday.

Bicycle Shows U.S., which charges riders up to $300 per person for the Ride to Montauk event, had asked town officials for a permit that would have allowed as many as 5,000 participants on a variety of routes. That request was revised downward to 3,400 riders, but was rejected by the East Hampton Town Board on Wednesday.

The following day, concerned that the ride would go on even without the town permit, the East Hampton Town Board sent Michael Sendlenski, an assistant town attorney, to State Supreme Court in Riverhead to seek a temporary restraining order.

Ride to Montauk and the town reached a settlement in Riverhead on Friday that will allow the event to take place, but with a maximum of 1,500 riders. Its route will be limited to one approved by East Hampton Town Police Lt. Chris Hatch, who accompanied Mr. Sendlenski to the court.

Bicycle Shows U.S. agreed to pay for any overtime or other police costs incurred as a result of the ride.

According to the Ride to Montauk website, there are five routes, of different distances, all ending in Montauk. As of Friday, three of the five were listed as sold out. Participants on the shorter routes ride buses or trains to the starting points, while their bicycles follow in trucks.

All routes end at Camp Hero State Park in Montauk. Amenities offered there to riders include hot showers, free all-you-can-eat meals, massages, and Blue Point Brewery beer.