Rick Johnson

A VeloNews reader responds to last weeks interview with Steve Johnson:

No,
Johnson needs correcting on several points

Editor:

In the second
part of his interview
with Jason Sumner, USA Cycling CEO Steve Johnson has made numerous
statements concerning the American Cycling Association (ACA) and the
Oregon Bike Racing Association (OBRA) that are in error.

Johnson
claims these organizations "use our rulebook." In fact, neither uses
the USA Cycling rulebook, nor does American Bicycle Racing (ABR), for
that matter. Each maintains racing rules that are separate and distinct
from USA Cycling's and were written from scratch. If Johnson wishes to
verify this, here are the relevant links:

ACA (pdf)

OBRA
(Word)

ABR
(pdf)

USAC (pdf)

Johnson
claims that ACA and OBRA "use our officials." In fact, before I could
be issued an ACA official's license, ACA Executive Director Beth
Wrenn-Estes required that I attend an ACA officials' seminar in Denver,
rather than convert my USCF license directly. Furthermore, each
association has clothing regulations that clearly distinguish its
officials from those of USA Cycling.

Mr.
Johnson claims that ACA and OBRA "underinsure." This is untrue, and
grossly prejudicial. In fact, their liability insurance limits, the
last time I checked, are in the amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence,
and $5,000,000 aggregate - the same as is offered by USA Cycling. These
amounts more than satisfy limits specified by state law, where
applicable.

Finally,
Johnson claims "they use our infrastructure." Once again, not true:
each organization has its own web site, administrators, race kit,
newsletter, etc.

Ironically,
these same claims were made by a USA Cycling regional representative at
a USA Cycling seminar I attended several years ago. It now seems clear
where this misinformation originates from, and that the pattern
continues to this day.

If
Johnson truly wishes to make a fresh start and move USA Cycling
forward, I think it would be a good idea if he paid more attention to
the accuracy of his public statements, rather than glibly and
speciously claiming, "I don't have any personal interest in going after
or undermining the efforts of OBRA or ACA," then proceeding to make
false, derogatory statements against them.

Thanks to Mr.
Johnson, USAC instead is sporting a black eye - an old, familiar look,
that.