Go the Distance: FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Event FAQ's | Bike Ride FAQ's | Registration FAQ's | Donation FAQ's | Volunteer FAQ's

Event FAQ’s

How do I get to the bike event and what time should I arrive?
Click here to see all of the event details. Arrival times correspond with your registration type. If you are a volunteer, please plan to arrive 30 minutes prior to your scheduled shift.

Where should I park?
Additional details will be posted closer to the event. Stay Tuned. There will be Public Safety Officers on site directing cars to the parking area.

Can children participate without an adult?
No. Children must be supervised at all times.

Can I bring my pet?
No. Pets are not allowed on property.

Will there be refreshments and food?
Yes. A light breakfast will be served from 7:00 – 10:00am and lunch will be served from 12:00 – 2:00pm. The long distance rest stops will also have light refreshments.

Will I be able to lock up my bike?
Yes. Bike racks will be available onsite. Please bring your own lock.

Bike Ride FAQ’s

Are helmets required?
Yes. Helmets are mandatory for all riders and this rule will be strictly enforced.

How far are the bike routes?
There are five different bike rides which provide riders of all ability levels with the opportunity to participate. The 50, 25 and 10 mile routes begin and end at the Westfield Garden State Plaza and take place on the roads of Bergen County. The Family Ride and the Kids Ride will take place on the grounds of the mall. Keep checking back in the upcoming months for detailed route maps.

Are the roads being closed off for this event?
No. But there will be police presence at busy intersections along the way.

Will assistance be available on the long distance rides?
Yes. SAG vehicles will monitor all bike routes to provide assistance for riders who are injured or for bike repairs.

Do you track participant time?
No. The event is not a race and riders are encouraged to ride at their own pace.

Are there age requirements for the rides?
Yes. Riders must be 16 or older to participate in the 50 or 25 mile rides and 12 or older to participate in the 10 mile ride. Children of all ages can participate in the Family Ride but must be able to ride a two wheeler without training wheels. Children of all ages can participate in the Kids Ride.

Registration FAQ’s

How much is the registration fee and what does it include?
$35 for adults 18 and older, $20 for ages 11-17, $0 for children 10 and under. Registration includes participation in the event, an event t-shirt and access to the Family Fun Area which includes food & beverage as well as fun activities.

Is the registration fee refundable?
No. In order to keep event costs to a minimum, we are not able to refund registration fees.

Is the registration fee tax-deductible?
No. However, all donations that you or your supporters make are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

Is there a registration deadline?
You can register on-line until 5:00pm on May 4th. You may register in person on Sunday, May 5th however, all riders are required to present the minimum fundraising goal in order to participate.

What happens if I don’t meet my minimum fundraising requirement?
The minimum fundraising goals are mandatory for all riders. These goals are enforced to ensure that the event maximizes the efforts of the schools, the volunteers and the riders. If you do not meet your minimum fundraising goals, you will be asked to pay the remainder of the minimum at Registration before you ride on the day of the event.

What is a Virtual Rider?
A virtual rider is a participant who creates a fundraising page but does not actually ride the day of the event; for example, a volunteer or someone who lives far away or cannot make it to the event on May 5th but still wants to help us raise much needed funds for our programs can be a virtual rider. To become a virtual rider, select your school of choice and click the Virtual Rider button to register. There is no registration fee for a virtual rider.

How do I start or join a team?
Select the school you wish to ride for at the top of this page page, click on Start a Team or Join a Team and follow the registration directions.

I registered for the wrong team. What should I do?
Send us an email at info@gtd4autism.org with your name, team name and the school name and the changes will be made for you.

Will my contact information be shared, sold or otherwise distributed to third parties?
No. All contact and donation information will remain confidential.

Will I be contacted by the schools on a regular basis?
Your donation is processed in the database of the school you support. There will be an unsubscribe button in subsequent mailings if you wish to opt out of future communications.

How do I set up my personal fundraising page?
When you register, you will automatically be brought to your Participant Center so you can customize your page with photos, video and text. There is a Help Link at the top of the Participant Center but if you need additional assistance, please email us at info@gtd4autism.org.

Donation FAQs

How do I make a donation?
You may select the school that the participant is riding for at the top of this page and then click on the Donate Button. Enter the rider’s name into the search bar and select the participant from the list. Once you are on the riders page, click on the donate button. If you wish to donate to all four schools, go to the home page where you may select the option, “I am Riding for All Four Schools” and then click on the donate button.

Are donations tax deductible?
Yes. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

What if my donors need a receipt?
Every donor receives a confirmation email as soon as the donation is processed. This email includes a summary of their donation along with the Tax ID number of the organization.

How do I handle donations by check or cash?
You may complete the Off-Line Donation Form, attach your check and follow the mailing directions on the form. You can send in more than one donation in the same envelope but please complete a form for each check to ensure that the donation is applied to your fundraising goal. Cash donations should be delivered directly to the school with a completed offline donation form.

I made a donation to the wrong person or wrong team. What do I do?
Send us an email at info@gtd4autism.org with your name, team name and the school name and we will make the changes for you.

I’m not sure which school I should donate to. Is there an option to donate to all four schools?
Yes. You can go to the home page and select “I’m Riding for All Four Schools". Once you are on the landing page, click on the Donate button and follow the directions.

How do I get a matching gift from my company?
Most companies use a matching gift form with one portion to be completed by the employee and then forwarded to the organization for completion. For checks, complete the matching gift form from your company and the Offline Donation Form and mail everything to the school address that you are supporting.

Volunteer FAQ’s

How do I volunteer for the event?
There are two ways you can volunteer. Either click the blue Volunteer tab on the top of this page or click on any of the school buttons and then click Volunteer in the banner on the top. In order to register, you will need to sign a waiver and select a volunteer task and time frame.

Is there an age requirement for volunteers?
Yes. Volunteers must be 14 or older and the waiver must be signed by a parent for all volunteers under 18. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, however, one adult may supervise up to 8 youth volunteers.

Will I receive a community service letter for volunteering for the event?
Yes. Every volunteer will receive a Volunteer Proof of Involvement letter stating they volunteered at the 2013 Go the Distance for Autism Bike Event for the completed hours of their volunteer shift(s).

Are you able to volunteer for more than one shift?
Yes. You may volunteer for multiple shifts as long as they do not overlap.

Thank You To Our Event Sponsors: