Quote Originally Posted by BikeDutchess View Post
I was at a Bonneville Cycling Club meeting today and heard the very disturbing news that they came VERY close to having to cancel LRRH altogether this year. Apparently the Utah Highway Patrol would not sign off on the permit due to too complaints regarding riding behavior and impeding traffic. They managed to convince UHP to issue the permit but it was close.

So this year's catch phrase will be "Don't ride too wide". UHP will also issue citations to riders who impede traffic. Even though riding 2 abreast is legal, that is only the case if you don't impede traffic. And the 5-6-7-etc abreast that we all saw last year is just nuts!

The new route was designed to help alleviate the problem (plus some other safety issues). They will also change the start so there will be separate groups based on riding speed, with the fastest riders starting first. That will avoid the fast riders having to overtake bunches of slow riders and being forced to swing wide to do so. There will also be a roving course marshall in a car w/ a PA or bullhorn reminding riders not to ride too wide.

I know it's preaching to the choir on this board, but please help spread the word to your friends & acquaintances. If we want this great ride to continue, we MUST all ride responsibly. I would just hate for this year to be the last LRRH ever. And we want SadieKate to be able to save her breath for riding, not having to yell "Car back!!!" to umpteen idiots! (Whoosh!)

As an aside, they're already over halfway towards capacity with registrations, so don't wait to sign up!
Thanks for posting and it's not surprising, unfortunately. I'll hope that the safety reminders and usual group riding road rules will be followed by every rider, so that this ride can continue. It's unfortunate that previous rides had behavior that threatened continuing this. I've done a lot of centuries and longer, in large groups and know that it takes each rider to commit to following the rules of the road and practicing safe riding, as we each reflect on cyclists as a whole to the drivers out there. One boneheaded move by an inconsiderate or unthinking cyclist can stick in the minds of all who view it and we all seem to get smeared by it, eh?
I'm glad that the UHP is giving another chance...as I'm registered and will be heading there from Seattle to enjoy the ride.
On our club's annual double century, the Seattle to Portland ride, there are about 8,000 riders who participate and do it in either 1 or 2 days, so the starting line is crowded and it seems to work well to have riders start in a wave of about 100 every 10 minutes or so. I think it sounds like a good change to try the same for the LRRH.
Tailwinds!
Mary