Colorado Rider cap throws bicycle tour promoters

Wed November 30 2005
Posted Nov 29, 2005
13,357

November 29, 2005 Bicycle tour promoters say they will be hamstrung by a new Colorado State Patrol directive that limits organized bicycle events to 2,500 riders. State Patrol Chief Mark Trostel said Monday that he won't reconsider his decision. "The primary reason for this change in policy is due to safety," Trostel wrote to Dan Grunig, executive director of Bicycle Colorado, a nonprofit group that works to make the state a safe and enjoyable place to ride. Trostel said that large events need one state patrol officer on a motorcycle for every 300 riders. "As our resources are finite in comparison to the levels of those who wish to participate in an event, we cannot safely control and accommodate a number beyond 2,500 riders," Trostel said. The directive would make Colorado one of the most restrictive states in the nation, which Grunig said is shortsighted for a state known as a bicycle mecca. "It sends a terrible message that biking events aren't welcome in Colorado," he said. Safety is Bicycle Colorado's first concern, Grunig said, adding that the number of riders doesn't dictate how safe a tour can be. By Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News November 29, 2005