News from May 2017
And RAGBRAI does return to Crawford Country this year...
Crawford County residents want RAGBRAI organizers to know that the annual bike ride across Iowa is welcome in their county.
Staff with the Chamber & Development Council of Crawford County, bicycling enthusiasts and others hope a resolution approved last week by the Crawford County Board will deliver that message loud and clear.
In October 2007 the board voted to prohibit the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa from riding through the county on county roads. The ban was passed after Betti Jo Ullrich of Davenport sued the county after the July 2004 death of her husband, Kirk. He was injured in an accident on a county road east of Schleswig while on RAGBRAI and died the next day. The county’s insurance carrier paid $350,000 to settle her claim.
But the ban was rescinded in December 2008 after RAGBRAI proposed changes that release local governments from liability.
Council Executive Director Evan Blakley said he believes many, perhaps even some on the RAGBRAI board, were confused as to where the county stands.