Colorado events in danger
The Colorado cycling community is up in arms with the news that the Colorado State Patrol has added a new policy that could disable some the biggest bicycle events in the state. The new policy limits bicycle and triathlon events to 2500 riders, but the limit can be lowered at any time, putting the state's most popular events at risk. Bicycle races, tours, charity rides, group rides and triathlons are all affected.

Bicycle Colorado, a non-profit coalition of individuals, organizations and bicycling-related businesses, has posted an online petition urging interested cyclists to voice their concerns to state officials.

"The State Patrol says that they are using this ban to ‘ensure safety,'" Bicycle Colorado's Web site states, "but a random cap has no effect on the safety of bicyclists. Safety is based on good event planning, educated bicyclists, traffic management plans, safe roads, and law-abiding motorists. A well-run event can be safe for 10,000 bicyclists and a poorly run event can be unsafe for 100 riders. An arbitrary cap punishes everyone and discourages all events."

Events that draw more than 2500 participants include the Iron Horse Classic, the Elephant Rock Cycling Festival, the Triple Bypass, the Mt. Evans Hill Climb, the MS 150 charity ride, the Courage Classic, the Tour de Cure and the Bicycle Tour of Colorado.

"We formally asked the State Patrol to reverse their decision and they declined," Bicycle Colorado states on its Web site. "In State Patrol's reply to Bicycle Colorado they said that, ‘the primary reason for this change in policy is due to safety.' But according to Scot Harris, director of the Elephant Rock ride, the state's largest bicycle event, they've had only one car-bike crash in the 19-year history of this event. States like New York, Texas, Iowa, Illinois, and California safely handle events with 10,000, 20,000 and even 30,000 bicyclists. There is no reason Colorado cannot do so as well."

If this continues, it could set a precedent for other states.