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Board discuss resolution against bicycle travel on secondary roads
By Laura Bacon
NT Staff Writer
CASS COUNTY - The Cass County Supervisors are considering a resolution asking the Iowa Legislature to address the use of secondary roads in Cass County by the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) and by cyclists in general after a recent lawsuit against Crawford County involving the death of a RAGBRAI participant.
The issue came up after the supervisors attended the Iowa State Association of Counties Fall School recently where there was a discussion about the lawsuit against Crawford County involving the death of a RAGBRAI participant.
The resolution says that while RAGBRAI "is a unique event that draws thousands of visitors to Iowa annually," and that "biking in general is an excellent form of exercise," and "a pollution free form of transportation that should be encouraged," secondary roads are not designed or maintained to meet the specific standards related to bicycle travel. The resolution says that there is "an unacceptable exposure to future bicycle related lawsuits" against the county, and asks that "the Iowa Legislature address the issue in 2008 on a statewide basis," so that the Board of Supervisors doesn't have to regulate the use of secondary roads under county jurisdiction by cyclists at the local level.
Supervisor Chuck Rieken said there had been some concerns that the wording of the resolution was "singling out RAGBRAI," but the supervisors also discussed the fact that the issue came up because of an incident at RAGBRAI.
Supervisor Duane McFadden said other counties had concerns about groups of cyclists, adding, "one county said they had about five groups (like RAGBRAI) that came through each summer."
The resolution was not against cycling, Rieken said. "(Cycling) is an excellent form of exercise and should be encouraged," he said, but he said county secondary roads were being maintained for motor vehicle traffic, not bicycle traffic.
Rieken said the purpose of the resolution was not to create a law, but a request for the State Legislature to take action. "We want the legislature to hold counties harmless," he said.
Supervisor Chair Chuck Kinen said "there's not a road in Iowa that doesn't have a crack in it that could catch a bicycle tire."
McFadden said the resolution "was something we're all behind," and the supervisors decided to put the item on the agenda for next week's meeting, on Wednesday, Dec. 12 to take action on the resolution so it could be sent on to the state.
NT Staff Writer
CASS COUNTY - The Cass County Supervisors are considering a resolution asking the Iowa Legislature to address the use of secondary roads in Cass County by the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) and by cyclists in general after a recent lawsuit against Crawford County involving the death of a RAGBRAI participant.
The issue came up after the supervisors attended the Iowa State Association of Counties Fall School recently where there was a discussion about the lawsuit against Crawford County involving the death of a RAGBRAI participant.
The resolution says that while RAGBRAI "is a unique event that draws thousands of visitors to Iowa annually," and that "biking in general is an excellent form of exercise," and "a pollution free form of transportation that should be encouraged," secondary roads are not designed or maintained to meet the specific standards related to bicycle travel. The resolution says that there is "an unacceptable exposure to future bicycle related lawsuits" against the county, and asks that "the Iowa Legislature address the issue in 2008 on a statewide basis," so that the Board of Supervisors doesn't have to regulate the use of secondary roads under county jurisdiction by cyclists at the local level.
Supervisor Chuck Rieken said there had been some concerns that the wording of the resolution was "singling out RAGBRAI," but the supervisors also discussed the fact that the issue came up because of an incident at RAGBRAI.
Supervisor Duane McFadden said other counties had concerns about groups of cyclists, adding, "one county said they had about five groups (like RAGBRAI) that came through each summer."
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Rieken said the purpose of the resolution was not to create a law, but a request for the State Legislature to take action. "We want the legislature to hold counties harmless," he said.
Supervisor Chair Chuck Kinen said "there's not a road in Iowa that doesn't have a crack in it that could catch a bicycle tire."
McFadden said the resolution "was something we're all behind," and the supervisors decided to put the item on the agenda for next week's meeting, on Wednesday, Dec. 12 to take action on the resolution so it could be sent on to the state.
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