RAGBRAI — and any other organized bicycle rides — are welcome again in Crawford County, Iowa.
The county's board of supervisors earlier this week rescinded the ban they instituted in October 2007. That's when their insurance carrier paid $350,000 to settle a negligence lawsuit with the family of a man who died in the 2004 RAGBRAI.
The decision to allow organized bike rides again ends an ugly prohibition that threatened to spill over into other counties.
Insurance
The change of heart occurred after the Register's Annual Great Annual Bicycle Ride Across Iowa told the Iowa State Association of Counties that it would purchase a $2 million insurance policy for future rides.
That policy would cover cyclists who don't sign a waiver releasing local governments from liability in the event of poor road conditions, reports the Denison (Iowa) Bulletin Review.
The family brought the lawsuit after the cyclist's tire got caught in a road seam, and he fell, suffering fatal head trauma. Although the county admitted no fault in the case, officials later held the irresponsible position that it was unreasonable to expect Iowa counties to bring their roads up to conditions that make them safe for bicycle riders.
Poor roads
The state association unsuccessfully tried to get the state Legislature to release counties from liability in bicycle crashes caused by poor road maintenance.
To make bicyclists aware that the roads may not be safe, the Bulletin Review reports:
“The county has ordered and will use movable warning signs on routes used by bike rides. [The signs] warn riders that characteristics common in normal highway construction, such as the centerline seam or rumble strips, are present and may be hazardous to bicycle riders.”
BikeIowa earlier reported on the state association of counties dropping its efforts regulate bicycle riders.
Meanwhile, planning is underway for RAGBRAI XXXVII, which runs from July 19-25, 2009. Registration started Nov. 15. A route will be announced in late January or early February.
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