Riders, runners mingle in Davenport

Sat, Jul 30, 2011 | by Regina Zilbermints

Davenport — For all the concern about traffic, crowds and water, the final day of RAGBRAI seemed to end on a high note as thousands of riders rolled into Davenport and were met by thousands more runners.

Riders, runners and Davenport residents alike had expressed concert about what would happen when the RAGBRAI riders and their support crews arrived the same day of Davenports annual popular, and highly-regarded, road race, which also draws thousands.

In fact, said Joe Taylor, president of the Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau and chairman of the Davenport RAGBRAI committee, everything came together well.

“We’re thrilled RAGBRAI has ended here,” he said, sounding excited. “From early indications, it’s a huge success. I’ve met people who say they love Iowa and love the Quad Cities.”

And because the morning race ended before most of the cyclists arrived, the events didn’t interfere with each other too much, he said.

On East Second Street, riders and runners wandered with friends and family, eating and drinking. On a few corners bikers were explaining to people what RAGBRAI was, runners doing the same for Bix.

And while traffic was understandably dense, Taylor said they’d had no major problems. And he was happy at what he saw when he looked out the bus shuttle window.

“I’m noting how well businesses are doing by the number of bikes outside the business,” he said. “RAGBRAI riders are going everywhere, it looks like.”

Bix 7, Davenport

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