The shuttles must have been planned by heavy drinkers or?? The Gold shuttle went within 300 yards of the entertainment area, yet you had to ride the Black shuttle for 20-30 minutes to get to the TRANSFER CENTER to get to the gold shuttle and spend another 20-30 minutes to go past the entertainment area and then to the camping sites (another 10-20 minutes). Our bus driver thought the whole shuttle plan was designed by “someone doing something”. The entertainment center, vendors, and bike shops were so far from each other it was close to impossible to get around between them, we talked to a shop that was holding something for us and they said not to bother coming to them as they were so far out they were not sure how we might find them.
Meanwhile the people were wonderful, just think the town is not right for an overnight without some major changes. Pass though town in the future!
30 Replies
I’m surprised no one has mentioned this already, but if you don’t like the shuttle system, why not just ride your bike? It’s what – 2 miles – from one end of Altoona to the other? You rode 56 miles to get there, what’s another mile or two? I know you’re hot and tired after riding 56 miles, but it’s also hot and tiring riding the shuttles.
What about the support people who do not ride their bikes and those without lights for their bikes.
Bottom line, all the sites together (at least near), and a well planned shuttle system make any town a great overnight stop.
I will continue to say the people were great in every town. And I have a deep appreciation for all the work done for us to ride through.
But as Brant said above; plans should be made by those who have experience with Ragbrai if at all possible.
I’m not suggesting doing away with the shuttles. I’m just suggesting that *most* of us had an alternative that we could use if the shuttle service was too bad.
TS: Yes, we who ride can get around in the overnights. But the number of support folks that cannot, makes these spread out towns very difficult for some people who are quite important to the ride. Just need better service planning for the shuttles. They seemed to have plenty of drivers in Altoona, I met one who was just waiting at the transfer station in case he was needed and he said he thought they had plenty?
In Altoona, we walked 3 blocks to the shuttle which took us to the entertainment, food & beer garden! That’s all we needed!!!!
Why would it be a learning experience? This was the 39th edition of RAGBRAI. We’ve stayed overnight in communities with shuttles before. This is not some brand-new endeavor with brand-new, never-before-seen problems and the RAGBRAI committee for *ANY* overnight town should have some idea, based on past experiences elsewhere, of just what they’re going to be up against.
They should also be able to look back and see what ideas have been tried in the past and how well they worked (or didn’t), and organize accordingly.
-“BB”-
Beebs, I’ve seen a lot worse than Altoona! Each town seems to have their own ideas on how to do it!!!!!
Brant: (who appears to have been from Altoona said: People that have ridden many RAGBRAI’s and should have been in charge of the major decisions like this but were over-ruled by non-riders.
BB, was right listen to the people who have experience with the Rag and less problems are likely.
Now you’ve done it. You told Beebs he’s right!!!!! Yeah, Beebs, your right!!!!
I don’t use shuttles. If things are so spread out that you cant get there by walking, then I am not going. In Altoona, things were spread out way to far. I never made it to the music, ect because I didn’t want to walk so far. As for taking my bike, I could do that, but it feels good to get off the bike for a few hours after you finish for the day. Bigger towns tend to usually get pretty spread out. IMO Coralville had it right in that most everything was pretty close and withing walking distance.
Hello, alot of the shuttle troubles that are being talked about I believe has to do with the layout of Altoona. Altonna doesn’t have a town square like the other over night towns. Altoona is spreads out, but I like Altoona, it’s a good little town.
All I will say on this issue is:
We rode the shuttle to dinner at a church. It dropped us 10 blocks from the church – and the driver said she was doing us a favor. We had to walk 10 block after dinner to get the shuttle back. Bottom line – we will never use another shuttle on Ragbrai again (it only took one time to figure it out).
It was really lousy to charge us full admission prices to the pool and then close it only two hours after we arrived. They should have cut the fee in half after 1 PM. Still – it was a really great waterslide!
’nuff said.
Altoona most likely is a nice town, I liked the people I liked the bus driver.
I said from the begining it was the lay out of the sites and the shuttles that were a mess.
Let’s agree nice town. but not designed for Ragbrai overnight without better plans for the location of the sites and events.
Ten whole blocks? You’re lucky you made it back alive!
shuttles in Carroll were dismal at best. I did not attempt to ride the shuttles in altoona, so I don’t know. The best overnite town imo was grinnell. atlantic was good, too. i’d mention coralville as well, but im a cyclone and very biased! heh heh!