I’ve read 3 different things about the ISP and Iowa’s Ride. All could actually be true at the particular time they were reported but maybe someone has more current info:
1) No one from IR has contacted IR yet.
2) Someone from the ISP said they can support both at the same time.
3) Someone from the ISP said they cannot support both at once
Obviously #1 would change with time. Then the person, even TJ’s normal contact, could have said they can support both (#2). But someone higher ranking later could have said no way, we can’t do both at once (#3).
Anyone with more current information?
28 Replies
[quote quote=1312384]Here it is again:
Have you talked to the Iowa State Patrol?
Yes, we have had conversations with the Iowa State Patrol. They are our friends and help save lives throughout the state of Iowa everyday. They help cyclists and motorists in Iowa safely navigate our roadways along with the fine men and women that wear a badge everyday in the local police and sheriff departments across our state. Out of respect for the Iowa State Patrol, we will not drag them into the conversation, but know that they have NOT said they will not support IOWA’S RIDE, as some people are mentioning. It is only October, so you will have plenty of time to know the full safety team in place before the ride takes place.[/quote]
Looking for the actual link (URL) where you got this from. Would like to see other posts on the same FAQ link. Since it’s not on IR’s FAQ link I can;t tell who they refer to when they say “we”.
I posted the link where I got it from. IR posted the link in a Facebook post this morning. I went to the FAQ page and there it was.
Here’s a link to the Facebook post:
https://www.facebook.com/109816463758327/posts/131462568260383?sfns=mo
[quote quote=1312392]https://www.facebook.com/109816463758327/posts/131462568260383?sfns=mo[/quote]
Weird how you can get to the actual FAQs from IR FB post but not from their actual website. So this just basically confirms that the most official thing so far is what I had read also, #1 from my original post. And 2 & 3 might just be so much baloney. It makes sense that the ISP would have to do some analysis first to see if they could support both. And as some have stated as a route preference, that the 2 rides may follow the exact same route making the ISP discussion moot.
I can get to the FAQ by going directly to the IR site (and not through the link posted on Facebook. I don’t know why you can’t.
[quote quote=1312396]I can get to the FAQ by going directly to the IR site (and not through the link posted on Facebook. I don’t know why you can’t.[/quote]
May be pulling up a cached page. Try hitting F5 or refresh if the old page shows up.
[quote quote=1312398]
May be pulling up a cached page. Try hitting F5 or refresh if the old page shows up.[/quote]
I was thinking along those lines since it may be a default in the browser I’m using. It changed on its own anyway once I went through the FB link. Usually that option would download the html again if the date on the html file changed. But it didn’t in this case. But it was something on my end.
I can see the FAQ on the IR site. The section about the ISP is accurately quoted above and it says nothing about your question. The ISP has not said that they will not support IR is all it says. That leaves the question of what they will do completely open. I assume that if they have said that they are committed to supporting IR then that information will appear on the website within hours at most. So, most likely they have not committed to supporting IR. They may not have committed to supporting RAGBRAI either at this point for all I know.
From my experience if neither ride exceeds 1500 riders next year they will not need any help from the ISP. The ISP provides traffic control at key intersections. This is a safety issue because it prevents cyclists from getting impatient and doing something stupid when they cannot get through an intersection as quickly as they wish. I have never seen this to be an issue on rides less than 1500 riders. I don’t know where the threshold of ridership is because the only larger ride I have ridden is RAGBARI which is an order of magnitude bigger than any other ride I have done.
This is new territory for everyone. No one knows how many riders either ride will attract next year at this point. Last I looked IR characterized their ridership as “hundreds”. But that total could grow, or shrink, substantially in the months ahead. RAGBRAI’s ridership is completely unknown at this point. Information will start to come in once registration opens in a couple of weeks.
I am going to do something I have never done in years past. I am going to register for RAGBRAI as soon as registration opens. I won’t be able to pay or close my team to allow me to pay until my teammates make their personal decisions. But I will let the Register know my intentions by signing on as soon as they allow it. I’d encourage everyone to do the same, I am sure the information will be helpful for them.
Missed the point of the post which is what is the latest from the ISP on supporting IR. We can see its just what was already noted by the ISP, no contact from or commitment to IR ride yet. Personal opinions on how to support IR with law enforcement, just so much blah blah blah…
This is from the IR FAQ section.
Have you talked to the Iowa State Patrol?
Yes, we have had conversations with the Iowa State Patrol. They are our friends and help save lives throughout the state of Iowa everyday. They help cyclists and motorists in Iowa safely navigate our roadways along with the fine men and women that wear a badge everyday in the local police and sheriff departments across our state. Out of respect for the Iowa State Patrol, we will not drag them into the conversation, but It is only October, so you will have plenty of time to know the full safety team in place before the ride takes place.
As I read this, yes they talked to ISP but have received no answer one way or the other.
It’s hard to fathom or believe the ISP would support two rides. Ragbrai is always a tremendous and straining effort for the ISP on a normal Ragbrai week. I would bet they will only support the ride with the greater rider participation, come summer, and shirk the other.
“From my experience if neither ride exceeds 1500 riders next year they will not need any help from the ISP. The ISP provides traffic control at key intersections. This is a safety issue because it prevents cyclists from getting impatient and doing something stupid when they cannot get through an intersection as quickly as they wish.” Ken H is absolutely correct.
I have pedaled more than two dozen other rides, early Bike Florida being the larger, and the state patrols had little to no involvement other than being advised of routes and dates. Local and county LEOs are always necessary to leave towns but their heavy presence is nearly dispensable after that. Crossing US highways 59, 71, 169 and others will require a LEO presence. I don’t foresee a significant bandit participation on Iowa’s Ride, they will follow the glittering lights, music and beer gardens. I do see IR as attracting more families with young children which is a stated goal. I see no beer slides or wet t-shirts on IR.
RIDE RIGHT
According to a DMR article posted October 16th, 18 to 20 Troopers are assigned to Ragbrai with costs split 50/50.
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime-and-courts/2019/10/16/ragbrai-2020-iowa-state-patrol-traffic-control-des-moines-register/3995594002/
While 267 Troopers sounds like a lot, it takes 5 officers to cover 24 hours of patrol coverage. Factoring in 8 hour shifts, day’s off, vacation, sick time 5 per 24 hours of coverage is how it works out. So in any given 8 hour shift there would be 53 Troopers. Some are command staff and supervisors not on the road. Adjusting staffing by putting more on days and less on midnights could alter the distribution.
So if 18 to 20 Troopers work Ragbrai and TJ demands the same, that does not leave much left for the rest of Iowa.
Now factor in the 2020 Presidential race, is there anyone left to provide escorts and traffic control for visiting candidates.
Now Iowa taxpayers fund 50% of the Troopers for Ragbrai and the same deal would be demanded by TJ. Are the taxpayers going to stand for double the costs for about the same number of riders. The only way to get more Troopers would be forced overtime or hiring back Troopers on vacation. Salary costs would be 1.5 to 2 times the expense depending on their contract.
TJ’s FAQ section is noticeably quiet and outdated. After almost 4 weeks now, he is still not able to confirm the support of ISP or announce the route. ISP participation is the key issue for him.