The approximately 500-mile route for RAGBRAI’s 50th-anniversary ride begins tomorrow (Sunday) in Sioux City, with tens of thousands of riders to join in each leg of the seven-day journey. Iowa State Patrol Trooper and District 4 Public Resource Officer Shelby McCreedy says RAGBRAI is a challenging week for law enforcement along the route and host communities, as response teams are stretched thin.
These, along with many other factors, put a significantly higher service load on first responders as riders cross the state. McCreedy says drivers and RAGBRAIers on the route must remain hypervigilant at all times and ensure they have an adequate supply of water, as temperatures will be reaching into the 90s all next week. Because a high call volume to dispatchers is expected, McCreedy urges residents along the route to avoid making frivolous calls to 911.
RAGBRAI will be in the Carroll Broadcasting listening area on Monday for the Storm Lake to Carroll leg and heads out on Tuesday for the Carroll to Ames stretch. McCreedy says both days’ routes include sections of U.S. Highways, which have been identified as particularly concerning.
McCreedy adds troopers will be stationed along this section of the route to strictly enforce the Highway 30 closure. Resources for Carroll’s overnight stop on Monday are available at www.carrollragbrai.com.
