Ways to make the Tour of California better- Lessons from Colorado

[MacRoadie]

I've seen some things this week in Colorado that i think could and should be applied in California.

Like any big event, especially one in its infancy, Colrado has its hits and misses, but there are a few things I've seen that I think would help in the "bigger" race in California (and I don't use that term disrespectfully).

The first thing that caught my eye was this:

The Colorado Department of Transportation, which suspended roadside camping rules for the 500-mile race, reported no troubles.

Party at Independence Pass for USA Pro Cycling Challenge

The California Highway patrol, the US Forest Service, and local sheriffs all line up to enforce roadside parking (and overnight camping) regulations all up and down the state. I think this would be a tremendous help towards getting people out to see some of the mountain stages (like Baldy where you had to schlep up the mountain with a few thousand of your best friends early that morning, and where you needed to be careful which side of the road you parked on all the way up the mountain).

Anyone else see examples of what they are doing right in Colorado? I'm hopeful that they are reacting to lessons learned in Cali, and that Cali will do likewise.

 

[auscyclefan94]

California >>>>> Colorado.

 

[benpounder]

Anyone else see examples of what they are doing right in Colorado? I'm hopeful that they are reacting to lessons learned in Cali, and that Cali will do likewise.

That waiving of state law came late in the preparation, and was a brilliant move. However, there are a couple of differences that may prevent the ToC from doing similarly. All these climbs are far removed from population centers. Secondly, of the four major passes used here, only tomorrow's first test of Rabbit Ears is under 10,000ft (it can snow even in August at those elevations).

Together it means that the folks attending these mountain top 'parties' are people who regularly frequent Colorado's high country, and have a healthy respect for how it should be treated. It is likely that, unlike, say l'Alpe, these folks are also self-policing. The best way to ruin a good thing is allowing folks to act like boneheads.

But hopefully Cali will allow similar exemptions on at least some of the stages. I will thank the ToC for getting Adobe on board - Tour Tracker is mostly wonderful.

 

[ElChingon]

Nice idea but as the >> post, its not the same place. Besides, in California its best not to setup a rule or temporary rule, just do it. Otherwise it would mean ever possible yahoo would want the same thing for their event no matter how small. I think just allowing the ToC to happen and be on roads is a major accomplishment, lets not fan any possible flames.

 

[jens_attacks]

it's the other way around