Cyclists warned to steer clear of ND's oil patch
BISMARCK, N.D. — Touring bicyclists wanting to retrace the journey of explorers Lewis and Clark or pedal through the northern tier of the U.S. are being warned to steer clear of northwest North Dakota because of heavy oil traffic.
The Adventure Cycling Association says it's re-mapping the popular bike routes due to "alarming reports" about risky riding conditions through North Dakota's booming oil patch.
Cartographer Jennifer Milyko says roads through North Dakota's oil patch are now among the most dangerous of the group's 40,000-mile route network in the U.S.
Milyko says new maps are due in May to reflect the change. She says it's the biggest such amendment to U.S. routes in the nonprofit's 39-year history.
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Too bad because it's the most interesting geography in the state. State and local police services have not been able to keep up with hiring officers; truck inspection officers can't keep up with
the increased number of vehicles, and they are finding many trucks failing inspection; and emergency services that were marginal before are now very inadequate and overworked.
A biker is better off than a bicyclist in some respects, but it will not be a relaxing ride with large trucks filling the roads up there. If you were looking at a ride on Hwy 2 or Hwy 200, it may be
better to take I-94 from Bismarck to well into Montana before finding a state highway to switch to.
BISMARCK, N.D. — Touring bicyclists wanting to retrace the journey of explorers Lewis and Clark or pedal through the northern tier of the U.S. are being warned to steer clear of northwest North Dakota because of heavy oil traffic.
The Adventure Cycling Association says it's re-mapping the popular bike routes due to "alarming reports" about risky riding conditions through North Dakota's booming oil patch.
Cartographer Jennifer Milyko says roads through North Dakota's oil patch are now among the most dangerous of the group's 40,000-mile route network in the U.S.
Milyko says new maps are due in May to reflect the change. She says it's the biggest such amendment to U.S. routes in the nonprofit's 39-year history.
-----------------------------
Too bad because it's the most interesting geography in the state. State and local police services have not been able to keep up with hiring officers; truck inspection officers can't keep up with
the increased number of vehicles, and they are finding many trucks failing inspection; and emergency services that were marginal before are now very inadequate and overworked.
A biker is better off than a bicyclist in some respects, but it will not be a relaxing ride with large trucks filling the roads up there. If you were looking at a ride on Hwy 2 or Hwy 200, it may be
better to take I-94 from Bismarck to well into Montana before finding a state highway to switch to.
