- By Shannon Lukens.
Frustrated ranchers and rural Routt County residents packed into the Routt County Commissioners hearing room Monday, to talk about why they don’t like the SBT GRVL race, which was held this year on Aug. 20. They’re concerned about safety and liability, and how the county roads are incompatible for a bike race with 3,000 participants.
Early on, Commissioner Tim Corrigan asked everyone in the room who was there to speak in opposition of the SBT GRVL race and almost all raised their hand. We counted about 70 people in the room.
Many of the property owners along the race course spoke.
Mary Kurtz said there are 536 private property owners along the 128 miles of county roads that comprise the SBT GRVL race course. She added that the race is on public roads.
Ced Damby added that there are no consequences for traffic violations or bad behavior. He said, “It’s almost like the promoter and the county have become problem-blind as to the problems this event creates.” He said the roads weren’t engineered for bike races and it really doesn’t work on the county roads.
Damby said they have had the same issues every year. But this year it was at a “critical mass,” with too many people doing too many things creating a huge negative impact to the rural community. “Our hospitality has been taken advantage of.”
Christy Belton agreed that the hospitality in the county has been exploited. “It tipped the scales this year.” She said the SBT GRVL ride goes through her ranch. She said she tried to get to her hayfield and people were yelling at her with a complete lack of respect for her and the rural citizens.
She said that the race fails to protect and preserve Routt County neighborhoods.
“Don’t renew it. Don’t modify it. It is an incompatible use of our county roads.”
Nancy Mucklow reminded Routt County Commissioners of the 2022 Master Plan. She questioned whether this race goes along with what is in the Master Plan. She said, “This is incompatible with our lifestyle and it was thrust upon us without any say.”
Chuck Vale is the retired Fire Chief for North Routt County. He worked in public safety for 49 years. He lives west of Clark and the race course intersects his ranch twice. His concern was for the inability of first responders to get through the area in a timely manner. There was an injury and he said the people with the race stopped the ambulance from getting through to a call.
Vale said there were drones, and ultralights, and motorcycles also speeding on county roads. “This is simply not safe for our citizens and ag producers.”
Amy Charity is the owner and co-founder of the SBT GRVL ride and she was also at the meeting. She said she started the race to show people how beautiful the area is in which we live. She said there are seven full-time staff members who run the event. They focus on giving back to the Steamboat Springs community and to local nonprofits. She said 300 locals participate and half of the 3,000 total participants are from Colorado.
She said the timing of the start of the race changed this year, which had an impact on the length.
She also said safety is an absolutely priority for race organizers. “Safety is what we think about all day long.”
Charity said she involves the Routt County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado State Patrol, Steamboat Springs Police, and Community Service officers.
She said they can have more signage and porta-potties along the course.
She also emphasized kindness and respect that we all need to have towards one another. She said they will reiterate that with the riders so that they all understand accountability. She said when the athletes register, race organizers will have the riders “commit and agree to safety, kindness and respect and to follow the rules of the road.”
She said they are evaluating the course, and considering using U.S. Forest Service Roads.
Charity also said they are here to come up with solutions.
Brent Romick started his public comments with, “This is the worst example of a county government special use permit that I’ve ever seen.”
Romick added, “Bicyclists are more rude than anyone I can imagine.”
He also emphasized how the county roads are not designed for this.
He said the ag business is hard enough, especially when you have to deal with interferences like the bike race. “We’re so damn busy that we don’t have time to come to these meetings, but you have our attention now.”
Linda Souders was frustrated that ag producers are no longer are respected. She said the bike riders are here to compete and win and the rules aren’t being followed. She said Aug. 19-20 was a perfect weekend for finishing their hay. “We are being ignored. Please don’t do this one. Steamboat Springs brings in plenty of money with other events.”
Jay May is another rancher born and raised in Routt County. His family homesteaded here. He reminded commissioners of the impact to wildlife. He was also frustrated with the lack of respect for local ranchers. “Give us a break and give us some seniority.”
Trenia Sanford told of how her cows joined the race this year. They went through the fence and ran along the road. “The bikers had no idea the danger they were in.” She said she was trying to get to the Routt County Fair, but instead, she had to gather her cows and repair her fence. Then the cows realized that they can break through the fence so they kept doing it for the next few days. As far as agriculture, Sanford added, “This is our business and not theirs.”
Jo Stanko spoke about how she got stuck behind a big pack of riders heading from 44 to 33A, as she was trying to go to the Routt County Fair on Hwy 40.
She said the trash was terrible on Cow Creek, with inner tubes, packets of food, water bottles and tires that were all discarded.
She said Steamboat Springs is not Routt County. The SBT GRVL benefits Steamboat Springs, “But there are a lot of us living outside of Steamboat Springs.”
“Take into account the balance and quality of life. It is degrading here. We are still here, paying our taxes. Ag is here. We are a business. We are a culture. I feel like my culture is under attack.”
Another resident also asked commissioners to remember the private landowners, and the elk, and the cows. “Consider your residents, ranchers, and cowboys who elect you and pay taxes here. Please consider them before you consider tourism.”
South Routt resident Frank Schaffner said he had yet to hear a solution. He said race organizers won’t be able to keep the bike riders in a single file line. He suggested bringing a smaller amount of riders, or changing the competitive level, or possibly spreading the race out over the summer. “Think of a compromise or solution.”
Nancy Mucklow spoke up again adding, “It’s not our job to come up with a solution. This was thrust upon us.”
Routt County Commissioner Tim Corrigan said he appreciated everyone attending the work session. He said it’s clear that something happened this year to bring out so much concern of the race that has happened for three years now. He said he’ll have conversations with the county attorney and Sheriff Doug Scherar. “This is our job to deal with this stuff.”
Routt County Commissioner Sonja Macys said, “We hear you. Thank you for being here.” She is also aware of the impact the race has to county roads, and the cumulative depreciation.”
She told the residents in the room, “We have your back. You can’t alienate the ag community which is basically the core of our community.”
Macys also thanked the organizers for coming to the meeting and listening to the concerns and complaints.
“We’re taking this very seriously. We will take into consideration not only this race, but all future events.”
Routt County Commissioner Tim Redmond told the crowd that he appreciated their reference to the Master Plan for Routt County. He remembers coming into Steamboat Springs from Hayden and seeing cyclists unloading in Milner for a ride, and then riding five abreast during the week leading up to the race.
He is also concerned about public safety. He said when the ambulance couldn’t get to the injured cyclist, a US Forest Service person had to help the rider who had a broken collarbone, and that wasn’t right.
Routt County Commissioners will be reviewing the Special Events permit, which costs $200 for an event of over 1,000 participants. Commissioner Tim Redmond says public safety is the #1 concern and this issue has to be addressed. He also noted that the registration page for next year’s race is set up, but that event organizers do not have permit at this time. He closed the meeting with the many ranchers in the room with, “We do understand that you are our constituents. Thank you for coming.”
Oct. 13, 2023 – COMMISSIONERS TO DISCUSS SPECIAL EVENT PERMITS MONDAY, INCLUDING SBT GRVL