As thousands of riders and others associated with Unbound Gravel get settled in Emporia this week, Lyon County law enforcement officials are asking everybody — riders and motorists alike — to be safe this week.
Lyon County Undersheriff John Koelsch spoke about the general safety message on KVOE’s Morning Show on Tuesday.
Shakeout rides are in abundance this week. For many cycling events, and even for much of Unbound’s earlier history, there weren’t a lot of riders involved — at least not like the hundreds of riders per ride this week.
In town, Koelsch says motorists need to keep in mind one fact:
Out of town, Koelsch says riders need to be ready for potential surprises and act accordingly.
Unbound has developed an international presence for years, and that grows annually. Koelsch says international rules of the road — and sometimes the rules of the road in other states — don’t always match the ones here.
Koelsch says local law enforcement agencies have been working together for years, and Life Time has added its own equipment and staff to help the safety efforts.
Koelsch says the help Life Time has provided helps law enforcement handle their core responsibilities.
Several Lyon County roads will be closed from 4 am Saturday to 4 am Sunday:
*Road 140 east of Road C
*Road 150 west of Highway 99, west of Road K
*Road 155 west of Highway 99
*Road D north of Road 120
*Road F north of Road 140, south of Road 150
*Road H north of Road 140
*Road J north of Road 140
*Americus: Locust Street from Road F to 5th St.
Meanwhile, the Emporia Police Department begins placing traffic control devices in downtown Emporia on Tuesday and has several traffic impacts ahead this week:
Wednesday through Friday:
*Commercial Street (6th Ave to 12th Ave) is closed to through traffic. Other closures involve Mechanic from 6th to 7th, 7th from Mechanic to Merchant and 8th from Mechanic to Merchant
Friday:
*3 pm: XL race begins. Riders will travel along Commercial Street to 12th Ave to Merchant Street to Road 187
Saturday:
*5:50-10 am: Riders depart. Riders will travel along Commercial Street to 12th Ave to Constitution to 6th Ave to Prairie Street to Road 160
Riders will go south out of Emporia — with 200-mile riders going to Madison, then eventually west to Matfield Green, north to Council Grove and back to Emporia. Riders in the 350 XL will go all the way south to Eureka before going to Florence and Council Grove and then returning to Emporia.
KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media will have extensive coverage of Unbound Gravel all week.
