Road closures for bike race Tuesday

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Wednesday, February 14, 2007

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Motorists may want to map out an alternate route if they are heading Upvalley Tuesday.

About 144 bicyclists are participating in the AmGen Tour of California bicycle race that day.

The cyclists leave Sonoma County at Trinity Road and travel toward the Oakville Grade. When they come off the grade and cross Highway 29, the highway will close for cyclists to pedal up the highway to Oakville Cross Road to Silverado Trail. The Trail will be closed for the racers to cross the roadway and make their way up Highway 128 to Lake Berryessa.

The CHP suggests motorists avoid Highway 29 and the Trail in those locations between 11 a.m. and noon./Register

22 comment(s)

JimClark wrote on Feb 14, 2007 6:24 AM:

" What is this all about? These roads are not made for a collection pretentious morons. Who is sponsoring this and who allowed it? "

Native Napan wrote on Feb 14, 2007 7:39 AM:

" Oh look, we're catering to tourists again. "

Jim wrote on Feb 14, 2007 8:01 AM:

" Who is sponsoring this event? Who in Napa County authorized this intrusion? "

What? wrote on Feb 14, 2007 8:25 AM:

" Bike riders are tourists? "

JasperWiggins wrote on Feb 14, 2007 9:34 AM:

" Oh pah-leeze, that whole 'us and them' exclusivity is so pase, and we're talking about a road people, a road that you can't normally take more than 30mph because of all the traffic on it ANYWAY!!!! It'll be closed for maybe an hour - gee, I wonder what else you can find to rant and moan about during that time. "

Get a Grip wrote on Feb 14, 2007 10:06 AM:

" It's great that we live in such a beautiful place and are able to be part of the Tour of California. Perhaps, you winers should go out and take a look at these marvelous athletes. "

Get over it wrote on Feb 14, 2007 10:16 AM:

" Most of us have jobs because of the tourists. This closure is only for one hour, not for a whole day. The cyclists, their supporters will leave money in the valley. This doesn't just happen in Napa, major cities will close thoroughfares and bridges for races, parades & celebrations. Whether we like it or not, our economy (read jobs) is intertwined with tourism even if it is not directly related to the wine industry. We should celebrate the fact that people WANT to come here and spend loads of money, some of which lands in our own wallets. "

JimClark wrote on Feb 14, 2007 11:09 AM:

" Not tourists. "No cycles or motor driven cycles allowed"? "

JimClark wrote on Feb 14, 2007 11:20 AM:

" These are NOT tourists. They are people who can ride their bikes anywhere that accomodates that kind of population. One must ask why they have chosen this place. They most certainly not here to view the surroundings. Disrupting the lives of a larger population is their purpose. Why? Because they can. Why not go to Marin or Davis? "

NaperMan wrote on Feb 14, 2007 12:14 PM:

" What a bunch of Whiners. The bikers are not tourists while riding but when they get off their bikes they, and all that are here to support them are. Get out of your rocking chair, put your LARK in the trunk and go see these amazing athletes perform, they're great!!! "

Why not wrote on Feb 14, 2007 12:45 PM:

" Maybe all the complainers can start a movement. Hell, lets cancel the Boston Marathon, the New York Marathon, even the Tour de France. "

Sarcasm wrote on Feb 14, 2007 12:50 PM:

" Why good are bicycles anyway. Just get rid of them all. Like I always say, "If you're not pollutin', you ain't commutin'." "

I.T.O.C wrote on Feb 14, 2007 3:50 PM:

" It is time to license bicycles and charge a fee. They require separate bike lanes and police and ambulance support and often take over entire roads. They should start paying their way. "

Local Yokel wrote on Feb 14, 2007 3:55 PM:

" This event will definitely disrupt my day as I live in the vicinity, BUT it is only for a short stretch so lets hope they all enjoy themselves. I do however, resent the myth of 'Napa being a biking mecca'. Yes if you stay on the Silverado Trail (IN the bike lane) or have fun mountain biking in wonderful Skyline Park, but bicycles on our narrow winding rural routes are a menace and a hazzard to both bicyclists and motorists alike. I find it astonishing that bicyclists will let me drag behind them at 5 mph unable to cross a double yellow line for fear of being liable for a wreck/injuries if I collide with an oncoming vehicle I cannot see or hear. Few cyclists offer any assistance in these situations, why don't they just pull over for a moment and let me by? Better still - stay on sensible routes. Mount Veeder, Monticello, 128, Trinity Road and Wild Horse Valley are hardly sane or safe. "

Hate'm wrote on Feb 14, 2007 6:39 PM:

" Why has the State and County allowed the narrow roads of east Napa county to be "bike paths" and not provided room for them. I for one will sue the State and the County of Napa if I'm ever in a collision resulting from bikes failing to give way to traffic. There isn't room for all these tourist bikes. Hasn't anyone noticed that traffic has increased along these back country roads? Then 75 percent of the riders are rude and will hog the whole lane and not ride single file. I've even had these dimwits stop traffic on their own. Where's a cop when you need one? I say tax the bikes to pay for dedicated lanes for their use, or get out of the way. And stop messing up my commute for your #*&^!! races. "

Just to be clear wrote on Feb 15, 2007 4:15 PM:

" It's a professional race, people -- like the Tour de France. The eight-day event means about $100 million in economic growth for the state. As a host to the race, Napa will get a significant slice of that. "

Dear Hate'm: wrote on Feb 15, 2007 4:22 PM:

" I look forward to your lawsuit against the state and county after you kill an innocent bicyclist. I hope whatever lawyer you can persuade to take such a crackpot case will also defend you in your criminal manslaughter trial and when the victim's family sues you for everything you own. In each of these courtrooms, I'm afraid you'll find that the Calif. vehicle code clearly gives cyclists rights to the road equal to yours, including a right to take up a full lane when it is necessary for their safety. "

A little perspective? wrote on Feb 16, 2007 8:39 AM:

" What on earth is wrong with a world-class race coming through the Napa Valley? The Wine Train takes longer to cross 29 in Rutherford than these guys will to cross it in Oakville -- and the Wine Train does it four times a day, 365 days a year. I think it's great for our valley to be associated with a sport that doesn't maim its participants (like football). It would be nice if all the haters also refrained from maiming any cyclists, but I fear that is too much to ask of some of these posters. Which is why I am eager for the bike path, so I don't have to share the road with someone who hates me and wants me dead. "

Commuter wrote on Feb 16, 2007 5:47 PM:

" Remember the 1975 movie "Death Race 2000"? "

what's with the hate? wrote on Feb 17, 2007 10:40 PM:

" I can't beleive what I'm reading. Do any of you haters ever ride a bike or know the laws. Bicyclists must follow the same laws as cars and are entitled to the same roads that cars are. Why are people so concerned about a small traffic detour like this. At least they are giving you notice so that you can avoid it. I'm sure there wouldn't be this much complaining if Lance Armstrong was in the race. Am I right?Driving in general sucks so why not enjoy the weather and the scenery of this area while on a nice bike ride. It burns calories and doesn't pollute the environment at the same time. What's wrong with that? Moral of the story. Stop the b@$%&ing. "

What if wrote on Feb 18, 2007 9:56 AM:

" If there is a tourist season why cant we hunt them?? "

:( bikes wrote on Feb 18, 2007 7:56 PM:

" having a pro bike race is not that bad. What is bad are those that think they are pros that ride up and down OUR valley with our thinking. they ride on roads with no bike lanes. How many times have you driven towards berryessa and got stuck behind a group that refuses to single up? they should not be allowed on busy road ways that have no bike lanes!!! "

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