Cycling Ban Rescinded — For Now

Bowing to pressure from thousands of cyclists and at least three influential state legislators, the Colorado State Patrol has rescinded its ban on large cyling events. At least for now.

“The latest is that the CSP is backing off to ‘study the issue’ for the next year,” [Rep. Michael] Merrifield [D-Manitou Springs] told VeloNews Friday evening. “I intend to keep up the pressure.”

Col. Mark Trostel, chief of the CSP, told a press conference at the patrol’s Lakewood headquarters that while he had “had a lot of input in support of this, too,” he had decided “in the spirit of cooperation and problem solving” to delay implementation of the 2500-rider ceiling for one year.

Though the one-year delay is likely nothing more than a face-saving measure by the patrol, Rep. Greg Brophy, the Republican from Wray who earlier in the week lead the charge against the measure, promises to keep up the pressure.

“I am not going to negotiate numbers. I am more than willing to negotiate with them about how we can continue to make these events safer as Colorado grows.

“I am very happy they have suspended the rule for a year so we can continue this discussion.”