Ear to the ground

“My grandma got trampled for a Cabbage Patch doll back in 1984.”

-Local woman commenting on the long legacy of holiday stampedes

The future of bicycle racing in Colorado is hanging in the balance. Citing safety concerns, the Colorado State Patrol has announced a new policy banning the biggest bicycle events throughout the state. The new limits could have impacts on the annual Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Last week, the State Patrol said that bicycle and triathlon events in Colorado must be limited to 2,500 riders. They also said that if safety becomes an issue, that limit could be lowered.

In late May of this year, just more than 2,000 riders made the trek from Durango to Silverton for the 35th annual Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. With this in mind, Kendra Holmes, Iron Horse event director, said the local race probably won’t get pinched by the new rules.

“Right now, I don’t think it will affect us too much since the Iron Horse is right around 2,000 riders, and we have a great relationship with the Colorado State Patrol down here,” she said.

However, the State Patrol can change the limit at any time, and the decision is echoing throughout what has traditionally been a bicycle-friendly state.

“Banning big bike events in Colorado, we think, is counterproductive,” Holmes said. “Colorado races, including the Iron Horse, raise millions for charities. The decision might also reduce tourism in the state. Currently, cycling and cycling events contribute more than $167 million and upwards of 2,000 jobs to Colorado.”

The advocacy group, Bicycle Colorado, is petitioning the State Patrol to reverse the policy, and more than 5,000 people signed the online petition within its first 24 hours.

The petition and more information can be found at: www.bicyclecolorado.org.

Tickets come downtown

Getting Nutcracker tickets just got a little easier. The Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College has opened an official ticket office in downtown Durango behind Magpies Newstand, at 707½ Main Ave.  

“For a long time we’ve been exploring options and procedures to make purchasing and picking up tickets much easier for folks,” said Gary Penington, concert hall managing director.

The new downtown location will be staffed 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, and will process ticketing requests for all events at the hall via walk-up, or telephone and web order pick-up.