This news comes from the New York Bicycling Coalition newsletter. Jimminy Peak is located just across the eastern border of New York State. Traditionally, bike racers make an early season weekend of it by racing at Jimminy Peak on Saturday and then coming to do the Hollenbeck Classic on Sunday here in Virgil. About 50% of the mileage of the Virgil race is on state highways that would probably be designated for the rumble treatment.

Jiminy Peak Road Race Cancelled Due to Added Rumble Strips

The highly popular Jiminy Peak Road Race, regarded as a spring classic in New England and regularly drawing racers from all over the Northeast–including professionals and amateurs from some of America’s top teams–has been cancelled due to State DOT installation rumble strips on SR 7. Divots and deflectors added to the center line were also cited: “The feeling is that the safety additions for cars make it unsafe for bikes.”

According to Dieter Drake, president of the NYS Bicycle Racing Association, “700+ racers now not injecting many thousands into the local economy in nearby Berkshire County.”

As mentioned in previous editions of NYBC Enews, there is a current draft proposal to bring rumble strips to secondary state roads in New York. NYBC continues to fight vigilantly on behalf of bicyclists for safer, cleaner road shoulders, calling upon NYSDOT — and meeting with its officials — to avoid bike-hostile shoulder treatments. For more information, visit www.nybc.net/rumble-strips.

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