RAGBRAI's Polk County trek may cost more than $1 million, metro organizers tell Axios.
Why it matters: Public safety.
- Some estimate as many as 100,000 riders participating in the 50-mile route from Ames to DSM on July 26.
State of play: Plans are still in progress but the route is anticipated to take over a section of East 14th Street in both directions and likely require the assistance of hundreds of traffic, law enforcement and emergency personnel.
- It's still unknown how much local governments will be asked to contribute, what corporate donations may cover or how much RAGBRAI/the Des Moines Register may pay, Trina Flack of Catch DSM tells Axios.
- Her group is working with RAGBRAI and multiple metro governments to plan for the event.
Flashback: The event's last metro appearance in 2013 included roughly 20,000 riders and came to DSM from Valley Junction, according to a Register article published that year.