Cyclists grumble about highway's rumbles
By Nick Hytrek Journal staff writer

Cyclists Craig *****, front, Wayne *****, left, and John ***** ride along Iowa Highway 12 April 9. Cyclists say the rumble strips, located along the highway's white edge line, have made it difficult for cyclists to use the highway. (Staff photo by Jim Lee)

Two years ago, motorists traveling the roughly 25 miles between Sioux City and Akron on Iowa Highway 12 drove on a road of crumbling shoulders and narrow, bumpy lanes.

That summer, a repaving project smoothed the ride and gave drivers more room on which to travel the hills and curves of the scenic route.

But local bicyclists say a safety feature the Iowa Department of Transportation added late last summer has made pedaling on the popular path less than perfect.


Into about half the width of the 2-foot-wide paved shoulders, the DOT ground rumble strips to help reduce motor vehicle accidents. Riding their bikes over the rumbles while moving over for passing traffic is hard, cyclists say, and the remaining shoulder is too narrow to ride on safely. Dropping onto the rocked portion of the shoulder can cause a rider to lose control of his or her bicycle.

"Everything I've heard has been 'why did they do that?'" said Doug Albrecht, owner of Albrecht Cycle Shop, 200 Fifth St. "(The DOT) should have known there was a lot of cycle traffic there, and maybe they could have done something different."

The DOT did know many cyclists use the highway, said Dakin Schultz, DOT District 3 transportation planner. Rumble strips are an effective safety measure to prevent vehicles from running off the road, he said, and, prior to adding them in 2005, Iowa 12 had a high number of run-off-the-road accidents between Sioux City and Akron.

"The treatment was to try to address those types of crashes," Schultz said.

Prior to the welcomed repaving, the highway was in rough shape. Shoulders were crumbling, but generally wide enough for cyclists to move over for passing traffic, said John *****, safety coordinator for Siouxland Cyclists, a local cycling club.

"We were excited that we were going to get new shoulders," he said.

Cyclists just wish the DOT could have added the rumble strips in a more biker-friendly way.

"I'm not disputing that rumble strips are needed. I understand the safety behind that. We need it," ***** said.

Cyclists wonder why 4-foot shoulders rather than the 2-foot shoulders weren't part of the repaving design.

"Iowa 12 does not meet the criteria for 4-foot shoulders," Schultz said.

The highway falls far short of the required traffic count, he said, is not part of the National Highway System and is not designated a statewide bicycle trail.

Overall, the highway is wider now. Before the resurfacing, lanes were 11 feet wide with bituminous-surfaced shoulders. The roadway was widened to 12-foot lanes with the 2-foot paved shoulders, taking the total width from 22 feet to 28 feet. The Loess Hills, Big Sioux River and railroad tracks that run near the road complicate further widening, Schultz said.

The rumble strips weren't meant to deter bicycle use, Schultz said, but if they are a problem for cyclists, there are other options.

"There are other paved roads in the area they can use," he said. "They certainly can continue to use Highway 12."

And they will. ***** said that while Siouxland Cyclists might encourage members to take different routes for some of its organized rides, the natural beauty along the highway will continue to attract riders.

"It's a Loess Hills Scenic Byway, so it's very popular," ******* said. "We're not going to stop using it."

Because of design criteria and limited funding, the DOT has no plans to widen the shoulders, Schultz said. However, the rumbles mistakenly added by contractors along the 2-mile stretch between Riverside Boulevard and Stone State Park will be removed this year.

Cyclists will continue to cope with the rumbles the best they can.

"They just kind of deal with it. You've got to stay observant and be aware of who's ahead and behind you," Albrecht said. "There's no easy way around it."

Nick Hytrek can be reached at 712-293-4226 or nickhytrek@siouxcityjournal.com.