2,000 bicyclists expected for Las Vegas fundraiser

By Kyle B. Hansen

Friday, Oct. 8, 2010 | 1:50 a.m.

Motorists on Las Vegas Valley roads should prepare for delays and be extra cautious Saturday as nearly 2,000 cyclists take to the streets as part of the Regional Transportation Commission’s annual Viva Bike Vegas event.

The bike tour begins at 6:30 a.m. downtown when participants in the 115-mile century course start toward the Lake Mead National Recreation Area before crossing the Hoover Dam bypass bridge, then looping around the southern end of the valley to Blue Diamond and Red Rock before returning downtown.

Those opting for the 50-mile course will leave downtown at 7:30 a.m. en route to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and back. The 23-mile course also leaves at 7:30 a.m., then returns after turning around near the Las Vegas Beltway.

Police escorts will provide rolling road closures for the cyclists as they travel the three routes.

RTC officials said motorists should expect traffic to be affected on the following streets:

• Washington Avenue from Main Street to Hollywood Boulevard from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

• Hollywood Boulevard from Washington Avenue to Lake Mead Boulevard from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

• Lake Mead National Recreation Area from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

• Alta Drive from Grand Central Parkway west to Desert Foothills Drive from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

• U.S. 93 through Boulder City and into the Las Vegas Valley from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

• Horizon Ridge Parkway from 9 a.m. to noon

• State Route 160 from the intersection with State Route 159 to Fort Apache Road from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

• State Route 159 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Bicyclists from 30 states and Canada are signed up to participate in the event, with proceeds going to the Nevada Cancer Institute and the After-School All Stars.

In addition to RTC General Manager Jacob Snow, two professional cyclists, Andrew Pinfold and Max Jenkins from the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team, will lead the century ride.

The bike event is not a race, but participants can use timing chips to record their official times.

The cyclists in the century course will be the first to use the new Hoover Dam bypass bridge, less than a week before it is dedicated.