Tour da Yoop will arrive in Houghton today. The Cross Upper Peninsula cycling event, which raises funds for child cancer research and promotes biking safety awareness, began its journey last week in Manistique. Tomorrow, the pack of cyclists will travel around the Keweenaw Peninsula. To Copper Harbor and back.
Yeah, I think a big thing obviously is the draws Copper Harbor has for bicyclists, whether it’s mountain biking or the covered stretch driving up to Copper Harbor. One of the obvious safety concerns is the narrow roadways, the lack of shoulders, but then also, you know, no cell phones play into that. – Curt Pennala, Sheriff, Keweenaw County Sheriff’s Office
Keweenaw County has limited cell phone coverage. And during an emergency on the road, it can make it harder to contact first responders.
The route the cyclists use on Tuesday will follow US 41 and M-26 from Houghton through Hancock. The route follows M-26 up to Calumet, and then along the coast to Eagle River, Eagle Harbor, and Copper Harbor. Keweenaw County Sheriff Curt Pennala says the covered road section has narrow shoulders and tight curves that drivers need to keep in mind while bikers are on the roads.
Street bicyclists can pose a challenge. And I know a lot of bikers, it’s a comfort thing where they have to feel comfortable driving with that traffic being nearby. Thankfully, due to the change in the law in the past few years, they really cemented in that you have to provide them space when you’re passing, which makes it safer for everybody. – Curt Pennala, Sheriff, Keweenaw County Sheriff’s Office
When the pack leaves in the morning and returns later in the day, organizer Dan Dalquist asks drivers to give cyclists as much room on the bridge as possible.
We will take the middle of the right-hand lane from Hancock across the bridge down to the powerhouse. We’re riding at 25 to 30 miles an hour, which is the speed limit on the bridge, so give us the whole lane. – Dan Dalquist, organizer, tour da yoop
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