Cyclists are ignoring closure gates on Oregon’s scenic McKenzie Pass highway. ODOT says riders are entering active logging and tree-removal work zones. Officials warn that the road contains debris, snow, heavy equipment, and other hazards. Objectively speaking, riding a bicycle around traffic can be sketchy. Cars are bigger, faster, and often driven by people who either aren’t paying nearly enough attention or who are actively targeting riders. It’s easy to understand why some cyclists jump at the opportunity to enjoy a scenic mountain road without any vehicles on it. The problem is that Oregon’s McKenzie Pass isn’t exactly a cyclist’s paradise right now. In fact, based on photos released by transportation officials, it looks more like a place where you’d expect to find fallen trees, snowdrifts, logging equipment, and a whole lot of ways to get badly hurt in the blink of an eye. Read: Cyclist Ticketed For Confronting NYPD Officer Who Illegally Parked On Sidewalk According to KGW, that’s why the Oregon Department of Transportation is publicly asking cyclists to stop bypassing closure gates on Oregon Highway 242, also known as the McKenzie Pass. The roughly 40-mile route through the Cascade Mountains is one of the state’s most scenic roads and has become a popular destination for cyclists. In recent years, some riders have taken advantage of the annual winter closure period to enjoy the highway before it reopens to vehicle traffic. This year, however, ODOT says some cyclists are going well beyond simply riding on an empty road. “People are bypassing the closed gates, as well as the secondary closures, and riding into active hazard tree removal areas,” ODOT said. “This is extremely dangerous because crews are working with heavy equipment and actively felling trees with limited visibility.” Looking at ODOT’s photos, the road itself appears littered with hazards that would be nerve-wracking even in a car. For someone on a road bike, coming around a blind corner, ripping downhill, and finding a tree trunk, a pile of branches, loose rocks, or lingering snow across the pavement could quickly turn into a life-changing crash. For now, officials are asking cyclists and other visitors to resist the temptation of a traffic-free mountain road and wait until the gates come down. A car-free mountain highway can absolutely be idyllic. A car-free mountain highway filled with chainsaws, logging equipment, fallen trees, and surprise snowbanks? That’s a very different ride. Photos ODOT
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