RAGBRAI emergency crews prepare for Iowa bike riders

ONAWA, Iowa —

We are just nine days out from RAGBRAI!

This year’s ride starts in Onawa on July 18 and wraps up in Dubuque on July 25.

Right now, emergency crews are getting ready for the thousands of riders expected along the route.

The University of Iowa is also training emergency medical services staff with simulated bicycle crash scenarios focused on common injuries. This helps firefighters prepare for the surge of riders.

“It’s a good practice going to be a lot of people here for RAGBRAI, so figuring out how to divvy up those resources or get them to who needs it first, it was valuable,” said firefighter Matthew Fetzer.

Fetzer said it’s also important for riders to focus on their own safety so emergency crews can make the most of their resources.

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