Trans Am Bike Race Headed Through Kansas

(Courtesy of the Kansas Department of Transportation)

TOPEKA, Kan. — Participants in the Trans American Bike Race left Astoria, Ore., at 7 a.m. on Sunday, June 2, and are expected to cross through Kansas as early as Friday, June 7.

The Trans American Bike Race is one of many cycling events in or through Kansas this summer. Motorists should expect to see an increase in cyclists during these warmer summer months and are reminded that Kansas law requires that motorists treat cyclists like any other motorized vehicle on the road. This includes moving over and passing like you would any other vehicle only when safe to do so and requires that motorists must have three feet of space between the cyclist and vehicle when passing.

Riders in this event will enter Kansas from Colorado on K-96 and will likely be traveling individually rather than in groups. The Trans Am route will take riders through Kansas communities including Leoti, Scott City, Rush Center, Larned, Hutchinson, Newton, Eureka, Chanute, Girard and then Pittsburg.

The Trans American Bike Race is an annual, self-supported, ultra-distance cycling race that stretches 4,200 miles across the U.S. from Astoria, Ore., to Yorktown, Va. This is not a stage race – meaning once the race starts, the clock doesn’t stop until the racers reach the finish line. Now in its fifth year, each racer must strategically decide when to rest, ride and refuel.

Additional information about the Trans America Race, including route details and GPS tracking of participants, is available at transambikerace.com.