By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The Adventure Cycling Association has many bicycle-friendly routes all over the country. One route begins on the west coast in Oregon, eventually cuts through Kansas, and ends on the east coast in Virginia. With the route going through Great Bend, local organizations have accommodated bicyclists with a campground.
Great Bend Public Works Director Jason Cauley said most bicyclists will plan their trip, knowing about the campground in town.
"A lot of the time, bicyclists buy paper maps," said Cauley. "They only get updated every four years. If you go on Adventure Cycling's website, you will see updates where you can see that campground is on the route. They have worked to make sure it's on Google maps."
Cauley said between 60 and 70 bicyclists from around the country and world were reported to stop at the campground just north of the 10th Street and Harrison Street intersection, behind the Central Baptist Church.
Cauley said a local bicycling committee wants to add signage along the route to notify riders of the campground. Best Western Angus Inn General Manager Lacey Schofield said a few of the bicyclists make use of hotels while in town, but saw no problem promoting the campground which includes a charging station, picnic tables, porta-potty and a water well.
"Usually, we'll know cyclists coming in because they'll call asking to check in during the morning because they leave early and with this weather they're done by noon," said Schofield. "It's not that big of a piece of our business that I would be opposed to helping with signage for the campground. If they're going to camp they're going to camp. They're not skipping the hotel."
The route through Great Bend takes bicyclists along K-96 Highway, across Broadway Avenue and south down Main Street. Cauley will work with the committee to determine the best location for signage.