RAGBRAI will use smartphone apps to alert riders during emergencies

Organizers of the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa are encouraging participants to use a smartphone app during the July 23-29 50th anniversary ride to keep them safe during severe weather or other emergencies.

Based on the user's location, the Smart911 app issues alerts during weather, traffic and other emergencies. The 15 counties RAGBRAI will travel through across Iowa already use the app to send out emergency alerts.

So far 28,000 riders, including single-day registrants, have signed up for RAGBRAI L, 10,000 more than in 2022, and they'll be camping along the way, meaning weather alerts will be especially important.

Severe storm warnings typically are provided through a combination of storm sirens and verbal communication by law enforcement officials and volunteers in campgrounds. But RAGBRAI Ride Director Matt Phippen noted that half of RAGBRAI riders come from outside Iowa, and may not be familiar with local protocols for emergencies. He said the Smart911 app is another tool to ensure warnings about floods, tornadoes and other hazards are delivered in a timely and effective way.

"It's another option that we have at our fingertips to make riders aware of upcoming issues that they need to know," Phippen said.

In addition, RAGBRAI will use a text app to keep riders informed of not only of weather alerts, but route alerts and activities throughout the week.

To connect, scan the QR code below and then send the message it brings up: ride2023.

Phippen acknowledged that cell phone coverage can be spotty in rural Iowa, but said the text system is "another platform that we have at our disposal to push messages out, and depending on where they're at, hopefully they'll receive that message."

Philip Joens covers retail, real estate and RAGBRAI for the Des Moines Register. He can be reached at 515-284-8184, [email protected] or on Twitter @Philip_Joens.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: RAGBRAI encourages riders to use Smart911 app for emergency alerts