Sea Otter Classic safety is “priority number one” as organizers welcome large crowds

There’s some amount of chaos that comes with any big event and the Sea Otter Classic is no stranger, considering the large crowds expected to attend this year’s cycling showcase.

People on foot, on bikes and in cars will all mesh into a cluster up and down the hills of the Laguna Seca in an attempt to get to the track.

There’s some danger facing competitors, although safety precautions are also in place for spectators, too.

Organizers say the fencing separating those on foot with those riding bicycles helps to keep things organized.

Two zones are for medical crews in case of an emergency as well.

“I’ve been here about 20 years now,” says lead announcer and cyclist Richard Fries. “I’ve only seen a helicopter come in once for an injury that severe.”

Some of the safety concerns are addressed by bicyclists and pedestrians, themselves.

Bicyclists will give a holler as to which direction they’re coming from if they’re approaching the back of those on foot.

Fries says cyclists tend to “know” if something is wrong with them physically, which will generally lead them to go and get checked out at the event’s medical tents.

“The magic number for injury is 30 miles per hour,” Fries says. “Rarely do you see people going faster than that. It’s not like motorsports and it’s definitely not as dangerous as what you’d see in the type of commute like you’d see in a car.”

The overall message here, Fries says, is to share the road if you’re heading to the Laguna Seca this weekend.