Please consider supporting our business at the Haines Borough Assembly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 8. We desire to amend our tour permit for guided two-wheel tours on Lutak Road.
In 2024, we voluntarily redirected our Lutak tour to Haines Highway and Mud Bay after opposition from other tour operators. But officials blocked us from the highway due to speed concerns, despite its bike lane and history of cycling tours. Mud Bay, our only remaining option, presents safety concerns: blind curves, no guardrails, drop-offs and narrow shoulders make it unfit for bicycle group tours.
Four cruise lines have requested our Lutak tour for 2025. It equals just 15 days of operations. Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean cut dockings by 77%, Norwegian by 80%, Queen Elizabeth by 50%, and Carnival eliminated all stops — an overall loss of 23,000 guests. These 15 days are our only predictable income this summer. Without this permit, our business will end.
Our tours do not contribute to complaints in the Chilkoot corridor. We yield to cars, avoid congestion and distance guests from wildlife. Cited issues stem from unsupervised visitors. That’s not us.
Haines says it supports young families and entrepreneurship. That’s us. If you support us, please make public comments in person, on Zoom, or by email to [email protected]. Also, contact your assembly members and read our proposal online at https://www.hainesalaska.gov/media/89211
Andrew Letchworth & Cyclops Rides Alaska