Parking and bus rides in Lawrence will be free May 13, officials said Friday, part of an attempt to calm fears that downtown businesses would be hurt by temporary street closings for a national bicycle race.

“I think it would certainly make it more attractive to come downtown,” City Manager Mike Wildgen said. “If 25 cents (for parking) is a deterrent, we don’t want it to be a deterrent for a day.”

Steve Wilson, manager of Kief’s Downtown Music, 825 Mass., had previously said that plans to close Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire streets for the National Collegiate Cycling Championships would be a “business killer.”

“It’s a step in the right direction,” he said Friday of City Hall’s new efforts.

Maria Martin, director of Downtown Lawrence Inc., conceded that some businesses might have an off-day when the streets — and a few parking lots — are closed for the race.

But the benefits of national exposure, she said, ultimately should outweigh the costs.

“What we have to realize is that to have the opportunity to promote something like this is very positive for downtown,” Martin said Friday.

The race on May 13, a Friday, is a “criterium” — several laps on a closed course using public roads. It is one of three days of racing connected with the championships. Officials have agreed to close the downtown streets from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 13 for the criterium.

Also on the agenda:

6News video: Officials taking steps to help businesses during bike race (04-22-05) Bike race to disrupt business cycle (04-07-05) 6News video: Bike race to close part of downtown (04-06-05) Commission approves downtown bike race (03-02-05) Cycling event could close K-10 for 5 hours in May (02-27-05) National event coming to town (02-14-05)

• Road race, May 14: Cyclists will make two or three laps — depending on their level of competition — along a 28-mile loop around Perry Lake.
• Time trial, May 15: Teams will compete along a 12-mile stretch of Kansas Highway 10 between U.S. Highways 40 and 59 west of Lawrence.

Bob Sanner, director of conventions and sports for the Lawrence Convention & Visitors Bureau, said earlier this month the championships could bring between 1,500 and 2,000 spectators to town for the series of races.

Even if those spectators temporarily clog downtown May 13 and keep regular customers from getting through, Martin said, they’ll stay in town the other two days and provide an economic boost.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity for the city,” she said.

Nonetheless, Martin said, members of the DLI board were working hard to address fears.

“It’s a new and exciting event for downtown,” she said. “When people have concerns, we want to work to answer them.”

Wilson, meanwhile, remained ambivalent.

“I look at this thing with bifocals,” Wilson said. “On the one hand, it’s a business killer, but on the other hand it’s a way to promote downtown, and we’re downtown. It’s a win-lose proposition.”