No question about it, the Harley Davidson Shop in Ocean City have built one of the biggest events of the year for the Eastern Shore. Millions of dollars are being spent at the end of the season and there are literally thousands of businesses who should also be praising this event.
If anyone has any Ocean City pictures they'd like to send in we'd be happy to post them. Unfortunately for me, its an election year and I wasn't able to get away long enough to make the ride out there. However, I have been to Winter Place Park each and every day.
One thing I'd love to have is an aerial shot of Ocean City and Winter Place Park. If you've got one, send it.
42 comments:
This is your blog and you are certainly entitled to your opinion as anyone else. But, this is not where you were born and raised. Some Eastern Shore people like events like this. Many don't! Many would like to have the "Land of Pleasant Living" like it was before many of the city people came into the area. Less crime. More kindness. Greater levels of respect for others, etc. We may never be able to close the floodgates of people who want to share in this. But, special events like this where hoards of people come for 1 to 2 days and trash where we live: we could simply do without. Just a thought shared by many WHO "ARE" EASTERN SHOREMEN & WOMEN.
I'd like to know who all benefits and how much they benefit in dollars from the $5.00 per vehicle in parking fees. I don't mind paying, but paying at the Harley shop just to park to shop at the shop and vendors seems a bit much. I am a biker (Harley rider) who loves to see the bikers come to Delmarva and put millions of dollars in the pockets of the local businesses. If residents of the area don't like the bikers, it is a good time for them to go on vacation for 4 or 5 days!
anonymous 10:25, I'm not sure what parking lot you're talking about. IF they charged $5.00 at Winter Place Park, they rent the entire facility from the County. Bikers did not have to pay for anything there. If I had known they charged to park there, (which I'm not really sure they do) I would have loved to have known that and I would have published it. Please keep me updated on that issue. Thanks.
Just because you were born and raised somewhere does not mean you own the place. It isn't the people coming in for these events that are causing the crime and trashing where we live. Take a good look around, it is many people born and raised here that are the problem.
10:25 This is the point. It is OUR HOME, not yours. Why should WE have to leave our home becuase you want to have adolescent fun for a few days? I road a motorcycle for decades and loved it. There are idiots on cars and motorcycles. Just more on motorcycles during Bike Week. I got cut off several times in the last two days. This is not a gripe. I expect it during Bike Week and I look out for them, especially the mid-life crisis ones who want to rev up and speed up and attempt to be teenagers again. I just wish they'd have this on the other side of the bay and leave us alone.
BOZO 10:13 AM no one has trashed our city more than your Mayor Tilghman and Mayor Ireton which allows the slumlords to maintain some of the worst slums in the country. Renters of Slum Properties don't care where they live of what it looks like.
I am local and I welcome these bikers with open arms. This is one of the best events that has ever happened to the Eastern Shore of Maryland. I would love to see them bring back Beast of The East.
Hey did you hear that?? Another Harley just rode by my house. I love that sound.
Joe, that business(might be a call center) right beside East Wicomico Little League was charging $5 for parking. I saw it yesterday when I pulled in there to turn around because the line was to long to get to the park. If anyone should have been charging it should have been East Wicomico Little League as a donation for the kids.
Steven Decatur High School was soliciting donations as Blacktop for Kids or something like that. I contributed and I would have contributed to EWLL.
I'm not saying we don't have locals who cause problems. Do we need MORE PROBLEMS? Not sure if you were born here but the people of the Eastern Shore not too many years ago didn't lock their doors. Crime was not what it is today. The influx of people moving into our area who have bad influences has been taking place for 30+ years and we are reaping the negative benefits. There aren't as many families who have been here's as there are the comes here's who cause the problems. Look at their addresses: DUI's, court briefs, etc. Not many of them have been here's for very long. You might not know that becauase you might be a come here. Nothing wrong with that but our Eastern Shore quality of life is deeply respected by most families who have called it home for 50-75 years. I'm sure you and your family are fine people. Many are not!
The bikers haven't caused any trouble in Ocean City, short of the noise. Actually if you get right down to it alot of the trouble that does happen in Ocean City is caused by a certain element coming from Salisbury, Pocomoke, Berlin, the eastern shore of Va and parts of Delaware like Seaford.
10:30 Amen. As a "born and bred" I've lived here all my life and can attest to the fact that the crime happens 24/7/365, and not just when special events are happening. And I haven't really seen where the bikers have trashed anything.
Joe, they were charging to park in back of the Harley Davidson shop in OC/Berlin. I don't know if the Bennett's own that property or not, or if they rent it for this yearly event. We first parked at the high school in late afternoon because school was out. We parked there last year and it was okay. But we were told that we had to park behind the Harley shop. We then went to Winter Place park and did not have to pay there.
Ocean City Harley Davidson put out a fatwah on Rehoboth Beach, DE because of the red light cameras.
Now if OC or Salisbury decides to follow suit - lookout because they'll split.
Well Joe you may want to check your facts a little here. I was told that Harley Davidson only pig backed on this event and profited from the name. Ocean City, Seaford Harley Davidson are poor, poorly run places with horrible customer service who don't honnor what they sell. Most true "harley people" bypass them and spend their monies in Annapoilis or other places other than OC, Seaford due to their arrogant additudes. Walk in to Annapolis Harley Davidson if you want to see what a harley shop should run like, professional people with a bent over backwards to help you additdues
As a hotel worker in Ocean City I have to say that, as a group, the bikers are the nicest, most understanding and courteous bunch that visits this town. I would also venture to guess that they spend more money than ANY other group. Hotel rates were high this weekend, and I'm sure there was not an empty room in town. That's great for everyone that lives here. I don't care for all the noise and the constant rumbling of bikes day and night, but hey...its only for a few days. Back to peace and quiet on the slower lower shore by this afternoon.
Wonder if any 1% showed up.
my family and I enjoyed a great fun filled day yesterday between the stadium and winterplace.
U bikerphobes need to go out there.
You'd be really surprised just how nice the people are.
1000's of people averaging between 30 and 60, all have jobs and are good hard working Americans who also enjoy biking. These "toys" are very expensive. This is not the class of trouble making spongers that are here all of the time anyhow.
The one "biker" issue this weekend had nothing to do with this event but everything to do with everyday Salisbury.
Quite frankly,being there yesterday was the safest place in town....
10:13 very well said! i do agree with you.
we were in Ocean City on Saturday afternoon. I thought I was inside a bee hive. (buzzing) It was nice to see so may people there. I think there was more people there, like secerets, than Salisbury. Saw one biker get hurt on the main road in Ocean City. Hope he is ok.
10:13 - As someone who was born and raised here, I love bike week. It certainly is a huge boost to the local economy, in what used to be a rather quiet weekend.
I'm not sure where you live on the Eastern Shore, but we live near one of the larger resorts in the region. As someone who was born and raised here, you should be used to it by now. Get over it.
It amazes me that people complain about everything. The bikers are good people with expensive toys. I've met some of the nicest people who come here for bike week. This is a huge boost to our economy here on the Shore. I was born and raised here and to think where this all began 10 years ago and the difference now. One of the main reasons people complain is because of the noise. It's only four days. What about all of the people who come for the month of July? They certainly create major traffic issues. The bikers are actually nicer than those people who come here.
As far as the noise goes, I can appreciate it. My husband and I used to own a Kawasaki Vulcan. It was his first bike and he wanted something not so expensive in case he had an accident. When we were riding with the factory installed pipes, we had several close calls because people didn't see us or hear us. We got new pipes installed and what a difference. People could hear us now and paid more attention to us. Unless you ride you just don't understand about the noise. It's been a beautiful weekend. Be safe everyone in your travels.
It's nice to have all the money come to this area, i'm all for that. But many of these bikers ride after drinking, and that drives me absolutely crazy considering they expect to be treated like gods while they are on the road. I've watched many groups literally hop from bar to bar, and then hop right back on there bike and keep riding. This is a serious problem and it needs to be addressed among this specific group. I glad that there are many bikers who won't touch a drop of alcohol while they are on a bike, and that's to be highly commended.
Appaently the economy hasnt affected alot of the "bikers" but hey Im not complaining....When they come here they have to eat somewhere,drink somewhere,etc etc.It can only help local businesses,some of who are really hurting right now.Thats a positive way to look at it.
10:56 your point is moot... My family is one of those "50-75" years ones, even longer actually. My previous generation have had all sorts of problems with the law, my generation is clean as a whistle. Sorry the eastern shore isn't Mayberry any longer, but don't fabricate something to blame it on. And the bikers are good people, I waited on them all weekend and this is always one of the most incident-free weekends of the summer season.
Rob S
this might be the last year for Bike "week" because rumor has it the Ocean City Harley shop will be closing down because family does not want to run it anymore, being it is just a glorified t-shirt shoppe and not making the money, with seaford wholly supporting them. How can it be considered a week when it is just the weekend.
I hope next year the police arrest every person who speeds, drives crazy, drinks and drives, causes a disruption, so on. Wonder how many check points took place? NONE! These business men and women won't be back.
10:13 It is always a good thing when people move in from out of the area, business thrive, schools get better and it also makes it so brothers and sisters don't have to have babies together! cj
as a biker born and raised on the eastern shore,im not a big fan of the poodle show,or insert any other event here, they have in town,but do i gripe about it?...no..everyone likes different things...spent the last 4 days with many thousand of my riding brothers and sisters and enjoyed ever minute of it!
loud pipes save lives....dont believe it?..ride a quiet bike and see for yourself....
old guy acting 20 again..lmao
I've lived here for 34 years and never seen so many lazy and whinning people.Whaa, Whaa and whine. Land of the pleasant living
is what you make it!
I was born and raised here and my father was one of the original bike mechanics in the area back in the day so I've seen my share of bikers of all kinds. Many born-heres wait all year for this event, as I do, and love attending with other bikers from all areas and all walks of life. I suggest that the people complaining get away from the TV where they've learned what they think bikers are like and get out and interact with them. I think you'd be surprised that we are not all Pagans or Hell's Angels. Would it surprise the complainers that there was a religious-based group involved or that they held a ministry this morning?
I guess that Anon 10:13 must never go on vacation. No Disney, no Busch Gardens, whatever. Why would it be any different? Did you ever think that maybe the locals in the area you visit might not want you there?
As for parking, I never paid a dime at Winterplace or in the lot/field behind Harley OC. We did pay for a space in the municipal lot in OC, but we were told by a police officer patrolling the area that we pay per space, so three of us filling the space only had to pay once.
1:43 One can only hope that Annapolis Harley will buy out Seaford & OC Harley.They bought out both Mikes Famous in DE already. Most Harley owners already know, if you need something to fix the bike you own dont go to seaford or OC Call someone who will help you, Annapolis. If you want a new bike or apparel then go to Seaford.
Richard
Anonymous said...
It's nice to have all the money come to this area, i'm all for that. But many of these bikers ride after drinking, and that drives me absolutely crazy considering they expect to be treated like gods while they are on the road. I've watched many groups literally hop from bar to bar, and then hop right back on there bike and keep riding. This is a serious problem and it needs to be addressed among this specific group. I glad that there are many bikers who won't touch a drop of alcohol while they are on a bike, and that's to be highly commended.
1:11 PM
And you think that 'bikers' are the only one that does this? How do you know they hop from bar to bar? Are you stalking them or just trying to stir crap?
1. Delmarva Bike Week is run by the same owners as H-D of O.C.
2. As a free event is $5 parking for cars a big deal???
3. It is a rumor every year for the past..oh 6 years or so that it will be the last bike week and the store is closing...maybe if more people supported our local businesses instead of wishing them closed we would all be better
OK, let me make something very clear here.
I think the HD Shop in O/C did a LOUSY job promoting this event.
Until Salisbury News published it was Bike Week on Thursday, NO ONE IN THE MSM HAD ANYTHING ON IT.
Not that it isn't typical for everyone else to follow the leader, the HD Shop in O/C didn't spend a dime on promoting this event, STUPID!
I don't know why they have a bug up their butts in O/C but we would have gladly promoted the entire event for them.
I was kind enough to thank them for btinging the event to the Eastern Shore but frankly it could have been MUCH BIGGER!
The HD Shop in O/C have forgotten where they came from and that's very sad. When they opened their doors, I can't tell you just how many of my personal friends went in there and bought a bike, or two and even three.
The ONLY reason they have survived is because of LOCAL support. Comments here are right. If people are being treated better in Annapolis, that's a shame. I also have had horrible experiences with their service department and that is why I started using Midnight Riders in Selbyville, DE. Half the service rates and parts were much less too. More importantly, they did the work right the first time and they care about what they do.
That being said, I also asked one of the vendors at Winter Place Park if they had those plastic chrome caps for nuts and bolts on a Harley and they handed me a package of 80 in the package. They had a price of $130.00, show special, $119.00. Talk about a massive RIP OFF! I looked at the guy and said, excuse me, does it say stupid on my forehead? He snatched it out of my hand and walked away.
Check out the shop in Selbyville and I can assure you that you'll get much better treatment and they do all kinds of custom work too. I haven't needed anything in years and I hope they're still around.
As for this years Bike Week, I also called Rick Pollitt's Office and asked why I hadn't received a Press Release for this event. They stated that the HD of O/C Shop rents the property from them and they're just the landlord. I said, yeah, the Dog Shows rent from you too and you send me Press releases, what's the difference. They simply said, there is a difference. So much for any interest in building the economic and development in this area, FOR FREE!
For the most part, interested bikers know when Delmarva Bike Week is - I believe it's always the 2nd Thursday after Labor Day. Interested people can always check the HDOC/Seaford web page, or DelmarvaBikeWeek.com for info like I do.
Joe, I'm not sure I understand your complaint. Is it that it wasn't promoted or that it wasn't promoted through you? Seems to me that there were quite a lot of bikers for it not to have been promoted. Realistically, yes your blog has a following in this area, but if you were at the event, you could see from the tags that these bikers come from much farther away than here. Even if HDOC had sent you a press release, would it really matter to those outside the Salisbury area?
I agree with you that Midnight Riders is where to go for service. My husband and I have had our Harley's serviced there for years and wouldn't think of going anywhere else here on the Shore.
anonymous 8:23, no, my thoughts were simply that quite a few local people would have liked to know about this event. Look, for what it's worth, not many people get the Daily Times any more. It's no skin off my back if HD of O/C fails to promote the event and or catch up with the times. IF they did in fact pay to promote the event in the DT's, they waisted a lot of money. Our numbers blow away the DT's any more, especially locally. Hence their no longer printing how many papers they distribute on a daily basis. We would have promoted the event for free this year as I truly believe this is a fantastic event for Delmarva. I'll add, yes there were a lot of bikers from out of this area, no question about that. Salisbury News reaches, (mainly) Delmarva. They have every right to choose whomever they want to promote the event. I just think it's a shame they haven't been more open minded. I'm glad it was a success either way. We did get the information out there on Thursday and throughout the weekend. I hope it helped.
10:56
I have to disagree with you. We moved here 20 plus years ago. I have seen some of the kids my child went to school with that were "locals". There are not to many of them that DON'T either have a record or a few kids by different mothers. What I have noticed is "locals" seem to be happy if they have any type of roof over their head and enough money to go fishing, hunting and drink beer. They have no drive behind them. Just do enough to get by. The prison being built here has a lot to do with the crime also. When they are released they stay in the area. Remind me who allowed the prison to be built here? That was before we moved here. Did anyone get up off their duff and fight it coming here or were you all just so happy to have a place for people to work you over looked the long term problems that have shown there ugly heads now. If you are so much against the "come heres" I have to wonder why you read this fine blog. Look at what the other "local" blogs offer........... nothing.
Armor Cycle in Salisbury is where you get your bike fixed right the first time. plus Rick won't sell you something you don't need.
Do some of you even know a biker or do you just lump them all in the same group of no-good, tattoed freaks??? Did you realize that many bikers are doctors, lawyers, etc that just enjoy riding and getting together with others who share the same interest? And yes, as has already been pointed out, there are numerous Christian biker groups out there. I would trust a biker over most people any day of the week.
you can have thousands of bikers in oc for 4 days, not one shooting that i heard of. 30 "locals" in a royal farm paking lot and a shooting/murder takes place.
I will second that 10:33 Rick knows his stuff and is the one who does my work
Richard
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