Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Sunday, June 11, 2017

Cruisin’ Debate Long On Questions, Comments, But Short On Easy Solutions

OCEAN CITY — Local residents and business owners weighed in Monday on some of the issues related to Cruisin’ Ocean City after one of the more troublesome events in May, but it appears there are more questions than answers for now about the future of the event.

While most of the 3,000-plus registered attendees participate in the officially sanctioned events such as the Boardwalk parade and the car shows at the Inlet, a far greater number of hangers-on race up and down resort streets, peel out and leave rubber on the roadways and smoke and fumes lingering in the otherwise clean ocean air, and line the sidewalks with beach chairs and watch the carnage with coolers and open containers of alcohol.

It’s certainly not a new issue. Naturally, when a narrow 10-mile barrier island hosts thousands of classic cars and hot rods of all shapes and sizes, there inevitably comes traffic jams, parking problems, noise, trash and other illicit behavior. This year was particularly troublesome for a variety of reasons, including the summer-like weather that attracted thousands more not associated with the event, resulting a jam-packed weekend that kept cash registers ringing, but created headaches for residents and the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD).

More

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

The price of success....plan it and they will come!!!!

Anonymous said...

Carnage? lighten the hell up,the hotels were full the restaurants were full for crying out loud you act like they were killing people. So a few people squealed their tires big deal it's a resort town,don't bite the hand that feeds you.

Anonymous said...

Quote:

“Let’s have the residents concerned about the noise, let’s have the business community that’s truly affected, let’s have the Mayor and Council and the police, and let’s brainstorm on what we can do together rather than jump straight to a date change.”

How about adding to the list of concerned, the sponsor of the event?
Special Events Production
Maybe invite participants.

Also, the teacher concerned for the "keds", bet they see worse in school.

Anonymous said...

OC prefers to plan it, they come, the city and local businesses rake in the cash then they all b1tch and moan about it afterwards.
You're either a resort town with all the trappings of popular events or you shun the public and decide to be exclusive.

Anonymous said...

SOME of the attendees did what they wanted legal or not. I saw NO traffic enforcement by anyone on Saturday even though I was in that traffic for over 8 hours. I doubt that MANY of the redneck hotrods were even street legal. They continued to do what they wanted because nobody stopped them and here we are just "talking about it".

Jim said...

I think people have gone crazy!! It is 1 weekend a year. Sure there will be problems but the money the town brings in over compensates for that. And who cares about burnouts... what harm does it do? Locals choose to live in a tourist town that NEEDS tourists and events like this to make money!! Should they have a bigger police presence... of course. Start the summer cops that week. And the tow companies will love this... tow any car doing burnouts!! Put the cops on bikes... they can move around better.
And I agree that no matter what weekend or month they move it to there will still be the hangers on (what does that even mean) Suck it up OC, keep the same date so all businesses can prosper and get a few more cops on the ground.

Johns Uncle Murray said...

They did kill someone, while squealling they're tires.. How bout if that was your kid they ran over while squealing tires and drag racing on coastal highway.. would want them to lighten up then..? Need to get the facts before you go off on you're keyboard

Zorro said...

Saw allot of SHORE BILLIES with their 18 foot high Diesel Trucks buzzing around as if they were in the car show.

Anonymous said...

Nobody really got out of line, and in the past I've heard of an off-loop road offered specifically for burnouts. This is a great idea, as many will choose to wait to do it for the audience that loves it.

Cash flowed, vendors were happy, fans were satisfied, fuddy duddies were pi$$ed off, and lots of eye candy was present. There were even a lot of pretty girls there!

If you can't love that, then move to the Historic district of Berlin, it may be more your speed.

Anonymous said...

funny thing about this is I'm betting all those business owners who love the crowds and everything that comes with them don't live in oc year round!
make their cash and flee when the season ends!

Anonymous said...

Actually it is you who should some research..there was no drag race involved in that death.....

Concerned Retiree said...

Why is Cruisin' such a problem? OC is packed from Hotels to restaurants. The Tourism and Council members know what to expect . They are bringing in hundreds of thousands of dollars. Just because there are a small percentage complainers Council members wants to blame others. I would prefer this event along with bike week than the everyday vacationer.

Why is this event any different from everyday vacationers? They come here and commit crimes, sell their drugs, commit rape, steal to name a few and there is no outcry by these same people?

OC is and has not been a family resort for decades. OC Council and their Tourism department has been spreading this lie attracting hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Go to VA, NC or SC beaches if you want a more family oriented beach vacation.

Anonymous said...

7:02. Maybe you need to get your facts straight before you fall off your soapbox. The person killed was intoxicated in a dark section not in a cross walk. The person in the car was in his proper lane doing the speed limit. Although I'm sure he feels bad for the awful outcome he is not responsible for others stupidity.

Anonymous said...

wanna do burnouts? go to strip. wanna race? go to strip. wanna see how fast your car will go? go to strip.

wanna burnout and make a lot of noise and smoke? go to oc. wanna impress other kids like yourself? go to oc. wanna intimidate other drivers who are trying to drive legal and enjoy themselves? go to oc. wanna get drunk, rowdy and pretend you can drive? go to oc.

NO amount of money is worth all the noise, trouble, pollution, unsafe acts or tolerating your immature hijinks. and if you have a gf who thinks it's cool she is just as stupid as you are.

Anonymous said...

Come winter time you'll be begging those shorebillies to pull your prius out of the ditch when you slip on the ice as you sip your Starbucks while texting on your iPhone

Anonymous said...

O. C. is a tourist town. If you want quiet, go to the Carolinas and live in a gated community. Oh you can't afford that? I guess you will have to put up with a little noise. I love my Hot Rod and I can't wait for the fall car events.

Anonymous said...

oc is a playground for degenerates and immature kids who have no skills other than power braking a pos vehicle

Shadow said...

There are always going to be bad apples. Drag racing and burn outs are paramount to wreckless driving. Arrest the rotten apples and impound the vehicles. Impose huge fines. Set up cameras everywhere and use the video footage of wreckless drivers to send out court summons to appear on wreckless driving charges even after the event.

Anonymous said...

I was in OC for the entire event. Yes, there were a lot of expensive and not so expensive cars squealing their tires and racing in the streets.
Now that several weeks have passed I have memories of tens of thousands of people of ALL ages enjoying themselves and the company of others who simply like cars both old and new. These people got together to celebrate the automobile which has had a huge impact on the American way of life.
Now that I am heading into my seventh decade in America I have realized a significant change in how many Americans are starting to think. There seems to be a growing segment of citizens who believe that they have somehow been anointed to dictate how others should or shouldn't behave, speak or live their lives. This segment seems to believe they are the only ones with a legitimate voice and anyone who believes or acts otherwise is to be silences or shunned.
Americans used to simply agree to disagree. But lately it seems one side wants to totally shut down and eliminate those who have different thoughts, beliefs and standards of living the American dream.
I hope this is just a phase and want to believe that common sense and courtesy will once again prevail.

Anonymous said...

Old people need to move to Bethany where they have nothing going on.

Johns Uncle Murray said...

The driver of the vehicle, Stanley J. Faison, 50, was arrested and has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and multiple other traffic-related charges, Ocean City police said