Watching the bikers go back and fourth forces you to think about them and what they mean to New Smyrna Beach . There are good and bad features to Bike Week.
First of all, it is refreshing to see so many people having a good time. Let’s face it. For bikers, zipping down the road gives them a rush and it shows. For commerce in New Smyrna Beach, the bikers mean more business for restaurants and motels and gas stations. It is hard to tell if they have much influence on other aspects of the business community, but it is hard to see that they could do anything but help it.
The bikers I have observed have been extremely well behaved . Of course, I’m not up late at night to see how they behave then. It should be noted that some very distinguished citizens take part in Bike Week including some of our own local doctors.
On the negative side, bikers clog up the streets especially near the Wa-lMart shopping center and many native New Smyrnans may tend to stay home when the bikers are in town.
Another downside to the bikers is that you have to be extra careful not to come “in contact” with them. They are harder to see than normal traffic as they offer a smaller visual cross-section and can be in places you don’t expect vehicles in normal traffic. One cynic I once knew recommended that you spray Pam on the front of your car so they won’t stick to the car if you hit any of them.
Of course, the biggest downside is the fatality rate that comes with so many motorcycles -- with three already, though none here in New Smyrna Beach. The bikes offer no protection. Collisions that would be trivial fender benders for people in cars can cause serious or fatal injuries to bikers. I feel certain that if motorcycling wasn’t such fun no-one would use them because of the danger..
Maybe the biggest nuisance is the noise. I have close friends who claim they have a hard time sleeping during Bike Week as the bikers cruise up and down the streets at all hours of the night. Part of the fun of biking is making a lot of noise. If they had a quiet motorcycle probably no one would buy it.
After it is all over, the town will be quiet again and some of us will actually miss the excitement. Restaurants and motels will miss the business.