Delmarva Bike Week cruises into town

 A staple for decades on the Eastern Shore, Delmarva Bike week is once again right around the corner.

“Delmarva Bike Week has been coming to this area for several years now is it’s nothing new for us but for any of our citizens who may have forgotten what goes on there’s going to be a lot of motorcycles. I mean thousands and thousands of motorcycles descending on the area,” says Lt. Tim Robinson of Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office.

In fact, they’re expecting about 100,000 people, according to Dave Haycek, who has worked Delmarva Bike Week for over 25 years and he says a gorgeous forecast could mean more than 100,000 visitors, which is an important safety consideration.

Doug Ritchie has been coming for years and keeps safety in mind, “Its been safe down here. Just make sure when your riding and you’ve had a beer, park the bike, so you don’t run into problems so everyone can continue staying safe .”

Local residents also worry about higher volumes of traffic in the area, but Lt. Robinson says they’ve been working with event organizers for the past year and are ready.

“We have a traffic flow pattern making sure its one way in and one way out to try and alleviate backups and try to keep it as minor of an inconvenience to the local residents here.”

The Maryland State Highway Administration tells 47 ABC there should be no lane closures along SHA’s major beach routes Friday through Sunday.

More people may be a concern for traffic, but it’s a boon for business. Mary Anne works for Ocean Aisle Hotel and Suites, right on the boardwalk. She says they’re fully booked every year, months ahead of bike week, but it’s not just the hotels benefiting.

“The whole city makes out with bike week , and like I said they’re all polite, never any problem,” says Mary Anne.