Friday, January 11, 2019

No More Motorcycle Mania

Chamber of Commerce President Larry McHugh, and Mayor Dan Drew announced today that the city will no longer host Motorcycle Mania.

The event, with thousands of motorcycles parked on Main and surrounding streets, was a popular event for pedestrians to enjoy a summer evening stroll. It was not as popular for residents throughout town who from late afternoon through dusk were slammed by the thunder of exhaust pipes.

Drew and McHugh wrote, "The event ... has grown so large that the cost of providing security has grown to an unsustainable level."

11 comments:

  1. I wonder how many lives will be saved by this sensible decision. Last year the police were kept busy with motorcycle accidents following MMania.

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  2. I wonder how many lives will be saved by this sensible decision. Last year the police were kept busy with motorcycle accidents following MMania.

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  3. This is really to bad. It was a great event my whole family enjoyed. And I’m sure there were no lives lost. I brought my 17 year old on his first bike and he loved it. To bad people have stereotypes of motorcycle riders.

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  4. That is ridiculous.. life's saved?? Comeon now Carol..

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  5. https://www.middletownpress.com/news/article/Man-in-critical-condition-following-motorcycle-13161430.php

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  6. I know that all the participants were pretty much required to make a " donation" upon arrival to the Main St. area. I realize that this donation was intended for various charities however I would think a portion of it could be used to cover the costs of security. I find it difficult to believe that it hasn't in the past.

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  7. Sad to hear this.
    Hopefully they can replace it with something just as good. Maybe a bigger venue can keep the bike show in the area at least? Durham, Portland Fairgrounds maybe?

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  8. This was great for Middletown and put Middletown on the map, great for the community, made money for various businesses and vendors, wonder if the car cruises will be cancelled now. I could understand about large crowds as seemed to grow larger every year. I was part of Middletown Mania for 7 years as was one of the DJ's that provided background music for a section of the event, was hoping to do a Finale this year and had some awesome added suggestions for MMM. brought bikers from all over the state including from out of state, great way to meet and fellowship with others and build friendships. Its to bad but was great while it lasted.

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  9. That's a shame. I have attended nearly every one...they were a blast! I was always looking to see what folks did with their motorcycles, as well as see what else is out there.

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  10. Ending this noisy event along a Main Street filled with restaurants trying to attract customers who want to eat in peace and even outdoors on such a beautiful evening is a positive move. This event should be held somewhere like a public beach with lots of parking space where the noise wouldn't bother anyone.

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  11. Thanks for posting the link, Stephen. It's odd that the headline and the lead didn't mention the second accident that night, which was a fatality -- also of a motorcyclist. That part was buried in the 13th paragraph of the article, after news such as the location of Butler Construction, and what type of motorcycle the first accident involved.

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