Biketoberfest plans continue after Hurricane Matthew

More than 100,000 people attended in 2015

Daytona Beach is getting ready to kick off the 24th annual Biketoberfest on Thursday, despite Hurricane Matthew hitting hard last week.

Businesses are not only making repairs from the storm, but also preparing for the increased amount of tourists.

Last year the event brought in more than 100,000 people, but this year the crowd is expected to be smaller.

"This time it is going to be a little different. We just came through a hurricane and we are still in the process of cleaning up, so we know the crowd will be slightly smaller. Maybe significantly smaller. We don't know. But we also known we have about 130 properties that are ready to host guests," said Lori Campbell Baker, executive director, Daytona Beach Area Visitor and Tourist Bureau. "We are a resident bunch, I will tell you, in Daytona Beach, and the teamwork and effort in just getting ready, just in recovery in general has been inspiring on all fronts."

Tourist officials have spent the past couple days walking around to area businesses to see if they are prepared, with the main question being if they have electricity.

Since there is a portion of AIA in Flagler County closed down because of erosion, Biketoberfest organizers have created detoured routes for the motorcyclists to travel.

"We have route maps throughout and the ones that include the area of Flagler County right along A1A still have some beautiful views to see, but we are going to reroute you just a little bit to avoid that area that we had a little bit of erosion," said Campbell Baker.

Tourist Terry Dicus from Indiana said that he's only missed two Biketoberfests in the past 20 years. Dicus said a hurricane was not going to stop him from enjoying his favorite event of the year.

"We were really worried about down in this area because of the hurricane and everything and we didn't know what to expect," said Dicus. "We just like coming down and we have certain places we like to go to."

Biketoberfest typically pushes about $43,000,000 dollars into the area economy.

For any tourists heading into Volusia County, Biketoberfest organizers urge people contact their hotels to make sure they are still able to accommodate their reservations after Hurricane Matthew.

With several traffic lights still not operating because of a power outage, Daytona policecontinue to remind people driving in the area to be extra vigilant for motorcyclists on the roadways.
 


About the Author:

Troy graduated from California State University Northridge with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication. He has reported on Mexican drug cartel violence on the El Paso/ Juarez border, nuclear testing facilities at the Idaho National Laboratory and severe Winter weather in Michigan.

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