Parade spoiled by Traffic Jam
I’ll be writing an Organiser’s Report about this year’s Light Parade fairly soon but I wanted to be up front about my own disappointment with the dreadful traffic jam we ended up in on the return part of our Parade on Saturday.
We enjoyed a great weekend and lots of things went extremely well but a traffic jam like that takes away all the enjoyment to be had from a Light Parade and there’s no pretending otherwise. As one newcomer to our Event said to me as we got back to the Hotel, that’s the first and last time I do a ride like that – and at that particular time I felt exactly the same way myself.
But where there’s life there’s hope and a new opportunity has already popped up to try to persuade Blackpool Council that a full Road Closure of the Promenade to run Parades such as ours is worth considering – so that’s the agenda for next year. We’ll brainstorm any other ideas that anyone can come up with as well but taking pot luck with Blackpool Illuminations traffic is clearly a non-starter, no matter how clever we try to be about the way we go about it – it has to be a Road Closure or nothing.
The Hotel side of things worked very well indeed, far better than I expected and the new venue for the Event clearly did turn out very well and the general feeling was that it was exceptionally good value. The Crescent worked out well as a Parade Mustering Area too. The Band on Saturday night went down well and the Warwick’s bar stayed open (so I’m told) until 4am on Sunday morning, so someone must have been enjoying themselves.
So thank you to everyone who came along – especially for the friendliness which permeated the whole weekend. It was really heart-warming to see Wingers getting on so well. It was a great weekend in spite of the traffic jam, so let’s hope we can find a way around that problem for next year and make it even better.
8 Responses to “Parade spoiled by Traffic Jam”
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Testimonials
“the best event we have ever attended” – C.P. (Manchester)
“one of the best light parades I have attended” – B.W. (Keighley)
“A truly BRILLIANT weekend and a truly brilliant venue” – D.P. (Telford)
I agree the traffic jam did put a slight downer on a otherwise excellent weekend. May I suggest as an alternative to riding up and down the Prom, a circuit around or situated near to the South Pier. That way the general public could see the bikes in all their glory, take pictures, and this would also prevent bikes from breaking down on route, because the bikes would join and leave this circuit as and when they felt it necessary. I am sure this would be as satisfying to both riders/pillions and the general public.
On another note, Yes, it was 4am before the bar finally closed, not that I’d know lol.
Thanks again for a great BLP 2010 and I’m looking forward to next year!
I would like to say what a friendly and welcoming group you all are, especially to me the nutter on the mobility scooter lol. It made our day seeing all your bikes and we will be there next year just to see the bikes again. Might even add some light on my mobility scooter lol.
Well the BLP only confirmed that I made the right decision when I bought my bike otherwise I would have been missing out on what was one of the best feelings ever, thanks everyone for a fantastic time….
My first ever Blackpool run not so sure if I want to put my pride and joy Trike through that again as my Trike started to heat up. I had to pull over and switch off to let it cool down.
But I will give it one more try next year as everyone was so friendly, and for all the troubles Trish & and myself ( Gwil ) did enjoy it overall.
Gwilym.
My own reaction after getting back tot he Hotel through the traffic jam was never again, but it’s funny how you feel the glow of the overall enjoyment of the Event and bounce back. This was undoubtedly the worst traffic we have ever encountered and even if we had run the Parade with a Rolling Road Closure and an escort of half a dozen police bikes, as we had in 2008, it would not have been easy or truly enjoyable with this high level of traffic.
However, having had time to think on it, the Organisers have decided to mount a serious PR campaign to persuade Blackpool to close the Prom to normal traffic for a “Parades Day” which we will share with all sorts of other parading groups and entertainers and displays – among which hopefully our GoldWings will have a starring role. This campaign has already started by contacting local Councillors and MPs and we plan to be very active in the local press as well as TV and radio. Progress information will be posted on this website as the campaign develops.
If we can’t get a “Parades Day” road closure we will look at other ways to run the Parade as best we can, but a Parades day is now the main objective, to make the 2011 BLP a really great weekend. Watch this space folks, we’re on the case and we’re not going to take no for an answer.
i do really look forward to seeing your parade of lit up lights as a wheel chair user it gives me something to look forward to when the switch on comes along i have watched you every yaer at blackpool parade as i have had a love for bikes since i was a child look forward to seeing you this year lol jew
Err……you DO realise we’ve moved the event to Llandudno, don’t you? I hope you can make it there.
for the last few years-all my regular repeat guests to Waverley House apartments in Blackpool have asked me on arrival which night do they all go to watch the Goldwing parade——I can not stress enough the disappointment they all showed this year when I said this event is a no show—we all so much look forward to seeing the bikes and the parade——my query is- if Blackpool council can close the promenade to all traffic for the ” ride the lights” prior to the Illuminatio switch on-Why can the goldwings not use this night to hold their parade—hopefully-we will see the return of all these wonderful bikes to Blackpool for 2012