As we stated on Wed., 2021 Daytona Bike Week kicks off today so we here at AMERiders thought that we should elaborate on what should you expect if you are going to be attending this annual bikers event this year.
2020’s Daytona Bike week ended a bit early thanks to the pandemic, but the 80th annual Daytona Bike Week is back for its full run from today until March 14th, 2021. Its popular swap meets, shows, coleslaw wrestling at Sopotnick’s Cabbage Patch Bar, and poker runs are all ready to run right on schedule.
While visitors can still expect to see Main Street bustling with bikers, there will be some changes this year to accommodate for social distancing requirements.
Most notably, indoor vendors will be limited to 60% capacity, which could lead to lines at high-traffic shops. A mask mandate is also in effect in Daytona Beach but only applies to indoor businesses, meaning attendees can go mask-free while partying outdoors, where many of the happenings take place.
All merchants have been asked to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to stop the spread of COVID-19.
To allow for more social distancing, parking will be more limited than usual on Main Street and instead, overflow lots will be set up near the Ocean Center. Only motorcycles will be allowed on Main Street.
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order precludes the city from placing restrictions on business occupancy limitations. The only leverage available to the city was to restrict the occupants’ number in compromise for granting the outdoor permits. Given the reality that bikers are likely to come to town with or without the licenses (not to mention the merchants’ desires), hopefully, the decision to limit indoor patrons and allow the permits for outdoors will be the best possible outcome.
To those of you who question why things are safer now than in October to allow the permits, the answer is simple: They are not. The agreement to limit the number of indoor patrons where community spread is most likely is what makes this a better decision than the one made in October. For those of you who question the likelihood that the businesses will comply with the agreement, those merchants who did not comply with the decision to terminate permits during Bike Week 2020 are not participating in the master plans for Bike Week or Biketoberfest in 2021 and possibly, through 2023. That is a steep price to pay for noncompliance.
Reaching a compromise that supports business and public health was hopefully the best outcome. Let’s all be safe and hope for the best in what are challenging times that continue to call for polarizing decisions.
~And as always…
~Live Free Ride Hard~
~AMERiders
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