Cape Coral residents express frustration over changes to the annual bike night event, citing safety adjustments and poor lighting as major concerns.
"I love all the events that Cape Coral puts on down at 47th, but this year, the bike night was a disaster," said Patty Hart, a Cape Coral resident. "It wasn't the bike night that we've known to come and love."
Cape Coral police Chief Anthony Sizemore explains that the changes were made to ensure the safety of the tens of thousands of attendees.
"We don't wait for a tragedy to make adjustments to keep people safe," Sizemore said. "Mind you, that was before New Orleans after many other public events, not just here. We have to look regionally, nationally and globally as large scale tens of thousands of people in a confined space to make it safe, and that's my job to evaluate that and make recommendations, and that's what I did."
Previously, bikes were parked along Southeast 47th Terrace, but this year, they were moved to the "Thunder Zone," a parking lot off Southeast 46th Lane.
"They decided to move all the bikes that bikers come and out on display on 47th down to a parking lot, and it wasn't lit, so I went and looked and couldn't even see any of the bikes. It was disappointing," Hart said.
Sizemore acknowledges the lighting issue and promises to address it.
"If lighting is a concern, number one, that will be addressed. I spoke with the city today to make adjustments for that, but at the end of a very large event with tens of thousands of people and the number one complaint is lighting. I'll take it," Sizemore said.
"A lot of these people, this is their pride and joy, and it's a way for them to show it off and a way for us to appreciate their machines, but it just wasn't possible this last Saturday," Hart added.