In recent years the May bank holiday weekend has been the green light for thousands of bikers to make their pilgrimage to Hastings for the annual bike run and this year is no different. Hastings welcomes the bikers who bring a lot of trade to the town but to ease congestion Hastings Borough Council has issued a plea to bikers urging them to use dedicated bike parking spaces.
With such huge numbers involved the temptation is to park on the road or pavements which can cause delays and obstruction to emergency vehicles so dedicated parking will be provided  in Pelham Place car park on the seafront and the Stade open space in the Old Town. For those spectators coming by car, there is parking in the Priory Street, Carlisle Parade and Priory Meadow car parks.
The roads will be very busy on May 6 with an obvious police presence and participants are being encouraged to visit www.ridecrafthub.org, a site designed to share good practice and professional tips to motorcycle riders by enhancing their own general awareness of road safety.
In previous years many motor cyclists would have made a beeline for the Strand in Rye. But where the Environment Agency have fenced the traditional parking area, and with the toilets in that immediate location being closed too, it may prove difficult for visiting bikers to dismount.
Love them or hate them they are coming to the coast, as they do every year. Some locals may be delighted that they may not be able to stop off in Rye along the way –Â if they could, where would they be able to use a loo? Others, especially some of the cafe owners, pubs, chip shops, takeaways and ice cream sellers may be thinking differently, surely their money is as good as anyone else’s isn’t it?
Image Credits: Oast House acrchive , Nick Forman .