The Guinea Pigs
Which direction will Ocean City take?


Let us not make the tourists the 'guinea pigs' for Ocean City’s problems. I commend the Town and the Mayor for attempting to improve the quality of life for our visitors and locals, and maintain a revenue base for the city. But many traditions, or institutions, must go through close scrutiny as our town seeks to improve itself.
The ‘boardwalk’ has been one of these institutions. The traditional look and feel of wood on the boards has been a landmark, but may have out lived its traditional usefulness. Especially on the ocean front. We have been lucky this last year with few if any damaging hurricanes. The 'northeasters' are as damaging, and are yet to come. Although the use of concrete is traditionally less esthetic, I suggest expanding our knowledge base for methods of employing different materials that can withstand the test of time. This is the 90’s, with the year 2000 approaching, lets look forward to some progressive building materials. If perchance we have a mild non-damaging winter, let us not take haste, and utilize this grace period for expanding our knowledge base of methods of refortification the ‘board’-walk.
Another topic is parking. This summer the inlet parking lot was ‘tested’ and the tourists were used as Guinea Pigs. Many complaints arose, but offhand, there may have been no other way to initiate such an experiment. Although, once again, I think the town can look to other sources for ideas. For transportation and parking, we must take a long term position on the problem. On September 16, 1997 in the Baltimore Sun, appeared an article (front page), describing Baltimore City’s parking problem. The article stated that the 'ability to attract business' is being dampened by its scarce and expensive parking. Quoted in the Sun’s article was Carl Wright, President of A.J. burton Group in the Crestar Building [downtown Baltimore], stating that the parking problem made him consider moving his executive search firm to the suburbs.
I spoke to tourists from Oklahoma during Sunfest on the beach in North OC, and they said they wouldn’t go down to Sunfest because they heard parking is a problem. Of course I attempted to dissuade them otherwise. In a message thread, approx. 9-07-97, in the internet usenet section ‘misc.transport.urban-transit,’ the following is excerpted, 'OC is a barrier island and is long and narrow with only one main road running the length of the city. 'Traffic during tourist season can be horrendous, also parking in the boardwalk area is almost nonexistent.' This excerpt was written by a person from Ohio! Two examples of how our tourists view the transportation and parking problems.
Downtown Ocean City, Maryland is now also being complicated by the proximity of the ‘outlet’ stores. traffic congestion will only expand as more and more outlets are built without consideration for their impact and proper transportation issues are not addressed. Access to Rehoboth is also severely impacted by the poor transportation planning, and is an example that OC can bank on.
To offset some of these hassles, people have forgone the traditional seven day vacation holiday, and now opt for 3, 4, and 5 day holidays. This can be seen by the offering of ‘miniweeks’ at many hotels. The demand for these 'mini' holidays depicts this trend. This equates to 2, 3, and 4 days of 'Ocean City Money Days,' being spent somewhere else. These OC Money Days probably equates into the millions of dollars. This trend will continue.
If you speak to any OC tourist, they will easily admit that going out is just too much of a hassle, the 'buses are too crowded, and you just can’t get around.' Ocean City has done a fantastic job of recruiting visitors from states you would rarely see in town. Ten and twelve years ago, it would be rare to see so many out of state license plates on Ocean Highway. But what this really equates to is that OC’s congestion has driven away many of its steadfast visitors to other locations. Will the new influx of tourists eventually seek‘safe haven’ somewhere else?
As Ocean City, Maryland seeks to spend more and more money to expand their tourist base, and as they successfully attract a new golf and retirement community, lets not make them all Guinea Pigs. Because as we all know, Guinea Pigs will either die, or if they can, run away.

Author:
Robert V. Lotier
An alternative to Ocean City’s congestion problems can be found at
http://www.atlanticbreezes.com/story.htm