Bike Night 2013 Set for Sept. 7 in Lansdale

Later this month, Lansdale Borough Council will go the OK for the go-ahead of an annual favorite.

Lansdale Bike Night 2013 will return to Main Street Lansdale from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sept. 7.

"We've been working with the Discover Lansdale people, and we've got everything pretty much underway," said Blue Comet Motorcycle Club's Jerry Dewhurst at the Public Safety Committee meeting in Lansdale last week.

Dewhurst said it would be the same setup as last year's Bike Night. The rain date is set for Sept. 8 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Last year, Bike Night was rained out on its Saturday night.

"We had tremendous success last year in calling each of our vendors and putting it out on Facebook and Twitter," Dewhurst said. "It's amazing how the whole electronic world works. We put it out there and it spreads."

Dewhurst said he was very impressed with the rain date turnout last year.

"I never anticipated we would do as well as we did on Sunday," he said.  

Dewhurst said he got a lot of feedback from people on the preference to hold Bike Night during Sunday daytime.

"I can't tell you how many came and said, 'It was so nice on Sunday. What do you think of ...' No!," said Dewhurst to the committee. "No. It's not what we're about."

After all, it is Bike Night.

"Our preference is Saturday night," Dewhurst said. "It's a lot more convenient for the borough as well. Thank goodness we are able to have everybody work together. It's a great event and we're happy to do it."  

Dewhurst is predicting attendance around 50,000 people on Sept. 7. Lansdale Police Chief Robert McDyre agreed with that estimate.

"I'm optimistic," Dewhurst said.

Councilwoman Mary Fuller told Dewhurst that she recently had an inquiry from Pottsville about Lansdale Bike Night. 

"People want to attend," she said.   

"That's a good thing," replied Dewhurst.

The plan is to close West Main Street and peripheral roadways between Broad Street and Valley Forge Road at 3 p.m. and reopen at midnight Sunday. The event begins at 5 p.m. and everybody is shut down by 11 p.m.  

McDyre said there won't be a repeat problem from last year where lots of motorcycles were left behind in the Walnut Street lot.

Dewhurst said there is a chance that Pedaller Bike Shop could host a bicycle show competition in their parking lot.

"We're not putting a band stage there this year. I spoke to (Pedaller) and suggested that maybe they have a bicycle show and get it out to their patrons," Dewhurst said. "That was very well received. I'm not sure what they have done about it yet. There could be some additional activity in the parking lot if they follow through."

Dewhurst said the Blue Comet MC keeps bicycles and motorcycles separate at the show.

"There's a danger there, but it's also, that's your end of town, we keep the bikes down there," Dewhurst said.

Fuller couldn't believe the frequency of events coming up in Lansdale.

"A month from today," she said last Wednesday, "we'll have Founders Day under our belt, we'll have another First Friday and then this event."