Bikers Escape Weather, Bring Business to Daytona Beach
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
By: Carmel Delshad

March 12, 2014 | WMFE, Orlando - Thousands of bikers are in Daytona Beach this week for Bike Week--and city officials say it's making a big difference in how much money is spent in the area.

Bikers ride down Main Street in Daytona Beach on Wednesday. Bike Week ends Sunday. Photo:  Carmel Delshad | WMFE

Custom Works Motorcycle Shop in Daytona Beach is busy. People walk around eyeing the custom bikes and apparel. A sign over the women’s jewelry section reads “There’s no thing as too much bling.”

But co-owner Ted Kistner says attendance is down this year.  

He thinks many bikers from up North couldn’t afford the trip because of how much they’re spending on their heat bills.

“Although their intentions were to be here, I believe that it’s curtailed their extra income to do that,” Kistner says.

But Janet Kersey of the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce says this year is actually pretty successful. The economy is on the mend, and people up north are sick of the snow.

“Many of the visitors that come down to see us come from east of the Mississippi, wanting to escape the cold, wanting to get out of that cold weather, and get on their motorcycles and ride,” says Kersey.

Second Avenue Plaza owner Pat Heard says her customers don’t even want to look at winter apparel.

“I can’t sell a throw right now because they say they’re not going back up north, they’re going to stay here in Florida,” says Heard.

The Chamber says bike week brings at least $74 million into Volusia County.