Taylor Police are reminding classic car fans to "think safety" when attending this weekend's annual Telegraph Cruise.
Earlier this month, the City of Taylor announced several new measures in an effort to ensure enjoyment and safety along the route in the community. Hot rodders and classic car enthusiasts and spectators from throughout Southeast Michigan will converge on Telegraph Road for the annual cruise on Saturday, July 23. Many cars and crowds will also gather the evening before, on Friday, July 22, for an unofficial kickoff.
Private businesses throughout the cruise route hold gatherings before, during and after the official event. Some locations are very busy Friday night before the cruise, as well as after the cruise officially closes.
"The Telegraph Cruise can be a very enjoyable event," Mayor Rick Sollars said. "But attendees need to understand that certain things are just not acceptable. Mini-bikes and four-wheelers are not allowed on the route. Mini-bikes and cars traveling down Telegraph Road are a very dangerous mix. The same goes with throwing bleach on the roadway and cars doing burnouts. This type of activity is hazardous and can result in accidents and injuries."
Earlier this year, a mini-bike/truck collision on a Taylor street took the life of 16-year-old Austin McCumber of Dearborn Heights. Martin Jaime, 17, who was riding on the back of the mini-bike, was injured. Several years ago, during the annual running of Cruisin' Downriver on Fort Street through Lincoln Park, Southgate, Wyandotte and Riverview, a car doing a "burnout" jumped a curb and hit a onlooker. Those are the types of accidents that the City of Taylor is hoping to avoid.
“Spectator and participant safety is always our No. 1 concern in any event as big as the cruise,” Police Chief Mary Sclabassi said. “Our aim is to make this is friendly, safe day for everyone involved. Mini-bikes, golf carts and four-wheelers do not interact well with the cruise traffic patterns. Telegraph Road is an extremely busy street, and having recreational vehicles going in and out of traffic and through crowds is a major safety concern.”
Official event hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on July 23.
Taylor Police ask cruise-goers to note the following:
Cruise-goers should note that no mini-bikes, golf carts or four-wheelers will be allowed on the Taylor portion of the event route this year. Such vehicles will be ticketed and towed
Tents will be installed in the median and elsewhere, and staffed by Taylor Police and Auxiliary Police officers. That will give emergency responders a good visibility along the route
Spectator crowd barricades along Telegraph Road will be moved back approximately three feet from roadway. That will provide for better and safer separation between the crowd and sidewalk. Those barricades will be placed on Thursday July 21
Taylor Police and the City of Taylor will post of signs clearly defining criminal violations
Police will have a “zero tolerance” policy with items thrown into roadway, especially bleach
No “burn outs” by vehicles will be allowed and will also be ticketed
Police will close key side streets to eliminate any problems in surrounding neighborhoods
Telegraph Road will be closed to north- and southbound traffic at approximately 10 p.m.
Police will use outside agencies for assistance during the cruise
A plain clothes party patrol will aid in controlling problems in the crowd
No glass bottles should be brought to the cruise route. Only plastic
Heat and debris can be a problem along the route. Friday calls for a high of 92 degrees, 60 percent humidity and a chance of rain. Saturday calls for party sunny skies and 94 degrees.
Both cruisers and onlookers should take all of this into consideration when attending the cruise. Everyone should bring plenty of water, sunscreen, etc. Don't forget lawn chairs and food. Tents are permitted, but make sure that you have permission if you are on private property.
Trash containers will be placed near the roadway along the entire Telegraph Road route through Taylor. Please use them! In these types of large events, policing your own area is a must -- whether its putting trash away properly or controlling drinking and mischief.
Spanning the communities of Taylor, Dearborn Heights, Dearborn and Redford Township, the event draws thousands of fans. It is always held on the fourth weekend of July. Car club members and classic vehicle owners alike are encouraged to display their wares along Telegraph Road.
Originally the Telegraph Tomorrow Classic Car Cruise, it was named for the Telegraph Tomorrow Association that worked to improve and promote the U.S. 24 (Telegraph Road) corridor.