Northpinellas: Today's Letters: Ironman tries drivers' patience

I live in the East Lake area of Palm Harbor and was affected by the Ironman triathlon on Saturday.

I am a registered nurse at Morton Plant Hospital and even though I left early for my shift, which started at noon, I was not permitted to enter my subdivision after going to the store early Saturday morning before the bicyclists started. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office had many officers in the area who were rude to motorists and had a "couldn't care less" attitude.

Other nurses in my department were affected also and were not allowed to get to Morton Plant-Mease Countryside Hospital for their shift to start. These two nurses were more than one hour late.

Pinellas County already has overcrowded roads and everyone is out on a Saturday when the weather is nice. I cannot understand why this event was planned for this area and why it was so poorly organized for those of us who live here. I heard complaints all day, especially about the rudeness of the police officers.

The organizers of the event should be held accountable for such poor planning and the disregard of the citizens of Pinellas County.

As a resident of Oldsmar, I spent 45 minutes driving in circles Saturday trying to get to the only north-south corridor you so graciously left open and devoid of closures, U.S. 19. But guess what? I couldn't get there because Countryside Boulevard, Curlew Road and Tampa Road were blocked, preventing direct east to west access.

Not to mention that once I got on the west side of McMullen-Booth Road, I was prevented from getting to U.S. 19, again, because Countryside Boulevard and Lake St. George were blocked.

So exactly how were we supposed to get from Oldsmar and parts of Palm Harbor and Safety Harbor to U.S. 19? What morons thought this was a minimal impact? In my humble opinion this is far from a minimal impact, seeing any access we had to U.S. 19 was blocked from 7:45 a.m. Saturday until well after 10:30 a.m.

Seeing that this all originated in Clearwater, I understand why it was such a mess. That city hasn't been able to plan anything of value in years, starting with that ill-conceived roundabout.

I live in Tarpon Springs and work in Oldsmar. Saturday, the only way I could get to my shop was to drive all the way down to Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard in Clearwater, then back up McMullen-Booth Road. Despite leaving 30 minutes earlier than usual, I ended up being 45 minutes late opening my shop, almost losing a customer.

Yes, I had seen the signs on my normal route, Tampa Road, that said "Ironman Lake St. George" and something about "expect delays." What I never saw was something saying "Road will be completely closed" or "Visit Web site for detour info," or "Call xxx-xxxx for info." It would have been nice to know where to go for this information.

By the way, the city of Clearwater Web site didn't list any closure on Curlew Road heading east from U.S. 19, but it was closed. I also asked two different police officers how to get to my shop (just south of Tampa Road) and neither could tell me.

I would have expected them to be better informed. Even better still, they could have been given simple maps to hand out, which would guide people around the race. From the comments I heard being yelled, I wasn't the only one in the dark.

It is also very disappointing to constantly hear what a great host Clearwater is, and how great this is for Clearwater, and how much Clearwater does to pull this off, when in fact it directly affects Tarpon Springs, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor and Oldsmar as well.

How was your day Saturday? Mine was horrible. Due to the Ironman triathlon, I was two hours late to work. This made me lose pay that my family counts on. Normally it takes me 10 minutes to get to work.

The police were also extremely rude. The police are supposed to protect and serve, not yell and scream at you. I am not a criminal and don't need to be treated like one!

There was no way to turn around for miles. This was ridiculous! My son and husband were also on their way to my son's last baseball game, which he missed. My 7-year-old son tells me a female police officer banged on his window and screamed at them to move. My son now dislikes the police.

Pinellas County should be ashamed of itself for how the race was conducted. This was absolute madness, and if this triathlon is going on next year, I hope there are better traffic routes. Why can't you use the Pinellas Trail?

I've got to say that I have never seen a more messed-up affair in all my life. To have traffic so tangled up on major roads and highways as they did on Saturday has to be the most idiotic planning in this area to date. Why would you hold a race right down the middle of the county and disrupt so many people and businesses?

This may have made a few some money, but it cost others a hell of a lot more. I know with proper planning there's a better route than what they have used for the last couple of years. If there isn't, then scrap the whole thing. It sure isn't worth it to Pinellas County as a whole.

What a total inconvenience to the citizens of Pinellas County and complete waste of our tax-funded resources!

Sure, a couple of hotels might fill a few more rooms for the weekend and the junk shops might sell a few more T-shirts, but other than that, the event is more trouble than it's worth.

Pinellas County commissioners, please see to it that this event never again takes place in Pinellas County. Thank you.

By the looks of traffic, it almost appeared as though the Ford Ironman World Championship 70.3 began on Friday. Many bicyclists were out warming up for Saturday's big event. I really can't blame them and I really wouldn't mind it at all, if they would only follow the rules of the road.

As I was traveling north on Fort Harrison Avenue on Friday, a good many cyclists were out and about, whizzing through traffic. At a stoplight, though, two of them totally ignored the red light and instead made a U-turn. And then, along came another bold one, traveling right between two lanes of stopped vehicles and closely beside me. Then he, too, made a U-turn.

The cyclists' brazen moves on Friday should have landed all of them tickets. Where are all the cops when you need them?

Kudos to the city of Clearwater! This past weekend they put on a world class event, the Ironman Triathlon World Championship 70.3, and brought international recognition to the city. The weather conditions could not have been more perfect and the finish was even more exciting than we could have anticipated.

For every person who complained about the traffic conditions, just think of how hard every athlete trained for this race and how much effort it took for them to travel here.

We live here all year. Now we have shown the world what a beautiful place this is to continue to host the Ironman. I'm definitely looking forward to next year as a volunteer and a spectator.

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Comments on this article

by Kathy	11/13/07 07:05 PM
To the complainers- volunteer to work on this event next year. You may just change your tunes when you meet and assist the athletes of the world. It was awesome to be a part of the day's events. Definitely a humbling experience.

by Doug	11/13/07 06:59 PM
Stop and think about the amount of money those silly triathletes bring to the area. Get a clue people, this life ain't about you!

by Mitch	11/13/07 03:50 PM
Since when do the wants of the few outweigh the needs of the many? Tens of thousands were inconvenienced so that a thousand or so folks can ride their little bikes around town? Brilliant!!!

by Bob	11/13/07 03:32 PM
Maybe you people should stop complaining about sitting in traffic and get on a bicycle. You could have made it anywhere in the county fast. Nope! Pinellas County is full of couch-potato gas wasters!

by john	11/13/07 02:34 PM
was also in this traffic mess, who is responsible for this planning? this should be the last of this event. what a mess

by TCM	11/13/07 02:07 PM
Typical whiners expecting everyone else to figure out the remedy to all their problems. Next time, try to take the initiative. Clearly, you read the paper & have access to the internet to complain. Use these same tools to help yourself plan better.

by Dee	11/13/07 01:54 PM
I was reading about this event for two weeks, and I don't even have a St. Pete Times subscription. Where were these people who complained about the inconvience it caused?? Maybe they should plan ahead for a change.

by Mike	11/13/07 01:19 PM
Can't you people ever stop whining and mentioning tax dollars? I realize it's your (imperfect) planet and the rest of us just live here, but come on.

by John	11/13/07 12:38 PM
I say great event - REALLY bad cops. The police really botched this one and successfully branded themselves as a bunch of jackbooted thugs. A little remeidial training may be in order.

by John	11/13/07 11:54 AM
I also was stuck in God-awful traffic with no alternate routes. I understand the exposure and tourism positives but how's about doing this thing on a Sunday or holiday when there's less impact on folks trying to get to work or other activities?

by kevin	11/13/07 11:17 AM
A one time a year event which brings Clearwater some good press for once and a bunch of weiners who can't get up earlier start squawking. Boo hoo. Grow up.

by Michael	11/13/07 10:53 AM
Do I care how much time it took to set up the Ironman, or how much work it took to put on. Nope! Just a bunch of idiots that could be running around a track instead of using up my tax dollars blocking off access to my home. Let them go somewhere else

by JMC	11/13/07 10:51 AM
This event was well publicized. Perhaps the time to figure out an alternate route was before you left, not while sitting in the middle of traffic and then expecting the police to tell you how to get to your destination.

by Joanne	11/13/07 09:30 AM
Good for you, Wendy, look at the other comments. This SELFISH and EGOTISTICAL generation of "athletes" only cares about themselves. May they live to be 200 years old as they think they shall.

by Carl	11/13/07 09:27 AM
I to was made to wait for over a half hour to turn left onto Ulmerton to go to Tampa. All traffic was moving except the one I was in. Vehicles were making a second line and trying to cut at the head of the line. The worst traffic direction ever seen

by Hoshi	11/13/07 09:13 AM
This was a joke, and we get plenty of exposure on COPS (tv show), let's not overrate the area - it is full of crime, drugs and phedi's. Traffic was a nightmare and I missed appts. Keep it near the water or Pinellas trails.

by Dianne	11/13/07 08:47 AM
As many others I was trying to get to US Hwy 19 from Safety Harbor. It was impossible. I also saw people crossing over the medium right in the path of the bicycle riders which could of killed them. Seems like they could of had a better plan!

by LEW	11/13/07 08:38 AM
I TOLD YOU SO!!!!!!!!!

by Brian	11/13/07 08:38 AM
I live in Oldsmar and to get from there to our Vet, for a pet emergency, at 580 and US19 it took 2.5 hours,usually a 15 minute drive. And,that is after I drove across the 2 bike lanes and median to get from north bound East Lake Rd. to South Bound.

by Harold	11/13/07 07:54 AM
This was a terrific event. I live right off of Tampa Road, and was able to find my way around the route with no problem.

by Anne	11/13/07 07:41 AM
Ditto on the rudeness of Pinellas officers. I've never experienced officers who are so bad at directing traffic (i.e. you have no idea what they want you to do) or so rude (they abuse you when you do something it turns out they didn't want you to).

by Pat	11/13/07 07:36 AM
Ms. Ehlers; why would people complaining about traffic feel better to know how hard the athletes trained? The world doesn't revolve around tri-atheletes!!

by Lisa	11/13/07 07:22 AM
Who came out looking the worst in this event? The traffic cops! What a bunch of arrogant jerks! I saw numerous instances where drivers tried desperately, but politely, to inquire as to their route options, only to be screamed at by uniformed psychos!

by Larry	11/13/07 07:19 AM
Closing Main Street for Corporate Profit? The race should be held in a remote location, fans would travel. Companies lost out, hourly workers lost pay, everyone wasted gas without a choice. Their money was "taken" from them. Another PCC mess

by Angela	11/13/07 07:01 AM
What a bunch of cry babies.? Do you know how much time and energy it took for all the participants in this race.? Do you know how much money the city made off this race.? Try millions. Great job Clearwater. Cant wait till next year.