Fair enough. But I do feel like Instagram influencers aren’t gonna want the same pictures, year after year. They’ll move on to some new “magic spot” and their followers will, well, follow.
This seems like one of those very temporary problems that, if you ignore it long enough, will simply solve itself.
Meanwhile, locals can either complain, or cash in on the brief influx of tourist money.
The “flash mob” analogy is good. Brief, annoying, possibly dangerous, but it’s all over quickly.
I live in Snowbird country. Olde fartes from all over snow country, from BC to Ontario, Washington state to Pennsylvania, all migrate to Mesa every winter. They clog our stores, our restaurants, suck all our water, add pollution, can’t drive worth a damn, cause accidents, and generally act like entitled assholes for six months. I am a resident, I pay taxes for my roads, my water and sewage utilities. Should we be allowed to prohibit anyone without an Arizona license plate to enter Mesa during Oct-April? If so, let’s do it!
I live in a coastal town north of Boston, and during certain parts of the year, certain parts of town become overrun to the point of jamming the roads. The local beach (owned and controlled by a nonprofit conservation organization) limits beachgoers to those paying an entry fee, and when the count of cars indicates the lot is full, the gate closes. In fact, outsiders wanting to go there in peak season have to make reservations in advance. Town residents can buy a beach sticker at town hall for access to their own smaller parking area. Without such restrictions, the one road to the beach would become impassable, not only to the beach itself but also for the residents along the several miles from Route 133.
Should these restrictions be abandoned and the beach (plus its miles of flanking fragile dunes) be thrown open to trampling hordes? The road outside the parking area clogged with parked cars? Because that’s exactly what would happen without restrictions.
Update: I was reading the select board minutes for Pomfret, Vermont just to understand the decision better, and two things jumped out at me:
As for snowbirds in Arizona, I would point out that they are paying taxes through their long-term rentals, and that they are actually living there. The resolution in Pomfret, Vermont also carved out an exception for people staying there as guests of residents, which would presumably include the B&Bs.
That happens a lot. People aren’t pooping on the beach. It happens when there is heavy rain and storm water runoff into the ocean. The beaches would get contaminated even if they weren’t in use.
Yes, I know that, but I’m still comfortable putting that under the heading of human factors.
If your home is in the area where a bunch of inconsiderate jerks are trespassing, littering and taking a dump on private property, how exactly are you getting to “cash in”? Are influencers and their followers leaving $10 bills in their wake?
It’s not really a “those people” problem, it’s a “too many people” problem that ruins it for everyone, including the people who live here. I live in a town known for car shows. They have to sleep and eat somewhere, and while I’m glad for the money they spend in town, the traffic and shitty behavior isn’t really worth it.
Try to get close to the Mona Lisa. Not sure why, but I agree that people are fucking weird about documenting their lives through selfies. If I want to see a pic of the Mona Lisa, there is no shortage to be found. If I want to remember I went to the Louvre or Versailles, I take pictures outside. Which we did. I don’t need to document every famous portion within since they are WELL documented.
Makes me long for the days of analog photography when each click of the shutter cost money…
That reminds me of taking videos at a concert. Will folks really go back and watch those vids? Another is folks taking pictures of fireworks. Really?
This is Vermont not San Francisco.
That doesn’t sound like restricting the beach to only people who live in the area. That sounds like they’ve turned it into a paid beach part of the year. I suspect that’s exactly the sort of thing that @purplehorseshoe would support: making money off the tourists.
Personally, I just have to say the way this was worded rubbed me the wrong way. It said they were banning certain people. And the only way that made any sense is if they were banning anyone from out of town. And I know I have a bit of a visceral reaction to that idea–kinda like when you hear “Y’ain’t from around here” in a movie.
The real story–that the closed a street and made another one one-way? That seems like nothing. It seems far more fair.
Just an update that they liked it so much last year, they’re doing it again, as are some other towns. Take that, leaf-peepers!
Southern Vermont communities continue to close off areas during foliage season
Or caltrops with a kickback from the local tow truck company and tyre shop…
Once more unto the breach!
Or closing the breach, I guess.