Hollister
– As the Fourth of July and Hollister Motorcycle Rally approach,
some locals will be looking for an escape from the hectic
surroundings.
Hollister – As the Fourth of July and Hollister Motorcycle Rally approach, some locals will be looking for an escape from the hectic surroundings.
Officer Chris Armstrong, a public information officer for the Hollister-Gilroy area office of the California Highway Patrol, said the CHP will be out in full force most of the week. Today through Wednesday, at least 80 percent of patrol officers will be on the roadways for the Fourth of July holiday, Armstrong said.
During the Hollister Motorcycle Rally, running Friday through Sunday, all patrol officers from the Hollister-Gilroy area office of the CHP will be on duty, Armstrong said.
Armstrong said that anyone who wishes to leave Hollister to visit family or go on vacation during the rally should do so before Friday afternoon.
“Most locals are anticipating it and hopefully already have a game plan,” Armstrong said.
Armstrong also encouraged taking normal safety precautions such as buckling up, driving the speed limit and staying sober.
Those who are looking to test-ride a bike should be sure to have experience and, more important, a motorcycle license, Armstrong said.
“If you are inexperienced or unlicensed, this is not the weekend to be out experimenting,” Armstrong said.
As for getting out of town, Armstrong said using roads on the outskirts of Hollister – such as Union and Fairview roads – is a good strategy.
Hollister Motorcycle Rally promoter Seth Doulton said he doesn’t expect the rally will be louder than in previous years. But he understands residents wanting to leave town.
“That’s probably a good move if they want to go have a quiet, peaceful holiday,” Doulton said.
Hollister Police Capt. Bob Brooks said not everywhere in Hollister gets noisy during the rally.
“If you’re up in the Sunnyslope area, it’s not noisy,” Brooks said.
While many local residents are not necessarily leaving, some will not venture downtown.
Ally Charlet and her husband, both local residents, won’t be leaving town, but won’t be going downtown this year either.
“It’s not that we avoid it, we just don’t make a point of going,” Charlet said.
