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You Broke The Flowers And Now You Have To Pay $10 To See Them
Lake Elsinore officials are hoping to avoid another weekend of full bloom chaos, and announced Thursday some new strategies to relieve the congestion brought on by beauty-seeking hordes. Their plans include a pay shuttle service, closing some nearby roads and asking residents to stay home (or take alternate routes).
"[The] super bloom has shown the world the natural beauty of Lake Elsinore," said Lake Elsinore Mayor Steve Manos during a press conference, but "the last few weeks have been unbearable for our residents."
SHUTTLES AND PARKING
Starting Saturday and throughout the weekend, there will be no parking for visitors on Walker Canyon or Lake Street. Instead, those wishing to see the poppies will be required to take a shuttle, which will cost $10 (if you're over the age of three).
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Shuttles will hold up to 150 people, Manos said, and will begin running at 6:30 a.m. The last shuttle will leave to take visitors to the super bloom at 5:00 p.m., and the final shuttle will leave the flowers at 7:00 p.m.
Animals won't be allowed on the shuttles, with the exception of service animals, and officials expect the wait time for shuttles to be approximately 2.5 hours.
ROAD CLOSURES
City officials also announced several road closures in the area:
- Lake Street going northbound from Temescal Canyon to Nichols Road
- Nichols Road going westbound from Lake Street to Collier Avenue
- I-15 Lake Street exit in both directions
During Thursday's press conference, which was livestreamed on Facebook, officials encouraged residents to take alternate routes or to avoid heavily trafficked areas. That suggestion was met with some derision from residents.
"Thanks for making us hostages in our own homes!" wrote one commenter.
"This doesn't sound like a solution they are just telling us again to avoid the area?" wrote another.
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"Soooooo still no solution" said a third.
You belong among the wildflowers in Walker Canyon, as long as you have $10 for the shuttle. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
SNAKE BITES, BROKEN ANKLES, ETIQUETTE
Visitors to the super bloom also haven't been so great about observing proper etiquette, or even taking health precautions.
During today's announcement, officials said that tourists have suffered snake bites, broken bones and rolled ankles in search of the perfect selfie.
"Two miles downhill in sandals is not fun," said Dustin McLain, Lake Elsinore's chief of parks and resources. "We have experienced that over and over."
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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