By: Mike Koury | Woodward Talk | Published August 13, 2024
FERNDALE/BERKLEY — The Woodward Dream Cruise is almost ready to kick off, and local police departments are ready for the influx of drivers for the busy weekend.
There will be Dream Cruise events and festivities Aug. 16-17 in the metro Detroit area, including in both the cities of Ferndale and Berkley.
Ferndale Police Department communications liaison Evan Ahlin said the department is preparing for the weekend as it normally does, coordinating safety protocols with local law enforcement entities to keep the public safe.
“The main thing that we want the public to know is, because this is the first year that the bike lanes will actually be on Woodward, so there’ll be no standing or setting up chairs within the bike lanes,” he said. “Those bike lanes do need to remain open for people on bikes to move throughout.”
Ahlin also wanted to warn Dream Cruise attendees to not set up tents inside the medians when they’re taking in the passing vehicles on Woodward.
The most important thing Ahlin shared, especially with events like these in the hot summer sun, was that everyone needs to stay hydrated.
“It’s gonna be a long day and people are going to be out there. And more than one occasion, we do have people (passing) out because they are dehydrated and whatnot. So that is one thing that just the public should be cognizant of as well,” he said.
Berkley Public Safety Detective Lt. Andrew Hadfield said the department will start increasing patrols and bring in additional people when possible as Woodward begins to get busier.
“Obviously, this week there’ll be increased enforcement along Woodward just trying to keep any type of reckless driving or other dangerous driving down,” he said.
Hadfield asked everyone to be mindful of others and to be patient as they try to move throughout the area, as there will be a lot of visitors this weekend.
“We want to put on a good show for the rest of metro Detroit, for our community and for the surrounding communities,” he said, “and for those that are heading out of town to be safe and co