‘It is as if they do not want us to come!’

After having dinner with my wife, Patricia, in Cape May over the Memorial Day Weekend, I went to the car for my forgotten wallet, and returned to find her talking to a couple at the adjacent table; so, I joined the conversation. Upon asking if their extended weekend was enjoyable, we got an earful. An anticipated 3½-hour drive from their home just south of Baltimore became a seven-hour bumper-to-bumper, stop-and-go nightmare. The portion of the journey over routes 47/347 captured their particular ire, especially where the two roads converge.
Upon arriving and finding their expensive B&B had no parking, they were anything but happy campers. The ordeal of locating a parking place in Cape May was now before them.  A spot five blocks away was eventually located, but in their state of mind, they neglected to note where they finally placed the car. Summing up their experience, the lady exclaimed, “It is as if they do not want us to come!” 
To address the parking issue for a moment, I noted that we had two articles on the growing parking issues in the May 23 Herald, one out of Stone Harbor and one from Cape May. The Atlantic City Press also wrote on the issue May 29. Neither of these editions of the Herald and the Press touched on the congested highways.
It appears that some changes taking place are exacerbating these problems. As smaller homes come down, they are often replaced by larger ones, accommodating multiple families with multiple vehicles.
In Wildwood Crest, where we live, a church was razed, and, in its place, 10 large homes were built. Over the Memorial Day holiday, I saw four cars parked at one of the houses, only one of them off-street.
There is another issue adding to the problem; when the islands were settled, it was typical for one family to stay in one house and arrive in one car. Now even one family may come in multiple cars. So with multiple parties bringing multiple vehicles, the congestion is growing and will continue to do so.
When our clan from northern Pennsylvania visits us, my cousin comes in his car, his wife and her mother in another, and their grown children in another. As they explain it to me, they all have different schedules. 
The fact is, the island towns have it within their power to address the parking issues, but they cannot address the simultaneous highway concerns. For that we must look to our federal, state and county elected officials. They are very aware of the problem,  but currently, there are no plans to address it.
It is not as though it is just an inconvenience for our visitors. I know a lady living in Cape May who dares not move her car all summer because she has no off-street parking, and doesn’t want to lose her coveted spot. 
Everybody knows the adage, “Times change and we must change with them, or get left behind.” If we want that couple from Baltimore to return, we are going to have to change. I know because I asked her, “Is your experience going to influence your decision to come back?” She answered, “Absolutely.”