There is some triathalon madness happening today - just about all of Hollywood is blocked off and even some streets near my house. I just don't like these events. I asked someone why they did them, and they said because people like to do these events. Well, there are events I like to do, yet I don't have to make traffic miserable for half the city.
I'm surprised by your attitude, dear BK. These events bring people into the city, not only as participants but as spectators. That generates tourist money, as they spend their greenbacks on hotels, restaurants, and all sorts of other things. This money, in turn, gets recycled into the community again as the profits get spent by the local employees on what they want to buy. Not to mention the tax revenue.
Every year, der B and I could count on not heading into Downtown Long Beach, because of the Long Beach Grand Prix. In fact, most of Long Beach could count on being caught in a log-jam, as the residents would either be caught within the city street loop of the race course, or in all the traffic surrounding the event. (Every year, while I was involved in the gay softball league, we'd simply plan on holding the after-game beer bust that day at Mike's Corral, which was located in north Long Beach and therefor well out of the Grand Prix traffic.) The Grand Prix is one of the city's biggest money-makers. It was worth it.
Events like this are usually advertised well in advance, so the locals can plan in advance how to live around them. Relax, kick back with a beverage of choice, and be glad people like to celebrate living. These days, that's important.
Well, that and the tax revenue.