ElI5: How does the Isle of Mann TT race work if you live on the island? Are all the roads closed for the day and you just get trapped in your house?
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No it’s not that small of an island, there’s more than one road. The course is on some big roadways but it’s also really short and they open the roads in between. Tons of tourists go, there are extra trains and buses running and stuff to take you to spots where the races are.
Like others have said race times are known in advance so if your house is on the course you can decide if you’re staying or getting out while you can. There are also pedestrian bridges that go over the course for people that live ‘inside of the course’ eg a side street that has its entrance cut off when the races are on 🙂 people will park their cars on the other side of the course so they can drive about and not be stuck walking or on a bus. Source: I grew up in a house inside the course
There’s probably very few houses literally on the TT course and in those cases yes you could be stuck inside your house when the races are on. However, race times are known in advance so people in that situation can leave early. Similarly you can be stuck inside or outside the course but preparation is key!
It’s actually fine – if you live on the island you are still allowed on the roads, you just have to drive a lot faster.
I used to live in the middle of the Notting Hill carnival which I guess is a similar situation. You either embrace it and enjoy it or ship out for the weekend. After a couple of years shipping out is the preferred option.
There is more than just one day of racing – its over two weeks.
Friends on the island rent their home out during TT and go off on holiday.
As with any road racing – even cycling, if you’re directly on the course you have restricted access to your home, but you can park away from the route and use other roads to get about, or just walk. Some parts of the island aren’t on the course and so, apart from the huge influx of tourists after accom, life continues without too many issues.
TT on the island is huge – and its more the visitor numbers that cause the problems then the route itself being closed during racing.
Anyone who lives in a place that draws huge crowds/has rolling street closures, etc just learns to deal. Usually there’s a city/area communications channel that you can find that tells you exactly what’s going to happen and you plan your life accordingly.
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