Beware, bike rally recoil
Last Updated on 12/1/2008
Published on 6/22/2008
Myrtle Beach citizens are fed up with the unruly crowds and gridlock that have come to define two spring motorcycle rallies that bring half-a-million tourists to the Grand Strand in May.
Residents of Murrells Inlet have felt the full force of the Harley Davidson rally for years and a new spot, SSBQ, has opened near Andrews to entice Harley riders. Aside from the noise, Harley riders have not presented Georgetown with an unmanageable problem so far.
That may not be the case in future years.
Myrtle Beach officials are having second thoughts about the wide-open weeks of May that bring in millions of dollars in spending -- and, no doubt, cost millions in extra police, sanitation and other types of lost business during the Harley and Bikefest rallies.
Myrtle Beach City Manager Tom Leath wants some new rules for the party.
Among the possibilities being discussed are moveable traffic checkpoints where officers check motorcycles for noise violations and drivers for DUI.
"Five miles of bikes backed up -- that would take some of the fun out of the event," says Mr. Leath.
Myrtle Beach City Council has even approved a tax increase to be used to seek the means of replacing bikers with other tourists in May.
Myrtle Beach Councilwoman Susan Grissom Means says she's had hundreds and hundreds of people contact her who want the bike rallies to end.
While Myrtle Beach is not able to prevent bikers from coming, it appears that it will rein in the riders.
That's all well and good for Myrtle Beach, but such inconvenience in Horry County will drive the bikers elsewhere to ride, namely Georgetown County.
What have been merely dozens of motorcycles parked along Front Street could swell to hundreds.
Thankfully, there are not enough motel rooms in Georgetown to provide a significant shift southward in the Harley Davidson rally. But as Myrtle Beach squeezes the bikers, they will go somewhere.
Georgetown and Georgetown County should be aware of the consequences coming down U.S. 17 next May.
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Becareful of singleing out a particular group of tourist for traffic checks only. Last i check, thats called Harassment. Which leads to lawsuits. The beach belongs to all of us. Thats what the bible teaches us right. Posted by Big Tim on 6/28/2008
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why r some people complaining--i agree with the others if u don't want the money than i'll take it somewhere else i personally like both weeks--some people out there r really trying to make it hard for the rest of us. Posted by on 6/25/2008
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Without the bikers' support, many of the businesses that we all enjoy year around may not be here. I don't ride a bike, but I don't mind the bikefests either. Let's face it, Myrtle Beach will never attract the Ft. Lauderdale upscale types. Posted by Local Resident on 6/25/2008
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MD Rally and week consist of rude and arrogant bikers. This one should be cancelled. Posted by memorial day bikers on 6/24/2008
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What does everyone have against MONEY? Last time I checked this was America and were were still capitalists. And the bikers spend plenty of it!! I agree with Mr. Fenters and Mr. Simmons. I'd be interested to know who is doing all of this "complaining" about the bikers. The majority of the comments, and there have been MANY, I have read in the Georgetown Times and Sun News have been in FAVOR of the biker week. Myrtle Beach is a resort/vacation area. There is always a traffic tie-up somewhere regardless of the bikers. I know plenty of bikers from this area and have met plenty more from other places and they are good people who do good things for their communities as well as ours. I do realize that there is some inconvenience associated with the bike weeks but to my way of thinking it is no different than regular tourists. If you choose to move into or live in a resort area you have to take the good with the inconvenient. Posted by Yevette Moore on 6/24/2008
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The demographics for the “Harley Davidson” biker community has changed dramatically. Once upon a time the average age of a biker was 20 - 25 yrs of age and the average income was less than 25,000 dollars a year. During that time the rally was a mere 3 day event. But today the average age of the modern day biker is closer to 35 – 40 yrs of age and the average income is closer to 60,000 dollars a year. Yes the Harley rally has grown to a 9 or 10 day event. But, the average Harley rider is spending around 100 dollars a day and that doesn’t include the price of lodging. How can the business community turn away from that kind of income? And secondly, don’t think the bikers are heading south into Georgetown just because myrtle Beach / horry county is rejecting them. There is a small community in the coastal section of NC that embraces the bikers and they will happily take the money they spend. Posted by James Fenters on 6/24/2008
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Just two weeks out of the year. Myrtle Beach, get real. It's like it's the end of the world, the bikini clad, girls on the beach is all well and good. I like them, too. Give us a break. I know it is more so, the bikers that comes for the Memorial Day Bikers' Rally than the Harley Davidson week. I say no more. Posted by James Simmons on 6/23/2008
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