Myrtle Beach Bike Week UPDATE

[Buzz Kanter]

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — A motorcycle rally that has become controversial on South Carolina's Grand Strand is moving to North Carolina in large part due to the restrictive ordinances imposed on bikers to discourage the event from taking place, organizers said Monday.

The Carolina Harley-Davidson Dealers Association will hold its spring rally May 15-16 in New Bern, N.C., the group said in a release.

"This new venue will allow us to get back to basics and offer our existing and new customers a rally experience they will appreciate without restrictions and with the ability to enjoy the freedom of riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle," association president Mark Cox said.

Myrtle Beach officials have passed ordinances to restrict the rallies, sparking at least three lawsuits. The city acted after a Coastal Carolina University student was shot and killed last year during one of the rallies in a dispute over a parking space.

Several rallies are held in and around Myrtle Beach each year, including the dealer rally. In all, the rallies attract an estimated 500,000 people to the region every spring.

Tom Bayliss III, the mayor of New Bern, said Monday that he was told the dealer rally will draw less than 4,000 "older people" and their families to his historic city.

He said he agreed the dealers and their clients could set up at a fairgrounds outside the citylimits, and he never approved the arrival of hundreds of thousands of bikers who usually attend the Myrtle Beach rallies over a three-week span each spring.

"Absolutely not. We couldn't handle it. There's no way in the world," said Bayliss, who rides a 1998 Harley Heritage Springer and has vacationed in Myrtle Beach with his family. "There's nothing here for anyone — night clubs or any of that sort of business. It's totally different than Myrtle Beach."

Cox did not return messages seeking comment.

Among Myrtle Beach's ordinances aimed at restricting bikers is a new helmet law and more than 50 tickets were issued to bikers who rumbled through town last week to protest it. South Carolina has no statewide helmet law, but the new Myrtle Beach city laws require everyone riding a motorcycle in the city to use a helmet and eye protection.

City spokesman Mark Kruea said the decision by the association to move the rally is welcomed.

"The issue for the city has been that we've had two or three ... back to back motorcycle events that occupied 20 straight days and that's too much. So, we're not going to be in the rally business in May," Kruea said.

The city and Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce launched a Web site earlier this year stating that, as far as the City of Myrtle Beach is concerned, the biker rallies were over.

News outlets reported in January that the city never officially hosted the Harley-Davidson and Atlantic Beach Bikefest, but the bikers would cruise through the city and local residents often complained about noise and congestion.

"Please know that Myrtle Beach is not anti-biker or anti-motorcycle," Mayor John Rhodes said in a letter posted on the site. "We are ending the motorcycle-related rallies because they grew too big and lasted too long. The huge rallies even kept visitors away from Myrtle Beach, and that's not good."

Carolina Harley-Davidson Dealers Association : Carolina Harley-Davidson Dealer's Association - Enter page

City bike week information Web site: Myrtle Beach Biker Info | Laws | Regulations

[Tbone]

Tom Bayliss III, the mayor of New Bern, said Monday that he was told the dealer rally will draw less than 4,000 "older people" and their families to his historic city.

So, what's he tryin' to say? I resemble that remark.

[Hammerhead Pat]

After attending last years event and having a total blast, I was worrying about the event being cancelled. Well, next year I guess I 'll just have a few more miles to ride

[Hookedup]

New Bern welcomes everyone and wants a good time for all. That is what the rally is all about anyway. No, New Bern is not Myrtle Beach and is not trying to be. New Bern is a New age/ Historic town that has a ton to do and see. The dinner, nightlife and and awesome riding can all be found here. Our group has a location two miles from the rally with special events planned for the entire rally in May. Bands, beer, bike show, venders, hot body contest and of course freshly cooked carolina bbq served for four days. This is going to be the heat!!!! Take the ride up the coast for a great time in New Bern,North Carolina.

[classycaveman]

A little confused here. OK lets see if I got this right. Myrtle Harley spring rally is going strong for 69 years. 90% of the rally is outside the city limits. The new mayor decides to pass a few B.S. regulations to break bikers balls ( Including a new helmet law within the city limit). And to combat this, A few guys want to move the rally to a state that has a full time helmet law. The new locations mayor has come out and stated that the town can not handle a big motorcycle bike week and never authorized it. Well I'm trying to understand the logic but it aint happening. Instead My crew will ride down to Myrtle like we did for the past 15 years. We will ride our asses off, See our South Carolina buds, Party, eat ,drink and most importantly SPEND CASH with one exception. We wont spend one cent within the city limits of Myrtle Beach. SBB, HB Spokes, Dead dog saloon, and all the other places that have always welcomed bikes are all outside the city limits and there are tons of hotel options outside the limits too. So We'll do our thing and F#@k the Mayor and his cronies. And if we get a few tickets for loudpipes or high bars thats the cost of being a biker. We dont get chased away.

[unclepsycho]

Thats what we did at Hollister the other year...and they decided to start it back up the following year. But I havent been back, I go see my Dad that weekend now.

Never Give Up !!!

[2003FXDX]

I heard that a lot of residents that now live in MBeach complained about the noise.
MBeach holds bike week then has a sport bike week right after. I have a relative that lives in the area and said HD week isn't too much trouble, but its mostly what comes after with all the sport bikes.

[hd1084]

I don't care what the Mayor and his boy's do within the city limits of Myrtle .The wife and I, along with two other couples are going to bike week.
We will be staying at the Lakewood RV Resort. Any one else going let me know. Would be nice to meet up with other members.

[T Bird]

I just returned from a day trip to the Myrtle Beach Spring 09 Rally and thought I would share my thoughts. Since my buddies and I live within 130 miles of Myrtle, we ride up every year on the last Saturday of the rally. We got to the area a little earlier this year then normal, about 9:15 AM, and I was totally shocked at the lack of bikes on the streets. We come into town through Murrells Inlet, which is normally very congested, but this morning, we were nearly riding alone. We always visit the Harley Shop on Kings Hwy, and this is the first year we ever got front row parking. Normally we would be stuck down the street in a field. In previous years, the lot behind the Harley shop is packed with vendors and customers, but today the vendors occupied only about 50% of the space available, and at this hour, very few customers. After breezing through the vendors at this location, we skirted the Myrtle Beach City Limits to Myrtle Beach Mall and Barefoot Landing, These were new vendor locations to me, and I was very pleased to see the number of vendors set up and doing business. After the clouds cleared and the sun came out, the bikers arrived in full force. In conversation with other bikers, I heard that the hotels inside the Myrtle Beach city limits were trying to fill rooms for about $40 per night, the same rooms that last year brought $120 a night with a 4 night minimum. Also I heard that the MB cops were being very agressive in the pursuit of oridinance breakers and were writing a lot of tickets. From other folks, I heard they were very mellow and appeared to be bored. I do not have any first hand knowledge of the MB cops as I never left a tire track inside the city limits. What impressed me the most was that while standing out in front of Myrtle Beach Harley Davidson, a Horry County Deputy Sheriff came by and personally thanked everyone he came into contact with for coming to the rally and supporting Horry County. The overall general concensus was that next year after the Myrtle Beach Mayor losses his bid for re-election, the rally will return to histiorical proportions. As for me, I got my 2009 HOG Pin, and considered it a pleasant day of riding.

[unclepsycho]

Hay, thanks for the write up... glad you all had fun in spite of Myrtle Beach situation.