Fast news from Myrtle Beach where the City Council has been given 33 pages of options to curtail motorcycle rallies. As a reminder the city raised property taxes to finance several studies on the consequences of getting rid of the Spring rally and the Atlantic Bikefest during the weekend of Memorial day. The Sun News of Myrtle Beach reports one option given the council Tuesday was to create infractions, rather than crimes, for some problems bikers cause. Councilman Randal Wallace says he is worried about creating an administrative court that could accept hearsay testimony. Several council members worry about the possibility of closing bars at 2 a.m. and imposing a youth curfew in the city.
Myrtle Beach Bike Week Options To Curtail Rallies
Published by August 16th, 2008 in Editorial and Events.53 Responses to “Myrtle Beach Bike Week Options To Curtail Rallies”
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I see articles all the time about how they can’t enforce current rules in Myrtle Beach during the Bike Weeks because of limited resources. I don’t really understand how creating more “laws” is going to help if they can’t enforce the ones already on the books.
Let’s make this easy for them, let’s never go back to Myrtle Beach… EVER. That should make their studies very easy evaluate.
Fact is, there are lots of biker events where we are more appreciated so screw Myrtle Beach.
WGS
Yes it is very interesting that they can’t seem to keep up with inforcement. A little know fact of the area. We found out when applying for our dealership that it is il leagal for all the other dealers to come to our town and sell motorcycles. When asked about this since obviously hundreds of bikes are sold, we were told that they simply don’t have enough agents to go out and inforce it. Go figure
Dave B.
My reply to you is……Gee thats just what THEY would like. Why help them out. Besides there are those of us that DO welcome bikers 365 days a year
Lee, I have a question. Where are Myrtle Beach City Limits? I know Broadway at the Beach is in the city limits and I know that the Harley dealer isn’t. I think I have seen City Limit signs up close to the King’s Highway-17Bypass intersection going toward North Myrtle. I can’t seem to locate the boundaries.
Screw Myrtle and her Beach who needs them…
I agree. Myrtle Beach is a cheesy, shit town and if the self righteous politicians that run things there don’t want the millions of dollars the rallies bring to town every year then fuck em.
As was mentioned, there are plenty of other events and towns that will welcome motorcycle riders and their money, let Myrtle Beach suffer the consequences of caving in to the whining old folks that want to reshape the whole town to include only what they like.
WGS
Sorry I’m really not sure exactly where the limits are either. For sure Broadway won’t be having any vendors. The good news is that there are still plenty of other locations down here. heck I remember the rally before Broadway was here. Personally I’m really getting tired of everyone bad mouthing our area just because the City itself wants to do away with the May rally. Notice NOTHING has been said about the fall rally.
If they don’t want our dollars there plenty of areas that do.
I agree with the above in going to areas that do appreciate the business we bring in.
Nitrous Phil
FACTS & INFO REGARDING THE 2008 FALL RALLY AND 2009 SPRING BIKE WEEK
Have any of the rallies been cancelled?
• NO Rally has been cancelled. The Fall Rally is October 1-5 and Spring Bike Week is May 8-17.
• If anyone at a hotel tells you the event has been canceled they don’t support the rallies and don’t want your business.
• It is not the City’s event to cancel. And, the organizers of the Spring and Fall Rallies are planning the events as they would for any other year.
Where can I get reliable information?
• Your No. 1 source for what is happening in Horry County regarding Spring and Fall Rally is at http://www.mbbikeweeks.com
• We will have the latest information and what you need to know before coming to Myrtle Beach.
• The only other sites that can be trusted for information will be listed on our website. Other than that, don’t trust any other source of information, without having it verified.
• That is the best way to stop the rumor mill.
• We are here in Myrtle Beach talking with politicians and business leaders on a regular basis.
What did the City of Myrtle Beach and other local governments do in regards to the rallies?
• First, everyone needs to know that there are three governments that are impacted by all of the bike events. Horry County, City of Myrtle Beach and the City of North Myrtle Beach. Info and rulings from Horry County Government are the ones you need to be most concerned with. A majority of all bike week events happen in Horry County. There have only been a few events in the City of Myrtle Beach for bike week. Everything else is in the county.
• Major venues like Celebrity Square, Dog House, Marti’s, The Bowery, etc.. will still be rocking during the bike week events.
• The City of Myrtle Beach eliminated the parking lot vendors from Broadway at the Beach and has decided not to rent the convention center during Spring Bike Week or the Memorial Day BikeFest.
• They also raised taxes to try and get a better handle on Spring Bike Week and Memorial Day BikeFest.
• As of August 11, 2008, Horry County and the City of North Myrtle Beach have not made any changes to the Spring or Fall Rallies.
• If North Myrtle Beach and Horry County vote to limit or eliminate the vendor permits, there will still be a Fall Rally and a Spring Bike Week. If that were to happen, we would create activities for everyone to enjoy.
• So, don’t worry about the rallies. They will still be in Myrtle Beach for years to come.
• There are a lot of businesses here that rely on your business and you traveling to see us each year. The organizers of the rallies will be doing every thing possible to make 2009 the best bike week experience possible.
What about law enforcement?
• There will be less tolerance for misbehavior in the future. Law enforcement will be strictly enforcing the laws, especially noise ordinances.
• If you are coming to the Myrtle Beach area to have a good time, respect the community and obey the laws, you will have nothing to worry about.
• As more info becomes available, we will keep you informed.
How do we find a list of businesses that support the rallies and those that don’t support the rallies?
• We are working on a list of pro and con businesses. There are a lot of businesses here, so its hard to get a complete list.
• Right now you should only stay in and support businesses that are on biker websites and those that are promoting bike week on their websites.
• In general, I can tell you that the community (especially the biker friendly businesses) will welcome you with open arms when you are in town this Fall and next Spring.
• In recent surveys from the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce and North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, the community overwhelming supports the Fall and Spring Rallies and over 60 percent of people said the community should work with the bikers.
What can I do to help?
• Come to Myrtle Beach for the Fall Rally and Spring Bike Week. Find everyone that has ever been to Myrtle Beach for bike week and/or ever thought about going to Myrtle Beach and bring them this October, and especially next May.
• That is the biggest impact you can have. Show up in large numbers next spring and have a great time.
• If you own property in Myrtle Beach or have stories about how often you come to Myrtle Beach; how much money you spend, etc.. That information would also be quite helpful. Email them to mike@festivalpromotionsmyrtlebeach.com
Lee,
We know that no rallies have been cancelled, we know that your shop is in the Myrtle Beach area and we feel bad that your shop will suffer if rallies are cancelled and that is unfair to you… that is not our point.
That point being that if bikers simply don’t go to Myrtle Beach for any rally(s), or as far as I’m concerned for any other reason, the town’s problem of deciding whether to allow us there will solve itself.
I am convinced NOT SHOWING UP is the biggest impact we can have.
Sorry, Wimmer. I don’t go to any place where my SSS are not welcomed by 100% of the population. Let’s boycott Myrtle Beach during 1 year (both rallies) and let’s see if they change their attitude towards bikers.
I agree with Chris….let them hang for a year or 2 and let it be a warnng to other venues to stop goughing, police harrassment, etc. they need us more than we need them. Don’t spend your bucks where your not wanted.
Right on!! After a couple of years of no Bike Weeks these douchebag, self-serving politicians will realize how badly their county DOES need these events.
Wimmer, if you’re so concerned about the impact this may have on your business, the best recourse would be to organize the people in Horry County to vote these sanctimonius bastards out of office and elect council members who actually care about the welfare of the local businesses.
Let me say one more thing about this and then I’m done.
I am NOT worried about the impact this will have on my buisness. I live here, work here, ride here and LOVE it here. I do sales all over the world. We are also based in PA
My whole purpose of fighting this thing is exactly the same as the rest of you. I feel we are being singled out and descriminated against as bikers. I also feel that some of these town council people are stupid in their thoughts and need to go as they are only representing the old blue hairs.
We are a tourist based area. And NO one has the right to say who is and who is not welcome here.
I have done my part to voice opinion FOR the bikers. It’s not all about the money!
Enough said!
yep – alot of the town council people are backordered on brains.
More than any place else it seems South Carolina has a problem with motorcycle tourism. An editorial in the Charleston City Paper this week proposed a ban in parts of that city on motorcycles.
http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A50063
If you read WILL MOREDOCK you’ll see this wouldn’t be his first less than positive position on bikes.
Perhaps, a show of resolution by motorcyclists to avoid spending dollars in South Carolina would be a rational and responsible demonstration of force and determination to the community members that appear to be bi-wheel bigots.
The mayor seems to believe that senior citizens and “families” will replace the thousands of bikers and theirs millions of dollars in May. Let’s find out.
BIKERS STAY AWAY ONE YEAR and LET THE CITIZENS of MB & Horry vote.
I am trying to compile a list of Myrtle Beach / Horry County businesses who are supporting the bike ban. I have been asjed to post such a list on my website. So, if you know of such a business, PLEASE Post the name and address (if possible) here. Or email it to me at:
info@zarablackproject.com
Thanks.
Hope to see you in May!
As I have stated before …… the only thing people understand is dollars (or the lack thereof) …. I am keeping my dollars, Desperado Motorcycles and Jeff Nicklus Customs away from Myrtle Beach until they get their heads screwed on straight. We have plenty of appearance contract offers coming in for the same time periods as the Spring and Fall events in Myrtle. We will just take our dog and pony show (and dollars) down the road. I hope others do likewise.
I live and ride in Myrtle Beach, and the majority of “today’s” Harley riders don’t know the difference between a Panhead, Knuckle head and Shovelhead. I have no sympathy you all brought this on yourselves with the loud pipes save lives BS. My ER admissions prove otherwise, As far as the economy, tourism accounts for only 15% of our economy.
The number one employer is the county, all the municipalities and the School District. Second is the Healthcare Providers, that would include the three hospitals and all the various doctor offices and ancillary providers. The Myrtle Beach bike week is a joke its not an official AMA event it never had an official AMA event in its history. It not Daytona or Sturgis. What do you do when you’re here anyway? You ride from BAR to BAR, great lets throw DWI into the mix to. If the Bars that cater to you SBB etc close up so what. And just for the record I don’t buy the college educated crap, the majority DON’T have a college education and a TWO tech degree doesn’t count.
TAKE BACK MAY, and we will never forget Corey Brooks.
Will you listen to this want-to-be EMS Ambulance driver. WOW, yet another reason to boycott Myrtle Beach! See you in Ocean City where we are loved ,,,,, they have a better beach anyway!
I have been going to myrtle for years on memorial day weekend and love it every year.. It would be a shame to cancel, alot of people look forward to this every year!! The majority of this event has a wonderful time.
Myrtle Beach has a right to reject tourist that create problems for the city. We are tired of having to bring in the FBI, SLED and various other outside law enforcement agencies to protect us from out of control bike rallies. GET A CLUE bikers (!) Myrtle Beach doesn’t want to host your ass anymore so move on!
As for ‘gray hair’s’ running the city, who the fuck are YOU (?) GRAY HAIR’S in a mullet!
How many of you are running street legal mufflers on your motorcycles, bearing the EPA Label? Probably about 10% of you? Why is it a mystery as to why people don’t want you there? The noise that you generate is sincerely and truly a very big problem for many many people. Loud pipes violate rights, truly, please consider your actions and how they affect many many other people.
Before you go off about your “rights” please educate yourself about the effects of the noise you generate, there are plenty of authoritative sources. You can also read the federal laws governing noise emissions from motorcycles and mufflers, and the role of the EPA label and street legal equipment.
Operating a motor vehicle is a privilege, which is based on adherence to laws which are designed to protect the general public. If you can’t obey the laws, insist on violating the rights of many other people, why should you be allowed into a city? Don’t the citizens have “rights” to some level of peace and quite?
If motorcyclists used street legal mufflers, most residents would not have a problem. This is not the case however, and so residents have stood up for their rights and good for them.
Here are the federal regs.
Subpart D—Motorcycles
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=9d2dcc1c4ab65a26531fdd1d7bf8e83d&rgn=div6&view=text&node=40:24.0.1.2.11.4&idno=40
Subpart E—Motorcycle Exhaust Systems
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr;sid=9d2dcc1c4ab65a26531fdd1d7bf8e83d;rgn=div6;view=text;node=40%3A24.0.1.2.11.5;idno=40;cc=ecfr
My family and many friends live in and around Myrtle Beach. Several are business owners that have plans to completely boycott MB. I personally have five suppliers in the city limits that I’m sorry to say I will not continue to support. (2007 over $500,000.00). Not to mention restaurants, shows, and shops that will suffer because of the( ten presenter trying) to push bikers away. Lastly I guess I’m one of the ten present with legal pipes on my bike and agree with you on this point.
I ran stock pipes on my Harley and had one two many close calls with people in cars not paying attention and all most hitting me or running me off the road. I run load pipes now, they may not like the noise but at lest they are aware a bike is close by. Guess what I do have a BS college degree in Zoology and have worked as a microbiologist for 25 years. City of Myrtle Beach adios. I’ll stay in Garden City like all ways and hang out Murrels Inlet during the Harley rally. Yes and I do know the difference between a pan, shovel, knuckle, evo.
Mr. Hightower, I would like to commend you for your chosen profession and addres a few interesting items you touched on with some open questions. If the financial gain on your beachfront community is only 15% from tourism then you should consider moving your resources in the opposite direction. Tourism is a cash cow for communities, they come, spend, and leave. They do not burden your school system, they use your roads for what? 4-5 days?
Has your community always had an issue with the bikers and loud exhaust? As I recall noise restrictions/regulations on exhaust pipes on bikes is a modern idea not a 1940 idea. If the issue was noise then shouldn’t the event have been frowned upon in 41,42,43,44,…etc? What changed? Is it because some of the bikers look threatening? Is it because they don’t conform to your community standards? If you truly want peace and quiet then I highly recommend Germany, a country that has signs banning radios, frisbees, loud talking, and skateboards in their parks. You may walk around and quietly discuss things or sit on the grass without making to much noise. They don’t seem to have much tourism either. If the people of your community do not want bikers coming there then stand up and tell them that, I’m sure you would never want to visit any of the locations where they live either, especailly if they told you that you were not welcome in their community. Oh my mistake, that would be downright rude to tell you not to ever go to the area they live at. So if they live in the mountains and that’s a place you like to take your family for vacation, Don’t! because maybe they dont like you coming into thier town either. It sounds pretty silly when you flip it around and put you into the other side of the equation dosn’t it. I’m sure you did very well in mathamatics it was the socializing with groups other than your own that you miserably failed at, another 4 year college education wasted. BTW how can you tell how loud an exhaust pipe was after a crash that required an ER trip?
Hightower!!!
You may want to enroll in a basic grammar class before you pass judgement on people that do not have a college education. I, myself have a degree and ride a motorcycle though I know plenty of people, riders and non-riders, who may not have a degree but do their part to support your local economy and others. This has nothing to do with education – I am willing to bet that there is a large percentage of the motorcycle community with more eduction than yourself. I know they can write better than you!
Please step off your pedestal Hightower!!!
Bottom line, I would like to know the total net $ to the city and other business for all three bike events for May and Oct, lets do the math humm 300,000 peeps for 10 days couples or singles spending at least $2,000.00 a week or MORE, hummm . After a couple of years of this crap, you think somebody is going to loose there JOB. Really don’t understand the city was in such a big hurry to clear the oldest land mark in MB and the land has been in weeds for 3 years? Daytona is going to love this, show me your money.
I have gone to at least the last 5 spring rallies and was going to bring friends this time 2009 but I think we will skip it and head to Daytona Mrtlye Beach should be skipped by everyone
My family and I have attended many fall and spring rallies in Myrtle Beach. I was ready to book a week at a beach condo today for the spring rally however, after reading all the negative attitudes and permit issues I will be going to Daytona Beach instead.
The sweetest sound in the world….the fading noise of motocycles leaving Mrytle Beach !!!!!!!!!!!
WTF,
Look, this is very simple.
MB likes plain old tourists who come to spend some money, who don’t make a fuss or a mess.
What’s the big deal….???
RE:
“… there is a large percentage of the motorcycle community with more eduction …”
Yes, and there appears to be a growing percent who are terminal morons.
RE:
“… Is it because some of the bikers look threatening?…”
You been watching too much TV lately….???
RE:
“… Is it because they don’t conform to your community standards?
How about … because they do illegal, obnoxious stuff…
-nicker-
Even if they dont cancel MB bike rallies…i think its best for all bikers to just go somewhere where, their money, and appreciation for bikes is accepted. All that will happen if we go to MB is that bikers will be harrassed like crazy, probably alot of people will be jailed, or fined for stupid reasons. As far as bikers doing alot of illegal and obnoxious things….hunny please watch the news and or read your crime section of the paper…im sure hardly any of those folks are bikers. And as far as making may “family Month” lol….i too bring my kids here to the beach at least 3 times a year ( outside of rallies) but not anymore…and im sure that many bikers also come for family vacations through out the year…bikers go somewhere else!! screw MB all together. Stay Safe
As I see it right now, the bikers are lost in space. Unless someone takes a lead, and says, “OK the new rallying place is here or here”, we’re just going to stay lost in space and before we know it, it’ll be June and a great American tradition will have been killed off. C’mon somebody man up.
The likely fact is what the city council really wanted to eliminate is “Black Bike Week” but could not target it without appearing racist.
That is why there has only in recent years been an effort by the city to eliminate “biker events”. The law suite of ’03 is likely to have helped them make it a priority.
See story at http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0305/21/se.12.html or just Google Black Bikers Sue Myrtle Beach For Discrimination.
In the mean time, all bikers will suffer from the measures being taken so that the council can maintain the appearance of political correctness.
Look simple rules that we all should have learned by the third grade. #1 dont act like an asshole #2 treat people like you want to be treated and #3 leave the town like you found it. Shouldnt that solve all the problems? Bikers, wanna be’s and even motorcycle enthusiasts alike, It is quite simple, Don’t blow your pipes off to show off, yes loud pipes do save lives but not when you are sitting in the parking lot with a beer in your hands going “woo hoo!!! check this out” Really, this used to be about riding. You know the wind in your hair, the bugs in your teeth and the freedom of the road, not standing next to your $30,000.00 show piece sayin “Damn I look cool”. Honestly, if you are going there, #1 leave the trailer at home (SILLY YUPPY, TRAILERS ARE FOR BOATS) #2 dON’T ACT LIKE AN ASSHOLE !!!! #3 treat people the way you want to be treated and that solves all the problems that the town of MB are complaining about. SERIOUSLY !!!! CONSIDER THIS, YEAH WE GO TO MB SPEND AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT $2000.00 PER BIKE WHILE WE ARE THERE AND THERE ARE AROUND (LETS JUST ROUND IT OFF AND SAY) 250,000 OF US THERE, SIMPLE MATH SAYS THATS AROUND $500,000,000.00 A HALF A BILLION DOLLARS IN WHAT ABOUT 3 WEEKS!!! NOW LET ME ASK YOU THIS, HOW MUCH BULLSHIT WOULD IT TAKE FOR YOUR TOWN TO GIVE UP A HALF A BILLION DOLLARS IN THREE WEEKS? IF WE ARE SPENDING THAT MUCH MONEY BUT THEY STILL WANT TO GET RID OF US THEN WE MUST BE DOING SOMETHING WRONG. Oh yeah, just for the joker who wants to blame it on the “blue hairs” the median age for Myrtle Beach is 48.
OH yeah, as “a biker” I’ll be goddamn if I let anybody tell me where I can or can’t go but I will let the things my dear sweet (Miraculous) Mutha taught me guide how I act / behave .
me and around 20 of my buds have been going to this for 11 years. i am sad that the fun there is over. we look forward to going every year, and now i wouldnt spend a dime in that f—–g place! wait until 2010 when they see how much money they lost in 09, they will be sorry and wanting us back. thats where we give them the middle finger salute!!! we are about 2 hours from sandusky ohio, where ohio bike week is picking up. this year i know alot more bikers will be attending, and i cant wait. hey myrtle, you dont want our money?? ohio bike week and alot of other cities will be thanking you. i personally will never set foot in myrtle beach ever again. hell i spend around 3 grand there every year. my friends do the same, and thats only 20 of us. when myrtle doesnt have 300,000 bikes this year…..? do the math. F-U MYRTLE BEACH. brian in ohio
I’ve attended MBBW for over 20 years now but it seems like that may be coming to an end.
I usually spend about $2500 and the rest of my group spends the same. Some say let’s never go back ever and one or two say let’s just go to North MB to spend our money (or somewhere out of the MB city limits) where we are appreciated. Either way it will not be the same. With the economy the way it is, a boycott will be devastating to a lot of businesses. The almighty $$$ speaks louder
than some may imagine. Maybe we will all get a phone call from the city council members to invite us back in 2010 for the rallies. By the way, I’m 50 years old, a college grad, own my own home, own a couple of Harleys, been riding for 25 years, and never been arrested in my life. IMAGINE THAT..
just because you ride a bike does not mean you are a bad apple….think about it……………………….
I believe the best thing to do is to stay away from Myrtle Beach all together. Allow those self richess
politicians to create new ordinances to make bikers week a living hell for motorcyclist. They’re counting on us showing up anyway out of pure ignorance. Remember ignorance is no excuse. I don’t know about you but i’m a law abiding citizen all year long. I dont want to plan a vacation where i’m spending thousands of dollars in less than a week only to become a criminal at the mercy of myrtle’s new laws which a targeted at bikers. ( Did you know that if you sit at the curb on the grass in a lawn chair to watch activities you will be breaking the law and can and probably will be arrested?) How ridiculous is that? If your exhaust is to loud at idle, you are breaking the law. If it’s not to loud at idle, the police can than rev yout bike to 3500 rpm and test it again . At that point if your exhaust is modified, you will be breaking the law. Do yourselfs a favor. Google – new mrtle beach laws— then decide for yourselfs.
If you decide to go anyway, just put a few thousand dollars aside to get your bike out of the pound, bond fees, court administration fees, lawyers etc..
No one should support this event anymore, but we all know that people are still going to attend. Why? If they don’t want us within the city limits, that tells me they dont want us there at all. Go to Daytona or Sturgis instead. I stopped going to Laconia because the town makes it illegal to do anything.(loud pipes, apes, pulling people over for leaving a bar) These towns would have nothing without tourism and bikers are a big part of that. BOYCOTT THE BASTARDS-they will be begging us to come back one day.
Please get the word out that the Mayor of Myrtle Beach has launched a media blitz with lots of web sites and even fake blogs, where people talk about not coming or the event being canceled. Some how most of you missed the point. The best thing we can do is to go to the Grand Strand where we are not only welcome by the majority of locals but had expected 2 to 3 hundred thousand to come make a statement. This rally never was hosted by Myrtle Beach .Learn your history. This event started in North Myrtle Beach 70 years ago. So the mayor can not tell us what to do. This year 2009 rally is supposed to be commercialization free. That is because no one knows how many vendors will come due to the confusion. We have more new roads and bridges and a whole new vendor set up. This year is about fellowship and riding; it is about coming together and standing tall. No one has to even ride in Myrtle Beach unless they choose to be part of some kind of organized protest rides. Why would you all just give up when we have almost won this thing? Just because we have a few less vendors. All the great things are still here on the North side and the South side.
This was expected to be an incredible show of solidarity with us bikers riding around the little city in the middle which is M.B. city limit, while only spending money on the out skirts and that is where we all go anyway. Only the posers, yuppies and drunken redneck crowds like to hang out at Broadway at the beach anyway. Everything else is still here. Myrtle Beach seems to have divided us and so they will win. If you punks just want to stop coming to the Grand Strand just because a few hundred little old ladies and their out of control Mayor has written a helmet ordinance, noise ordinance and what ever else then I am ashamed of you but it is your choice. The people of the Grand Strand never voted. Never said they do not want us, that is a lie. It is a conspiracy campaign of lies is being sent out all over by the mayor henchmen and their Chamber of commerce. If we have a good enough turn out then we will have defeated this little Napoleonic mayor. If you let this happen I assure you that your city could be the next rally brought down by the small minority. We were looking forward to winning this battle; every thing has been going are way. If every one goes to the Grand Strand and spends no money in Myrtle Beach. Then this mayor will be defeated. It has been called Boycott and Mayhem, and it was genius, until all you posers that are not willing to stand up for are rights just whimped out.
Do some research? Read the true story, do not be fooled by false information, It will take these angry promoters several years to move part of the rally which is what the money people want to do. But in the mean time, we have a point to make. We need to win this. Please just get the facts and then decide. http://www.mbbikeweeks.com/ also http://dealernewsblog.wordpress.com/2009/01/19/myrtle-beach-is-not-dead/
Do you really want to stop riding in Myrtle Beach b/c of a few people that have probably never talked to a biker? Bikers are being stereotyped b/c of old movies that depict bikers as bad guys causing trouble or b/c we don’t all look like a preppy political figure or b/c maybe someone had one bad experience with someone on a bike. I agree with both sides of the biker spectrum. I believe that little or no money should be spent in the city limits unless it is a biker friendly establishment. Make it count where it counts. If you don’t go at all then the Mayor has already won the battle against the bikers. The Mayor might be one of those guys that has been picked on his whole life and now with a little authority he wants to make a statement. This guy won’t last long. If you give up b/c he doesn’t like you then never leave the house again on your bike b/c there are people everywhere that don’t like us. With all that is going on right now with MBBW, I feel frustrated b/c we will lose to this idiot if we don’t fight back for our right to use public property or to gather in a public place.
The Harley rally is not canceled and the riders are not going to New Bern N.C. But the black bike rally is going to be canceled. Their town Atlantic Beach has money problems and can not even afford to sponsor the event and many Black bikers have said that they will not go. It is true that the Atlantic Beach bikers have caused at least 2 restaurants that I know of, to start closing Memorial weekend because of dine and dash, no tips, mean, rude to employs & obscenity to the max. But never any of that from the Harley people. They spend big bucks in the nicer restaurants and tip great. the Harley riders are talking about bring many more people in their individual group’s, as to increase their presents, & they will be all over the 60 miles of Grand Strand, where the rally started around 70 years ago and all the Grand Strand welcomes them except for Myrtle Beach which is very small and never was a big part of the event. Then Horry County voted to take control of event & vendor fees, which caused more businesses to close up shop, some vendor to stop coming & the Carolina Harley Dealers Association to set up shop in New Bern N.C.
Where they planed on making money but none of the bikers will leave their 10day hotel reservations on Grand Strand to attend a two day parking lot event in New Bern. So do not fall for the disinformation campaign that Myrtle Beach Mayor Rhodes has set up and know that Myrtle Beach news media can not be trusted, their stories are slanted and filled with misleading information. Five months of boycott and not one story about it. Last month the Myrtle Beach Mayor even told people that the Harley event was canceled when it was not and now they want people to think that the bikers are moving, and I assure you that they are not. So start looking at other links. The Grand Strand is alive and well, except for Myrtle Beach and Atlantic Beach. How ironic!
IT IS TIME FOR NEW LEADERSHIP IN MYRTLE BEACH.
http://dealernewsblog.wordpress.com/2009/01/19/myrtle-beach-is-not-dead/
http://www.ibiker.org/ and just for fun http://www.chdda.com/events/beachrally.html
Let’s see… the average biker is going to spend at least $400 during Bike Week at local businesses and restaurants. There is usually around 300,000 bikers in town during the week. That’s 120 million dollars. It looks like this – $120,000,000.00. That’s a ton of money! Money that isn’t going to vendors… it’s going to local businesses. Vendors get a fantastic slice of their own. I’m talking about local businesses here year round. If I were a restaurant owner in Myrtle Beach, I’d be banging down the door of the city government offices… screaming, “What are you morons thinking?”
If I were a restaurant owner in the surrounding area of Myrtle Beach, I’d be getting ready for a good season!
I appeal to all bikers… please come!! I live in Surfside Beach and welcome all of you to our city! In this economy, local business owners need all the help they can get. You are welcome here! We have beautiful beaches… we’re a lot closer to Huntington State Park, which has an amazing beach! Murrells Inlet has the best seafood on the Grand Strand! Myrtle Beach is a very small part of the Grand Strand. There are 2 SBB locations south of Myrtle Beach! Saloons and live entertainment are plentiful south of Myrtle Beach.
Something else I believe… if everyone is planning on staying out of Myrtle Beach during Bike Week, the bike dealerships will come to you.
Just know that all of this crap that Myrtle Beach is pulling is just that…. crap. I don’t like it… the vast majority of Myrtle Beach doesn’t like it. Please, please, please…. come this May!
Tom Garber
IT IS SAD THAT THE MAYOR IS CAUSING MORE CRAP THEN HE REALLY NEEDS TO .
LETS SEE WHAT HE WILL DO WHEN THE RALLEY DONATES MORE MONEY FOR THE PEOPLE OF MYRTLE BEACH DURING THEIR TIME OF NEED WITH ALL THE FIRES. HEARD ALREADY THAT ALOT OF VENDORS ARE TRYING RAISE MONEY FOR THOSE EFFECTED AND RED CROSS,
WITH ALL THE BIDDERNESS BIKERS WILL ALWAYS HELP OUT OTHERS IN NEED.
KEEP THE FAITH.
Bikers…..Dont bitch about the attitudes you are getting this week down in Myrtle Beach! We all told you NOT to go to that god forsaken place!!!! They hate us and have been taken over by the new “locals” that think that they did it better and that was the wa they did it where they came from….la tee friggin da….Us Native love the Bike week!!!!! If you go there it is at your own risk!!! Stay down in North Myrtle and bypass Myrtle Beach to get to Socastee and Murrells Inlet!!!! BIkers are welcome in those places, and as a local I know that there is some pretty great places to hang out! WHO NEEDS MYRTLE BEACH,,,give it to the Golfers and the foreigners! KMA MYRTLE BEACH!!!
Been riding for years, before many of you were born.
Went to Daytone waay back, when you could park a bike on Main Street any time any day. Riding on the beach didnt cost anything, You could actually move around the town pretty good. Started going to Myrtle Beach about 20 years ago. It was a nice little town to visit. Crowds werent too bad.
Then I noticed that Motels that charged $40 bucks most time went up to $120 or more around rally time.Gasoline prices even went up.. They started charging to go to Bike Flea Markets in some places.
Next thing I know people are charging to park in their yards. and charging $5 bucks to park in their vacant lots. At Daytona they even started charging to park at Cabbage Patch. It isnt enough they were getting crowds at the bar they wanted bucks to park in their damned dirt field.
It isnt the Bikers fault that these places bring cops in from all over the country. There is little need for them really as very little trouble occurs, but they make plenty off BS tickets. The cops show at Rally events, not wearing their pretty uniforms , they have to wear their wannabee Special forces swat get up. I remember once when they had motorcycle racing at the track in Myrtle Beach, when the cops went nuts when someone flashed a red carpenters level at them.They thought it was a sniper’s scope I guess. They went skitzo./ While we laughed.
Anyway fact is, I go to these rallies for the good companionship, the ride, the plearurable sight seeing, and to see the new work guys did on their rides over the winter. Some go to stay drunk for a week., It doesnt matter what they go for, the rallies are too big to enjoy any more anyway. Ocean city is great right now until it gets too big.
Too many people bring kids to the rallies now, making the cops clean the fun things up ,no more titty shots.Lewd behavior not allowed. Hell that was part of the fun. Mom and Dad need to keep the kids home that week.
I usually go to Myrtle Beach about 3 times a year for the shows, the Beach,and the good climate. I wont be going any more. I will find somewhere else. They dont want me and my few bucks , they can keep their comedowners in their new homes around Myrtle and they can KMA.
All due respect to bikers, love you guys and feel your pain. But even if you are not a biker, you should avoid Myrtle Beach. My husband and I were arrested Friday night as we walked back to our room from a bar. We were not loud or disorderly. We had the bad luck to walk by the paddy wagon as they were loading other people in. They plucked us up for public intoxication. The wagon did not return to the jail until it was full. The cops were bragging and laughing about how many arrest they had made.
The cab driver that took us from jail to our room the next day said he hears this all the time, and the MB is no longer safe for tourists, not because of crime, but because of the crooked cops.
A man we met in jail had been charged with posession of an illegal weapon (2″ pocket knife). Another was arrested walking to the cab he had called. Another was arrested during the day as he and his wife and children were sightseeing. If you drink at all in MB, STAY IN YOUR ROOM or risk going to jail.
Arrests in Myrtle Beach are not about protecting the public; it’s about the numbers; the $$$
I’m not finished yet. I want everyone to know that I am a 49 year old woman with a clean record; even my driving record is clean. I’ve been to MB at least once a year since 1974. MB has always been one of my favorite places. That being said, my husband and I had a ritual burning of all things displaying the Myrtle Beach logo when we got home from JAIL.
I do regret that it is the hotel and restaurant owners that are suffering because of their government’s choices. I also realize that they are the ones with the power to elect new leaders.
Bikers, I am on your side. I just want to see this boycott spread beyond the biker community, to include the rest of us. If any of you readers have a venue for that please let me know. I was disappointed to find that when I typed “Myrtle Beach sucks” into google, the results were restricted to biker sites. (no offense, okay? I consider myself a biker without a bike) I want to include Spring Breakers and families. Everyone with a MB destination in mind needs to know what is going on.
I live in Myrtle Beach and agreed that you guys should not spend your money in the city- even though I work in the city and it hurts me, but you should not avoid the city limits all together, that’s what they want. Come and stay in the surrounding areas and spend your money there, then ride trough the city of MB as often as possibe, all they accomplished is getting rid of the income, but not the noise.
Mr.
wimmer you are 100% right. Some of the old dude (should be DUDs) got a little for mayor and he had to live up to what he promised the old blue noses.
Now the tax will have to be raised to fill the whole that you bikers left (around 68 m) the county had depended on that money then the stupied county jerks don’t know where to get the money. I would love for the bikers to be here I enjoyed every rally. I am 75 but I still love to have a good time. I had a 1946 H-D It was kick start and Manuel shift What fun I had with that
C.C.Elliott
We just got back from bike week at North Myrtle Beach. We also visted Surfside Beach and we took the by pass from N.M,beach to Surfside. We did not go into Myrtle Beach at all and we DID NOT SPEND one penny in Myrtle Beach !!! Even if we go back to the beach for a family vacation we WILL NOT stay at Myrtle Beach !!!!! F.U.M.B. !!!!