Myrtle Beach Bike Week just ended. Unfortunately, 2 years of efforts by the city of Myrtle Beach to curb the rally have left its toll. Attendance was much lower than last year and the economy is not to blame. Based on complaints of some residents regarding traffic and congestion the city passed ordinances to impose riding with a helmet, outlawing parking lot gatherings and limiting the number of vendor permits.
Bikers reacted by not traveling to the rally or staying outside the city limits. Although North Myrtle Beach, Murrell Inlet and the Grand Stand was welcoming a limited number of vendors, it seems that a big number of those presents to show resistance to the city actions, already decided not to come back next year. The movement “We Came Anyway” is losing steam. Most are even not aware of the legal battles still going on against the city of Myrtle Beach. I already heard a few horror stories of police officers harassing bikers under any available pretext. My comments section is opened to all to tell my readers about your experience, good or bad, during this 2010 rally edition.
I went to Myrtle Beach 2010 for vacation with wife and brought motorcycle. I was unsure what to expect as far as bike week this year. Unfortunately we experienced several acts of deliberate attempts by South Carolina vehicles following so close and almost running us down, and verbal gestures ” run them all down”. Rest assured that myself, family and friends and other 300 hundred thousand bikerswill not spend another dime! Myrtle Beach will be a ghost town losing so much revenue for one week out of an entire year.
$$$ runs the world.. Fast forward two years and they’ll be scratching their head what happened to Tax Revenues, cranking up Property taxes and Sales taxes.. then and internal movement will begin to bring back bikers… but.. … bikers won’t forget, and …. they will have pretty much screwed themselves…. Too bad; I was there a few years back and always hoped to return….not after hearing about all this
We have attended MBBW for the past 15 years and quite honestly it’s refreshing to see the rally shrink down , it has businesses offering great discounts on food and beverages and really trying to get the Bikers business while we are there.The House we rent dropped over $1000.00 for the week and Most of the Locals really love us there and welcome us with open arms. We have never expierenced any harrasment by the local law and the State Highway Patrol even had a booth set up at Myrtle Beach Mall handing out kickstand plates, stickers and an Albert Eisnstein look alike signing posters about not driving drunk, never saw that before. I talked to a local business owner for awhile and he assured me that the owners of the bars in the Murrells inlet area are making money and do appreciate us there. If you know anything about the area you know that from year to year alot of businesses come and go from the area but most of the Biker based ones remain stable and prosper with even a smaller crowd. I believe within a few years the rally will regain strength and get to the numbers from 2 years ago, but quite honestly its nicer with less traffic, less vendors and businesses fighting for our money. Keep the 500,000 + Rallys, i’ll take the smaller ones. The Weasels love Garden City , Murrells inlet and the North end too….see you next year!
Headed to ROT next month….
God Bless Texas
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“Patrons of the Republic of Texas Biker Rally,
On behalf of the proud men and women of the Austin Police Department, it is my pleasure to welcome each of you to the city of Austin for the 15th Annual Republic of Texas Biker Rally. Beyond its distinction as the capitol of Texas, Austin has a well-deserved reputation for hospitality and a unique blend of eclectic characteristics that are sure to make your visit here both memorable and safe.
There’s no doubt that Austinites want your visit to our city to be an enjoyable one. So with the traditional warm temperatures of June, common sesne and good judgment are encouraged to assure for your personal well-being. Please know that APD officers are here for your safety and are available to assist with any questions or concerns you may have durning the event.
Our Special Events Unit and the City of Austin’s Transportation Department share responsibilities for coordinating street closures in the Downtown area. I ask that you remain alert for road closures and be aware of signage indicationg the proper direction of traffic flow. Note that many of our downtown streets are one-way. Always approach the rally site and intersections with great caution, watching carefully for pedestrian and vehicular traffic in the area.
It is my hope that the Republic of Texas Biker Rally will once again provide a venue of great fun and enjoyment for you and your family.
Be safe.
Art Acevedo
Chief of Police
City of Austin”
We already rolled our rental house over for 2011 and can’t wait to go back. I been attending this rally since 1999 and like FYB stated, it was actually very nice this year and we were received with open arms everywhere we went in Murrells Inlet, Garden City and North Myrtle Beach. Cooter’s restaurant in Garden City fed us all a full breakfast each morning, discounted and special alcohol and beer prices at many of the bars & taverns what’s not to like? The Beaver Bar built a huge addition and entertainment area this past year and I can’t believe they made that investment and spent that kind of money on whim. My ole lady and I have no intensions of changing our plan for where to go in May and the 650 mile ride to the Beach’s is still a pleasure.
I fear we will continue to see this type of treatment of bikers by local communities. As the popularity and cool factor of Harleys diminish; the old images of rebellious, law breaking hoodlums will grow. The landscape of motorcycle rallies will continue to shrink by both economic factors as well as old prejudice attitudes. Always remember it was a movie of youthful rebellion and teen angst that created this image of riding marauders attaching the citizenry in the first place. Thanks Marlon.
Heard ROT is da shit. RIP mbbw
THERE …. after reading Chief Acevedo’s comments you now understand what we Texans are about …. we welcome the bikers here with open arms. The ROT Rally has a major economic impact for Austin and The State of Texas. What event do you know of where the Governor of that state comes out and rides as Grand Marshal of the event parade? That is what we think of this event in Texas!
I have attended every ROT Rally every held, we will attend this years event and God willing we will be at many more ROT’s in the future! This is one of the best organized and most fun events you will ever attend so come on down.
Thanks Chief for all you and your men do every year. Most of all thanks Mr. & Mrs.Jerry Bragg for putting on this event annually.
Check out the website: http://www.rotrally.com/default.aspx
Over & Out,
Jeff
hahaha, ads by google at the top of the page right now inviting us to myrtle beach. I know it’s not cyril’s fault, but it is funny,and ironic.
I’m from just over the border in NC and have enjoyed the rally for a long, long time. It’s a shame they want to turn the place into Pinehurst by the sea. Old retired folks need a place to golf and die. I will miss the old times, but everything changes. And I will be staying out of the city for the rest of the year too. That’s saying a lot for me, cause I’ll be in N. Myrtle for a week in June. I also used to go as much as I could on a free weekend, used to go for New Years, used to go for the fall rally, for my birthday etc.
Can’t worry about it now, time for new places to go and people to meet. And as I’ve said before, I wouldn’t have such a hard line approach if the mayor and city council didn’t get RE-ELECTED. It’s your bed Myrtle Beach, we’ll see how comfortable it is. By the way, how’s that return on the 31 million dollars you put in Market Commons doing? Heard it was bankrupt!
Jeff is right on this one. The ROT rally is a place like Sturgis used to be. Last time I went it was wild. You would see naked girls walking about the fair grounds and the cops did nothing but admire their beauty. I saw people smoking pot right in front of cops and again they did nothing. I think as long as your not hurting anyone you can do pretty much anything you want. Inside of the fairgrounds that is. I have not been there for a few years though so maybe things have changed. Jeff could tell us if they have or not. It is a rally that everyone should see at least once for sure.
JMO,
Things have improved over your last visit. Now no one under 18 is admitted to this party ….. so the party literally goes on 24 hours a day. This does in fact remind me of what Sturgis used to be like years ago …. great fun. Also, the City of Austin blocks off 6th street downtown (6th Street is where the cool bars and clubs are located) and makes it “Motorcycle Only” traffic on Friday night … now you can party with thousands of your friends you didn’t even know you had! As you said: “It is a rally that everyone should see at least once for sure.”
Over & Out,
Jeff
Got back last Sunday. Stayed in Surfside Beach – no problems. I’ve been every year since 1997. It’s different, especially from the 500,000 plus years, and that ain’t all bad. The lines to get down to SBB and the Beaver Bar were at least 1/2 mile long in either direction. There were fewer vendors, but there are fewer vendors of everything these days. The bypass north was busy in both directions as people headed to and from the north end. Restaurant Row and The Marsh Walk in Murrels Inlet were packed with motorcycles and cars as people do ther thing and mix and mingle and just have a good time. The new Beach House Harley in Shallotte, NC (about 17 miles over the SC line) was packed and had a lot of vendors. and other stuff goiing on. I believe I am right that this is the first time at least since 1997 (as far back as I go) that Harley was not around. Not a big deal. Overall, a good few days, even with the rear wheel bearings on my brothers bike trying ther best to sing a high pitch song. We got that fixed up too. I’ll be back.
As a resident of Murrells Inlet just south of Myrtle Beach and riding for 28 years, this party went off nicely. Any rally there will be a few riders harrassed by police. Didn’t see it here myself,but I’m sure it happened somewhere. South strand bars and businesses welcomed bikers and made money I’m sure…..I believe the new shirts available for sale tell it all….”Murrells Inlet Rally”…..so don’t got to Myrtle Beach bike week anymore…..but do come to Murrells Inlet Rally…….you will have a great time..and it’s cheaper down here the M.B. anyway……you still get sun,beach,cheap beer,a few Great bike shops including Wimmer,Victory,and of course H.D. Dealer…
I noticed that most of the responders stating things having been “nice” at Myrtle Beach were actually referring to North Myrtle Beach, Garden City Beach, Surfside Beach, and Murrells Inlet. Things were great in those areas. It is the City of Mytle Beach that has set up the “biker harassment” laws. These are laws that are not effect in other other areas of South Carolina and were passed so that Myrtle Beach Police could harass bikers at will. I am a South Carolina resident and have been going to the Myrtle Beach Rally since 1972. I no longer go into the Myrtle Beach city limits because of these laws. I will continue to go to North Myrtle, Surfside, Garden City,and Murrells Inlet, as long as Horry County does not try to follow suite on Myrtle Beach harassment laws. Myrtle Beach just re-elected the same officials who passed those laws, which tells me that the locals there do NOT want our business. I have heard locals talk about bike week when I was down fishing on the pier, etc. dressed in a sport shirt and khakis. Regardless of what these bikers were told by the locals, they re-elected the same council, and that is where the truth is obviously apparent. I haven’t been in the City Limts of Myrtle Beach since the laws passed 2 years ago, and I do not intend to spend another dime supporting their ungrateful businesses and especially supporting the tax revenue for the citizens there. Let them survive on what they make from the golfers and snow birds. They won’t get my money.