From what I've been told (by people who should know), This whole thing began because Myrtle Beach has had serious probs during black bike week. People who mostly are not bikers come to town and cause big problems. The solution? Pass laws making the place unfriendly to ALL bikers and try to get rid of all the bike week events.
Myrtle Beach Bike week 09
Well it happened, stricter rules are going into place. With the economy the way it is, why discourage bikers from this event. Dont they like our $$$$$$$. Is this event going to be like Lake George? Its not broke so dont try to fix it.
New Ordinances --- Posted Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The Myrtle Beach City Council approved the following ordinances at its regular meeting on Tuesday, September 23, 2008. Some amend existing ordinances, while others are entirely new. Three are effective immediately, including the Noise Ordinance
The remaining 12 ordinances take effect Sunday, December 21, 2008, which is 90 days from adoption.
Read all the ordances -- http://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/newordinances.html
New Ordinances --- Posted Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The Myrtle Beach City Council approved the following ordinances at its regular meeting on Tuesday, September 23, 2008. Some amend existing ordinances, while others are entirely new. Three are effective immediately, including the Noise Ordinance
The remaining 12 ordinances take effect Sunday, December 21, 2008, which is 90 days from adoption.
Read all the ordances -- http://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/newordinances.html
1 - 20 of 34 Posts
Yep - that's what I heard when I asked people about it a few weeks ago. Sad, but true.From what I've been told (by people who should know), This whole thing began because Myrtle Beach has had serious probs during black bike week. People who mostly are not bikers come to town and cause big problems. The solution? Pass laws making the place unfriendly to ALL bikers and try to get rid of all the bike week events.
There were cops all over looking for people with loud pipes, etc. Attendance was way down from last year, and there were fewer vendors.
Although our group of 6 didn't have any problems (we aren't big partiers and were VERY careful about accelerating slowly and shifting quickly to keep noise down), we probably won't go next year.
It's too bad - we really liked the Myrtle Beach rallies and always spent money there.
I wonder if the event was boycotted by enough in 2009 and the attendance goes down the toilet, if the local merchants who won't make any money next year from the non-rally will have enough say to spank the city council into figuring out a better solution to the issue.
That's a good question. It seems like it will be a battle between businesses that usually make money off the rallies vs. the money that has to be spent by law enforcement, etc. to deal with the problems associated with them.I wonder if the event was boycotted by enough in 2009 and the attendance goes down the toilet, if the local merchants who won't make any money next year from the non-rally will have enough say to spank the city council into figuring out a better solution to the issue.
I use to go as well and spend a lot of money. I was going to fight this as best I could, but I'm waving the white flag.
If the business wanted bike week, they'd have spoken up. The only ones that did are the few motorcycle specific businesses. In my eyes, they have said their peace.
It shouldn't have been such a surprise to me, I suppose. I should have known changes for the worse were coming when they tore down the Pavillion.
I've even canceled my annual golf tournament down there.
Good timing too. The economy is going South, tourism will be down, and as already said, attendance will fall. Sort of a good double blow to their economy. I'm sad, but glad to see it.
I hope those elitist pigs get what's coming to them.
If the business wanted bike week, they'd have spoken up. The only ones that did are the few motorcycle specific businesses. In my eyes, they have said their peace.
It shouldn't have been such a surprise to me, I suppose. I should have known changes for the worse were coming when they tore down the Pavillion.
I've even canceled my annual golf tournament down there.
Good timing too. The economy is going South, tourism will be down, and as already said, attendance will fall. Sort of a good double blow to their economy. I'm sad, but glad to see it.
I hope those elitist pigs get what's coming to them.
I ran across an article by Mike Salvage, published in GoFar Magazine.... the following is a mixture of my opinion and facts in Mike's article...
They are very serious about killing off the bike events. They even passed a property tax increase that will be used to fund anti-rally efforts. Several new rule changes concerning vendors are proposed that will make it very unlikely anyone will apply for a vendor's permit. Local businesses that cater to rally attendees also face regulations that will limit hours of operation and put them at risk of being declared a "public nuisance" and liable for "financial redress" if they don't follow the rules. Rules that will be enforced year round, not just during bike events.
Take away vendors and you basically kill an event. Myrtle beach is a golf town. It is a shame that everyone has to pay a price for the actions of a few, but that's what you get in a politically correct environment. A few local businesses can cry all they want... stick a fork in Myrtle Beach bike week... it's done.
They are very serious about killing off the bike events. They even passed a property tax increase that will be used to fund anti-rally efforts. Several new rule changes concerning vendors are proposed that will make it very unlikely anyone will apply for a vendor's permit. Local businesses that cater to rally attendees also face regulations that will limit hours of operation and put them at risk of being declared a "public nuisance" and liable for "financial redress" if they don't follow the rules. Rules that will be enforced year round, not just during bike events.
Take away vendors and you basically kill an event. Myrtle beach is a golf town. It is a shame that everyone has to pay a price for the actions of a few, but that's what you get in a politically correct environment. A few local businesses can cry all they want... stick a fork in Myrtle Beach bike week... it's done.
The thing you have to remember is that these ordinances were passed in the CITY OF MYRTLE BEACH...not Horry county and Not Surfside....same thing goes on in Daytona...thats why you dont go to Daytona Shores...wait and see how it goes...
I love watching people tie their own rope. No skin off my back....I spent many years and lot of money over the years. I'll find plenty of other coastal towns to spend it. Thanks.
That's what I'm thinking. We found a quaint spot a couple of months ago at Carolina Beach NC and had a blast hanging out there... there's a lot of really nice oceanfront in the area, and besides, Myrtle Beach has turned into Disneyland lately.
I already saw Disneyland when I was a kid; don't need to anymore.
I already saw Disneyland when I was a kid; don't need to anymore.
Try Leesburg Fl. in the spring, it's awesome event.Last year 300,000 + in 3 days.I believe it's in April every year, been 2 years in a row, lot's o fun.
Honestly, what is in Myrtle Beach now? It is nothing more than a tourist town and with the economy being what it is I cannot believe they are trying to run off business. The money they are going to loose from Bike week and the down turn is going to hit them hard and the extra tax money they put on their residents isn't going to sit very well next year after they spend all that money plus a lot more on lawyers to fight the lawsuits that have been filed. I have gone to MB bike week for a good while now and honestly the past several years it has gone down hill and while they keep saying the attendance is up every year I found it hard to believe. I think MB has become the arm pit of the southeast myself. My plans are to go the Outer banks bike week next year, they actually want us there and they don't have over inflated hotel prices....yet anways.
I talked to the local sponsoring dealership and off the record an employee told me that the "Harley" rally was not the problem it was the weekend following the Harley rally that was causing problems. In this politically correct society we all live in it was deemed that the new rules would correct the problem. The new rules wont solve a thing but to ruin a great rally. Im gonna try it in May but could be the last time. As I was told there were more problems in three day than there were in the 10 day Harley rally. You figure it out..
Everyone knows its the following bike event, Atlantic Bike week. Many people board up there windows when this rolls in. It doesnt matter who attends it, if its a problem, cancel that event. The rerason why ocean blvd is one way last 2 nites is because they have to do it for the following event, so, we better do it for the 1st one too. BS 2 eevents, judge and run each one seperately. Cancel the event that causes all destruction and creates the problems. Grow Balls MB.
I think Carolina Beach or the outer banks (Okracroke Island) would be sweet.That's what I'm thinking. We found a quaint spot a couple of months ago at Carolina Beach NC and had a blast hanging out there... there's a lot of really nice oceanfront in the area, and besides, Myrtle Beach has turned into Disneyland lately.
I already saw Disneyland when I was a kid; don't need to anymore.
I live here and this sh!t sux. There are plenty of other places besides Myrtle Beach. Surfside Beach, Murrells Inlet, Little River, Calabash. There are alot of places to ride down her that do not include Myrtle Beach. There are ways of avoiding the City of Myrtle Beach too. Take Rte 31 from Little River to Murrells. The real problem is the Atlantic Bike Week.Living here I see all the trash these people leave when they're done. Restauraunts actually close their doors because of the chew and screws. It's sad that no one will grow a set and call a spade a spade.
Most of what goes on at the spring rally as far as vendors are concerned, aren't within the city limits anyway. Most of what I've been seeing on various sites seems to point to a larger crowd this coming May because people are pissed off about this. Seems a bunch of them are going to come just to put a big F*#k you in Myrtle Beach city councils face. There even some websites that show routes to just skirt outside the city limits line to rev your engines and wave at the city cops that can't do a thing about it. I think the only people that will be hurt by this are the business owners. Guess they should vote a little better next time the council is up for reelection. May 09 just might be a wilder party because of all this crap. I'll be there.
I'm hearing a lot of this about the surrounding municipalities welcoming bikers. I've even heard North Myrtle Beach is taking action to make certain biker's know they are welcome. Good sign. For me at least.
We'll see what happens over the next couple of months.
We'll see what happens over the next couple of months.
It seems that Horry county is aligning themselves with MB now, and that will certainly kill the whole thing. Talked to a friend of mine (he rides) that owns property in Horry county this week, and the news is not good folks. We will just have to wait and see. Don't think I want to go again though... And I am only 3 1/2 hours away.. 
Sounds like a plan to me. I am only 2 hours out and have stopped going the past couple years, because of all the problems. But, I think I will go this year just to see what's happening. It is not right for us Harley riders to be punished for what a bunch of punks do the following week.Most of what goes on at the spring rally as far as vendors are concerned, aren't within the city limits anyway. Most of what I've been seeing on various sites seems to point to a larger crowd this coming May because people are pissed off about this. Seems a bunch of them are going to come just to put a big F*#k you in Myrtle Beach city councils face. There even some websites that show routes to just skirt outside the city limits line to rev your engines and wave at the city cops that can't do a thing about it. I think the only people that will be hurt by this are the business owners. Guess they should vote a little better next time the council is up for reelection. May 09 just might be a wilder party because of all this crap. I'll be there.
Leon
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