[Lady Godiva]

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.

Yep - that's what I heard when I asked people about it a few weeks ago. Sad, but true.

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.

 

[Lady Godiva]

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.