Effective 2009, Myrtle Beach, SC will no longer host motorcycle rallies.

http://myrtlebeachbikerinfo.com

Message from the Mayor (http://myrtlebeachbikerinfo.com/message.html)

Dear Visitors,

Myrtle Beach is no longer the location for two long-running motorcycle events. After many years, our residents grew weary of three weeks of noise and traffic congestion each May, and they asked City Council to end the events. As a result, the Harley-Davidson Dealers Association Spring Rally and the Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Bikefest will not be held in Myrtle Beach.

This was a difficult decision. Myrtle Beach welcomes visitors year-round, but the giant motorcycle rallies simply grew too large. Our staff, residents and businesses strained to keep up with these huge single-focus events. It may surprise you, but our economy is much healthier with a fully diversified visitor base, instead of a concentration on one or two extremely large events.

Please know that Myrtle Beach is not anti-biker or anti-motorcycle. We want folks to come on the vehicle of their choice and enjoy all of the things Myrtle Beach has to offer. 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.

For everyone's safety and welfare, City Council has added a few new rules and regulations. We believe these new laws will make Myrtle Beach a safer and more friendly destination. For example, with your safety in mind, we now require that all motorcycle riders and passengers wear a helmet and eye protection. We also have a 1:00 to 6:00 a.m. curfew for everyone under 18. These and other rule changes are explained on this web site.

Thank you for understanding. As you know, Myrtle Beach is a great place to visit, and we welcome you at any time. I look forward to your next visit and am confident that you will have a great time in Myrtle Beach!

Sincerely,
John Rhodes
Mayor


Myrtle Beach gets word out on motorcycle rallies...
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/bikers/story/741172.html

JB

Da new rules and regulations...this is year round, not just during the former biker rally dates!

No loud mufflers. No straight pipes. No revving of engines or excessive noise. 89dB at 20" from tailpipe.

Everyone on a motorcycle must wear a safety helmet and protective eyewear (glasses, goggles, face shield, etc.) at all times while the cycle is moving.

No more than two motorcycles allowed in a public parking space.

Curfew is in effect from 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. for juveniles under age 18, with certain exceptions. Violators are detained and parents are called.

No alcohol sales allowed after 2:00 a.m., unless the bar applies for and receives exemption.

No alcohol consumption or open container possession allowed in parking lots and garages of any business.

It is a crime not to pay the restaurant or not to leave your name and address if you dispute the bill, service or food.

No loitering allowed in posted parking lots of any business. No loitering allowed after hours in parking lots once the business is closed. Store parking is for customers, not parties.

No use of parking lots or landscaped areas of any business next to road or street for chairs, coolers, parties, drinking or food service.

Security standards are required for gas stations, convenience stores and stores with drive through service. No gathering or loitering is allowed in parking areas without contemporaneous commercial activity. Parking lots are for customers, not parties.

Parties responsible for permitted or unpermitted special events that require an extraordinary public response may be held financially responsible for the cost of that response.

No parking or storage of trailers and oversize vehicles is allowed on the street; parking for these vehicles is allowed only in approved parking or storage lots.

Photo identification required for hotel check-in; minors (under 18) cannot check in without parent or legal guardian present. All guests in a room must be identified. Parking hang tags required for all guest vehicles.

http://www.myrtlebeachbikerinfo.com/ordinances.html

yuppies.....:madhead

Hm...South Carolina's helmet law only requires riders under 21 to wear helmets and I didn't see where towns could override it.
Lot of towns have loud pipes laws; New Hope, PA is a big biker town, but the cops there stand with their decibel meters and pull people over a lot to issue tickets.
Don't be hatin yuppies. Think back 20 years ago and how many bikes were out and about compared to now. Now, it's like if you don't have one, you're the outcast. "Dood, you still drive a CAR?"

Don't be hatin yuppies. Think back 20 years ago and how many bikes were out and about compared to now. Now, it's like if you don't have one, you're the outcast. "Dood, you still drive a CAR?"

my point exactly

According to a police chief from our sister forum (XLF), cities can make state laws more restrictive in their city but not less.

Here's the thread they've got going on about Myrtle Beach over there:


http://www.xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/showthread.php?t=406935

According to a police chief from our sister forum (XLF), cities can make state laws more restrictive in their city but not less.

You're right Mike, the most common example is for the state set speed limit on a state highway to be lowered by a city within its city limits. I know from my Fire Dept. time that cities always have the option to set local fire codes that are more restrictive than state requirements.

I don't know what to say about the Myrtle Beach thing, except that the folks who live and vote there, I guess have just decided, through their elected officials, that there will be a different way of doing things in their town.

Its like helment laws; lots of riders don't like them, but if they are constitutional, and apparently they are, and if the voters want them, which they either do, or they simply don't care enough for there to be a huge outcry to repeal them, then riders just have to put up with it.

Everyone can hate it and say so, and try to have it changed, that's the great thing about the U. S., we don't squelch dissent, but at the end of the day, if we don't obey the law, we get in trouble.

I can't tell you how many speeding tickets I've received, and dodged, in my life, but there ain't no way I could get the speed limits raised to where I think they should be. Taxes? Yeah, try gettin' by without payin'. Tax Evasion got Al Capone put in the slammer.

President Teddy Roosevelt made the famous statement, "We do not solicit each man's opinion when we make a law, nor do we request his permission when we require him to obey it."

I know a lot of people where I live in Alabama, who live and shop and work along the Trail of Tears ride route, (U.S. 72) which I have ridden and enjoyed, really hate that the ride is so disruptive of traffic and movement each year, with anywhere from 70,000 to 100,000 bikes riding it. BUT, that ride moves through and is gone, and is basically done in about 2 hours at any point, so there's not much more than just some griping from the locals.

If it was a multi - day event in one city, things might be a different. It's welcomed in Florence, Alabama, pretty much the "official" end of the ride. But Florence has a gigantic park, next to the Tennessee River, a little removed from the city proper, where the ride ends, and the bike parking, food and vendors and displays and drinking and stuff goes on, and its only a one day event. If that were different, or the rally kinda "invaded" the town, the whole situation there might change.

I don't believe I've gotten to be too much of an " 'Ol Fogey", there is still some fire in the furnace, but I have learned in almost 61 years on this rock that, as Bob Dylan correctly wrote, " the masters make the rules, for the wise men and the fools ", and if you want to swim upstream, by all means go ahead, but don't expect anything other than a tough swim.

i hope this doesnt sound bad.... but Alanomad has just proven that not all people in the south are ill educated. Another well put response! ths day is starting of well!!:cheers:thumbup2

i hope this doesnt sound bad.... but Alanomad has just proven that not all people in the south are ill educated. Another well put response! ths day is starting of well!!:cheers:thumbup2

Than you kindly, Oregon, I appreciate that. Here's to you, too :cheers

Reminds me of the State Trooper that stopped a South Alabama boy for speeding, and asked him, "you got any ID ?". The kid answered " 'bout whut ?"

I've been looking to buy a home in Myrtle Beach and I have it narrowed down to 3 two with in the city limit and one just north. Housing is very depressed in the area which is good for me. But the city thinks it can make up the lost revenue from "regular" tourist filling in for the bike crowd. Can you blame them? I've been to almost every rally around and I'm pretty confident that no city would want to host one if it wasn't for the revenue it generates. It really makes no dif if the rally is held in Myrtle Beach or not because another cash strapped city will step up and welcome the rally. The only ones that can lose by the decision is the residents of the city. If they can't make up the revenue taxes have to go up or services have to be cut. Businesses will close, people will
begin to leave and eventually it Myrtle Beach won't mean anything special. The residents are gambling and I'm not sure they understand whats at stake.

I don't have any formal references but it seems the general consensus of forums I've visited have alluded that Myrtle Beach was wanting to just get rid of the "Sportbike Week" and not "Bike Week" but the NAACP would've hammered the city bad so they had to eliminate both rallies to halt "Sportbike Week". I'm not sure what the demographics are of Myrtle Beach or its city council but 45% of the population of South Carolina is Southern Baptist which has denounced alcohol since 1896, along with other "immoral" activities, so I can see where those beliefs could affect rallies such as these. With the economy in the shape it's in right now, I concur with Mac's assessment that Myrtle Beach better have thought this through thoroughly...I think a compromise could've been worked out but that's their call. I believe there's still plenty of open area where Myrtle Beach Air Force Base used to be that could've been used as the main event location...either that or The Hard Rock Park that opened in Myrtle Beach and only stayed open one season could possibly be used for big events, too...from the sounds of things natiowide I think it's time for all cities and states to start getting REAL creative for their own survival...just my $.02 here!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Carolina#Religion
http://www.brucesabin.com/alcohol.html
http://www.hardrockpark.com/

i hope this doesnt sound bad.... but Alanomad has just proven that not all people in the south are ill educated. Another well put response! ths day is starting of well!!:cheers:thumbup2

i too appreciate that vote of confidence. southerners all over are feeling warm and fuzzy:thumbup2;)

just for the record i have lived in Florida and East Texas. I was NOT impressed. However you gents appear to be able to operate a keyboard fluently, so that gives you the edge!:cheers

Now the county imposes restrictions...

Horry County Reins in Motorcycle Rally Vendors (http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/story/752152.html)

Bike rally plan caps permits, raises fees

Horry County Council decided Tuesday in favor of restricting where vendors could set up shop for the area's motorcycle rallies in the second of three required votes.

The county's effort to regulate the rallies comes after the city of Myrtle Beach passed a set of laws last year to eliminate the events. Some residents say the events bring too much noise, congestion and unruly behavior, but biker groups say anti-rally efforts are discriminatory and would be a blow to the economy.

The proposal discussed Tuesday allows 100 vendors east of the Intracoastal Waterway, 100 between the waterway and the Waccamaw River and 200 west of the river for the rallies. For last year's Harley-Davidson spring rally, most of the nearly 400 vendors were east of the waterway.

The price of vendor permits for the rally would also rise: $1,500 for east of the waterway, $1,000 between the waterway and the river, and $500 west of the river. Last year, the permits cost $800, which included a $100 hawker's license.

For the Atlantic Beach Bikefest, permits would cost $1,200 east of the waterway, $800 between the waterway and the river, and $400 west of the river. Most of the 36 vendors were also east of the waterway last year, when the permits cost $500, including the hawker's license.

In addition, vendors would be permitted to sell their wares east of the waterway only on properties greater than 35 acres, limiting them to Myrtle Beach Mall and Inlet Square.

The time vendors can sell would also be reduced from 10 days to five days during the Harley-Davidson spring rally and from five days to four days during the Atlantic Beach Bikefest. The rallies, both in May, brought about 250,000 each to the area last year.

Councilmen Brent Schulz, who represents parts of North Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach, and Howard Barnard, who represents Surfside Beach, said residents in their district were tired of the rallies. One hundred permits east of the waterway was already a compromise.

The proposal passed 8-4, with Councilmen Bob Grabowski, Harold Worley, Marion Foxworth and Paul Prince dissenting. Foxworth said the county could be sued since the new regulations are not uniform for each area of the county.

The council also passed the first of three required readings to beef up requirements for special-event permits. The new rule would provide greater county oversight over outdoor events such as car washes, wet T-shirt contests and burnout pits and would require bar owners to acquire a permit.

During the meeting, Connie Miller of Murrells Inlet implored the county not to miss the opportunity to aid residents who were concerned about the bike rallies.

"I've been before this council on many occasions complaining about bike week, asking for help with the noise ordinances, with the profanity, with the nudity that's out there," she said. "It just seems like you're getting numb to it or something."

But Don Perry, one of the owners of the Lakewood Camping Resort, which has hosted vendors in the past, said it was not fair to change the rules so close to the rallies when vendors are already making plans to attend.

JB

It appears the vendors are looking for options to still allow bikers to have a good time...

January 20, 2009

Myrtle Beach, SC - Area dealers want bikers to know that although the City of Myrtle Beach, S.C., has passed some laws designed to discourage bikers from attending the 69th Annual Spring Bike Week, May 8-17, the popular event is still on. From Murrells Inlet to Little River, other communities within Myrtle Beach’s home county of Horry are gearing up to welcome bikers.

The majority of the events for Bike Week will take place in Horry County, outside of the Myrtle Beach City limits. Newly-passed Myrtle Beach rules and regulations WILL NOT affect bikers who visit or impact any of those activities and events.

“Many tourists wrongly believe that Myrtle Beach is synonymous with the 60-mile-long ‘Grand Strand’ that is visited by more than 14 million tourists annually,” said Mike Shank, marketing director for an area motorcycle dealership. “In reality, the City of Myrtle Beach is just a small town inside of Horry County. It only has 25,000 residents. To the north, south and west of Myrtle Beach is the much-larger Grand Strand community where there are many restaurants, bars, recreational facilities and accommodations. Horry County has more than 250,000 residents and they are preparing their businesses to welcome bikers.

“Unfortunately, information being sent out by Myrtle Beach and its Chamber of Commerce paints good, law-abiding motorcycle riders with the same broad brush as those who have broken laws in the past. In addition, their misinformation does not accurately portray the views of Horry County residents. The majority of people and businesses look forward to biker tourism and many rely on Bike Week to provide a significant portion of their yearly income.”

The City of Myrtle Beach and the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce have initiated an aggressive media campaign that gives the erroneous impression that new laws the city recently passed apply county-wide. However, those laws, which have reportedly been passed to discourage bikers from attending rallies in the area, apply only to the areas within the city limits of Myrtle Beach — not throughout the Grand Strand and Horry County.

“Awareness of the new laws will ensure that bikers who plan to come to the Grand Strand have nothing to worry about,” said Shank. “There will be plenty of activities and places to congregate outside of the city limits and throughout Horry County. It’s unfortunate that the City of Myrtle Beach and the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce don’t want biker business in May; but we hope bikers understand that many businesses both within the City and throughout Horry County look forward to bike week during the month of May. As long as you obey the laws and respect our community, you’ll always be welcomed by the citizens of Horry County.”

For the facts, Shank directs bikers to www.mbbikeweeks.com. At that site, bikers can find information about the difference between Horry County and the City of Myrtle Beach, including maps, alternative routes that avoid the city limits, the new City of Myrtle Beach laws, and regular updates.

“We want bikers to know the facts so they can make an informed decision about visiting our area,” adds Shank. “Grand Strand businesses want your business. The City of Myrtle Beach has never played a significant role in either the spring or fall bike weeks and has made it clear for many years that it doesn’t want to play a role. They’ve raised taxes to eliminate biker tourism, but no other municipality in Horry County has done so. And the City of Myrtle Beach passed new ordinances designed to scare bikers away. No other local municipality or the county has done so. So we hope that bikers won’t be discouraged by this campaign of misinformation. We want you to come to Horry County and have a great time this May.”

Mike Shank, marketing director for an area motorcycle dealership, is a slime ball interested in promoting his dealership at your expense of biker harassment.

“We want bikers to know the facts so they can make an informed decision about visiting our area,” adds Shank. Yeah right? He is operating two dealership stores in the City of Myrtle Beach generating revenue for the city council that is banning the motorcycle rallies. If Mike Shank was true to his word, his actions would match is self serving pap of promoting the motorcycle rallies and avoiding business in Myrtle Beach. His stores on Ocean Boulevard and Broadway At The Beach remain open.

JB