Helmets for everyone?

OFF THE WIRE
Helmets for everyone? By Eric "Big E" Rutherford - For Weekly Surge As the South Carolina Supreme Court considers the validity of Myrtle Beach's city-only motorcycle helmet ordinance that flies in the face of existing state law, city council is at it again. In a closed session Myrtle Beach's council voted unanimously to pass a new city-wide ordinance that will require ALL visitors to Myrtle Beach to wear helmets on public property whether they are on a motorcycle, in a car, on a bicycle, skateboard or even on foot.
Critics are calling the unprecedented move a strategic ploy designed to undermine any decision taken by the state court regarding motorcycle helmets. The theory is: If everyone has to wear helmets all the time it won't matter how the Supreme Court rules on the motorcycle issue. The city is still working out details on what specifically will be required, but initial drafts which must still pass two more readings allow any Department of Transportation (DOT) certified motorcycle helmet, which is in keeping with the existing motorcycle-related ordinance, and certain approved bicycle helmets, and even some athletic helmets.
When asked where specifically the helmets would be required, a source close to city council told me helmets would be required anywhere deemed to be public property within the jurisdiction of the city of Myrtle Beach. Indoors or out, this would include all shops, restaurants, hotels, the new boardwalk that is being built, all of the Market Common and Broadway at the Beach shopping areas, the Convention Center, BB&T Coastal Field, all public streets and sidewalks, and even the beach.
There will be exceptions to the new ordinance. Anyone residing inside the Dunes Club, current and past members of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, and of course city council members and officials, including the mayor, will not be affected by the new ordinance.
When challenged outside the Ted C. Collins Law Enforcement Center regarding the new ordinance, passed without any type of public input or any consideration for the effect the decision could have on area businesses, one official simply echoed the mayor's previous reply, "If you don't like it, then move."
A spokesman for the city later elaborated in a press conference, "If the city is going to get rid of tourist dollars we need to do so fairly and evenly. We have heard the complaints that the bikers were being unfairly targeted and the accusations of 'selective tourism' so our approach moving forward will be to offend all visitors equally. So it is really the bikers who are to blame. Hopefully, broadening the helmet ordinance will show the courts we are concerned about the safety of all visitors who are, of course, welcomed to come to Myrtle Beach provided they are respectful, they obey all ordinances and they wear a helmet at all times."
Officials responded to concerns about losing more tourist dollars in a down economy by assuring the citizens that more new taxes would be levied against them to make up for losses; and, that the city would continue targeting sports-related events, particularly those like football and lacrosse where the participants already have to wear helmets.
In a related story, this edition of Weekly Surge hit the stands on April 1. The sad part is I wouldn't put it past them, but yes Virginia, everything above was just an April Fools Day joke. Gotcha! In real life we are all still waiting for the state Supreme Court's decision, spring has sprung, and riders across the Grand Strand have dusted off their motorcycles and taken to the streets basking in the warmer weather.
I noticed a couple of ads in the March 25 issue of this very magazine promoting a couple of new motorcycle events. One was a Sunday afternoon motorcycle ride to Folly Beach leaving from the City Line Saloon at 4711 S. Kings Highway in Horry County directly across from the Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson dealership. The date has passed, there are no details on the saloon's Web site, and I didn't get an answer when I called for more information as the ad directed me to, but I was excited to see the riding season unfolding. I'm not sure if this will be a weekly thing or just testing the waters so we'll keep an eye on things there.
Just below the City Line ad was one for a new weekly Bike Night at Buckeyes Restaurant and Bar at Socastee Station. The establishment changed hands during the winter and it looks like the new owners are hoping to attract bikers. Every Wednesday at 7 p.m., Buckeyes hosts Bike Night with biker rodeo riding events and other biker games. Buckeyes is at 4504 Socastee Boulevard (aka S.C. 707) in the Socastee section of Horry County about a mile east of S.C. 544. Maybe we'll see you there.