Myrtle Beach, SC Light crowds for fall Myrtle Beach rally

OFF THE WIRE
Source: dealernews.com


Myrtle Beach’s fall rally was tepid despite the state Supreme Court’s reversal of the city’s helmet law, locals report.

What Harley-Davidson of Myrtle beach dubbed the Hurricane Alley Fall Bike Rally was concentrated from the dealership's southern location across U.S. 17 from Myrtle Beach State Park south to Murrells Inlet, according to The State newspaper. A few groups of riders gathered in spots along Kings Highway, while more settled at the Harley-Davidson dealer in North Myrtle Beach.

Denise Triece, marketing and events manager for the dealership, said the 10 vendors at the southern store did well enough to plan to return for next spring's Cruisin' the Coast Spring Bike Rally.

But vendors at other sites say the damage of the helmet law has been done, and business has remained down.

Triece says the comparatively short, four-day fall rally makes it harder for vendors to recoup permit and other costs that are easier to make up in the longer spring rally. Storms before the rally may also have depressed attendance.

Biker Sharon Poe of Conway told the newspaper she hasn't spent any money in the city of Myrtle Beach since the law was passed.

"When the helmet law passed," she said, "everything went downhill, and I don't know if it'll come back."

Triece said she didn't have a crowd estimate, but the number of bikes parked at both Harley dealerships, Jamin' Leather and SBB couldn't have been more than a couple of thousand, the newspaper reported

Posted by Holly Wagner