Tamer motorcycle rally traffic for Myrtle Beach New rules don't change old bike rally traditions

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http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/05/31/1505026/tamer-rally-traffic-for-mb.html Tamer motorcycle rally traffic for Myrtle Beach New rules don't change old bike rally traditions By Claudia Lauer - clauer@thesunnews.com E-Mail Print Comments (17) Recommend (1) Reprint or license

Text Size: tool nameclose tool goes here There were fewer motorcycles on Ocean Boulevard in the Myrtle Beach city limits this year for the Atlantic Beach Bikefest, but hundreds of die-hards still came to people-watch at their traditional hangouts.

At the height of the Bikefest celebration in years past, Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach was a one-way circuit with tricked out cars, sport bikes and outrageous outfits, making a rotating parade for people watching and showing off. This year, traffic is moving in both directions instead of being blocked off at NinthAvenue North, and police officers are out in force to enforce the city's now almost two-year-old regulations for motorcyclists, including a helmet requirement and noise policy aimed at reducing rally activity.

Police received more than 700 calls between 5 p.m. Saturday and 5 a.m. Sunday, said Lt. Doug Furlong with the Myrtle Beach Police Department. The department is enforcing rules the same way it has for the last few years, but is seeing fewer major issues, he said.

Tracy St. Clair complains there are too many Myrtle Beach police officers handing out tickets beside his airbrush business off Ocean Boulevard on Sunday in Myrtle Beach. "I just don't think it's right they they can stick their head in a car window and look around," he said while painting a shirt for a few bikers.

The S.C. Highway Patrol recommended alternative routes to U.S. 501 leaving the beach:

For travelers heading to North Carolina from the North Strand, try S.C. 9

Heading to Florence from the North Strand, S.C. 22 to U.S. 501 near Aynor

Use S.C. 31 to bypass the Strand heading north or south

Heading to Charleston, use U.S. 17 through Georgetown

Similar stories: Atlantic Beach's offerings widen rally appeal Atlantic Beach's offerings widen rally appeal More families and more visitors than last year were wandering up and down 33rd Avenue in Atlantic Beach Saturday afternoon during the second full day of the annual Atlantic Beach Bikefest.

Overall attendance seemed up on Saturday, according to town officials, partly because of a more diverse offering in vendors, including national entertainment companies setting up a venue at the horseshoe off Ocean Boulevard at the end of 30th Avenue South.

Atlantic Beach has bevy of events ready for Bikefest Atlantic Beach has bevy of events ready for Bikefest Those who attend this year's Atlantic Beach Bikefest can expect bike builders, stunt shows, food vendors, music, concerts and the unveiling of newly designed bikes in the town during the Memorial Day weekend event, according to town officials.

There is also a planned dedication to the Carolina Knight Riders - a motorcycle club instrumental in the birth of the motorcycle rally in Atlantic Beach.

This year's rally organizers - town staff, police and a few volunteers - are expecting crowd numbers to be similar to what the area has seen in the last few years.

The changing face of May in Myrtle Beach; Festivals standing in for motorcycle rallies The changing face of May in Myrtle Beach; Festivals standing in for motorcycle rallies Any economist will tell you, when the market swings, there are winners and there are losers.

The change in the bike rallies during May was just that type of swing. Some won and some lost. But some have also adapted, keeping business up in May despite fewer bikers.

New festivals and events have flooded this May in an attempt to make up for the lost biker business. How far the events go toward making up the business, only time will tell. For better or for worse, the market has changed and there's no going back.

Myrtle Beach area officials lay out Bikefest plans Myrtle Beach area officials lay out Bikefest plans With a diminished Harley-Davidson presence already in the Myrtle Beach area's rearview mirror, local law enforcement agencies are now turning to this weekend's Atlantic Beach Bikefest.

Not much is changing this year in the preparation, but no one's sure how many bikers will pour into local roadways. We talked with North Myrtle Beach city spokeswoman Nicole Aiello, Lance Cpl. Sonny Collins with the S.C. Highway Patrol and Lt. Doug Furlong with the Myrtle Beach police about what sort of traffic patterns and police presence to expect.

Question | Do you expect a greater number of motorcycles for Atlantic Beach Bikefest this year?

Myrtle Beach businesses wait for economy to turn Myrtle Beach businesses wait for economy to turn There was a time when Chris Walker could spend the profit from his downtown Myrtle Beach businesses on sports cars and fun.

A series of circumstances later, the city's economy suffered, some merchants closed and many others struggled. Walker's spending came to a halt, and his oceanfront businesses shuttered for the off-season.

That wasn't 2010 or 2009. It was the mid-'90s, and it felt a lot like it feels now. "We have been consistent in our enforcement through both motorcycle events and the same as in years past," he said. "We're working with the crowds and people have seemed to be less aggressive. From our perspective, it's gone really well this year. We have adequate staffing from our own department and outside agencies, and we've been really busy and responsive."

Furlong said he had not read all of the police reports from the weekend, but as of Sunday evening he said there had been few or no violent crimes reported. He said even the people coming to bail friends from the city jail seemed to have a better attitude in general, paying the bonds and leaving with no major incidents.

Some business owners on the Boulevard said enforcement has been heavier this year, with officers ticketing motorcyclists for playing loud music or anyone revving their engines too long.

"I saw the police give 70 or 80 tickets outside my store for bikers who were playing radios too loud. I couldn't even hear what was playing on the radios," said Tracy St. Clair, who owns two airbrushing art stores on the boulevard. "It's not right. It's affecting our businesses. This is how we've made our money and brought money back into the city since the '80s. In this economy, we're not in the position to be turning away tourism dollars."

St. Clair said several officers had set up shop in the alley near the business and had given out hundreds of tickets to motorcyclists and drivers near the intersection of Mr. Joe White Avenue and Ocean Boulevard. Dustin Hadden, who works at St. Clair's shop, said business is down this year by almost 75 percent over past Bikefests. The two stores would have brought in $10,000 each during the height of the annual celebration, but this year St. Clair said he'd be lucky if both shops brought in $3,000 for the weekend.

"This used to be my best weekend of the year. I understand that there needs to be some enforcement, that it was getting a little crazy a few years ago, but this is too much. This isn't better, not for the businesses," St. Clair said.

Several businesses along the new boardwalk said they aren't seeing a huge increase because of the Bikefest crowd, but business has been up for the holiday weekend. At Iggy's Italian Ice near 9th Avenue North on the boardwalk, owner James Stephens said he appreciates the city of Myrtle Beach's efforts to bring in more families for the month of May.

The bikers "don't really come to the boardwalk. The other events the city is holding are giving us business. I think the city's doing a pretty good job," Stephens said.

Other businesses, like the mo-ped rental stand near The Beach House bar on Ocean Boulevard, said business was booming. The Beach House, a usual hangout for people-watching during both motorcycle rallies, was still packed Sunday afternoon. A line of men and women sat up against the railing calling to passersby and commenting on the tricked out cars.

"This is our spot. It's a tradition to come down here with some friends who ride and hang out on the Boulevard. We've been coming for six years," said Shawn Feliciano, from outside Trenton, N.J. "There's still a lot to see, a lot of cars, a lot of bikes and a lot of women."