Dawn Bryant
thesunnews.com
Special traffic patterns on Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach might return for next year's bike rallies, city spokesman Mark Kruea said.
City officials are discussing the idea after traffic and crowds swelled last weekend with the Atlantic Beach Bikefest, at times making it difficult for emergency personnel to respond to incidents, Kruea said last week. This was the second year the city didn't use the special traffic pattern during the bike rallies, which allows traffic to go only southbound, with the northbound lanes reserved for emergency vehicles.
"We are definitely going to look at options and re-establishing that emergency lane is one of those possibilities," Kruea said.
Contact DAWN BRYANT at 626-0296 or dbryant@thesunnews.com.
City officials are discussing the idea after traffic and crowds swelled last weekend with the Atlantic Beach Bikefest, at times making it difficult for emergency personnel to respond to incidents, Kruea said last week. This was the second year the city didn't use the special traffic pattern during the bike rallies, which allows traffic to go only southbound, with the northbound lanes reserved for emergency vehicles.
"We are definitely going to look at options and re-establishing that emergency lane is one of those possibilities," Kruea said.
Ocean Boulevard was packed with cars and pedestrians last weekend, not only for the bike rally - which some said attracted more people this year than last year - but for the Memorial Day festivities in downtown Myrtle Beach, which included a concert May 28 by "American Idol" alum Dave Archuleta in the heart of downtown between Eighth and Ninth avenues North.
Non-rally visitors had trouble getting to their destinations because of the rally traffic, Kruea said, adding that Myrtle Beach still doesn't want to be the center of bike rallies. Three years ago, the city approved a set of rules aiming to push the bike rallies outside the city's boundaries - including a controversial helmet requirement that was overturned by the S.C. Supreme Court a year ago.
Last month's Cruisin' the Coast rally and Bikefest were the first spring bike rallies since the law was overturned, which some said led to bigger crowds this year, although the crowds were still way off from the rallies' peaks.
"The city's position has not changed. We do not want to be the center of any huge motorcycle rally," Kruea said. "Ocean Boulevard does not need to be a parking lot. We recognize the need to look at all the options."
Officials have started discussions, but there's no timetable - other than before next year's rallies - for announcing what the city will do, Kruea said.
Family Kingdom to add ride in 2012
A major new ride will join the lineup at Family Kingdom Amusement Park in 2012, the park's general manager said.
General Manager Donnie Sipes said officials are talking to ride makers, but haven't yet decided what type of ride will be added.
Business has increased over the years, but the park, at Third Avenue South and Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach, hasn't added a major new ride for about five years, he said.
Details could be available by the end of this summer, Sipes said.
Non-rally visitors had trouble getting to their destinations because of the rally traffic, Kruea said, adding that Myrtle Beach still doesn't want to be the center of bike rallies. Three years ago, the city approved a set of rules aiming to push the bike rallies outside the city's boundaries - including a controversial helmet requirement that was overturned by the S.C. Supreme Court a year ago.
Last month's Cruisin' the Coast rally and Bikefest were the first spring bike rallies since the law was overturned, which some said led to bigger crowds this year, although the crowds were still way off from the rallies' peaks.
"The city's position has not changed. We do not want to be the center of any huge motorcycle rally," Kruea said. "Ocean Boulevard does not need to be a parking lot. We recognize the need to look at all the options."
Officials have started discussions, but there's no timetable - other than before next year's rallies - for announcing what the city will do, Kruea said.
Family Kingdom to add ride in 2012
A major new ride will join the lineup at Family Kingdom Amusement Park in 2012, the park's general manager said.
General Manager Donnie Sipes said officials are talking to ride makers, but haven't yet decided what type of ride will be added.
Business has increased over the years, but the park, at Third Avenue South and Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach, hasn't added a major new ride for about five years, he said.
Details could be available by the end of this summer, Sipes said.
