Myrtle Beach Declares: No Bike Rallies For 2009

Friday, 23 January 2009 03:44

It's official, the city of Myrtle Beach has declared they will no longer be the location for the two large spring bike rallies: The Harley Davidson Dealers Association Spring Rally and the Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Bikefest.

The city has even launched a website www.myrtlebeachbikerinfo.com, to further deter any motorcycle rider from even thinking about coming to Myrtle Beach during this time frame. Included on the site is a letter from Mayor John Rhodes on why this decision was "necessary" and a FAQ section that included this quote:

 

"If the motorcycle rallies were such a great benefit for our area, it would seem that other communities would compete for them and try to move them to their towns, much like national conventions. So far, that hasn’t happened. Ask yourself… Would your community welcome three weeks of motorcycle rallies with hundreds of thousands of participants and the resulting noise, litter, lewdness, crime, traffic congestion, reckless driving, accidents, injuries, and deaths? Probably not."

If this discriminatory statement isn't enough, The City of Myrtle Beach has enacted some new Rules and Ordinances targeted at motorcycle riders.

So, are the rallies completely cancelled? Not based on this statement from www.myrtlebeachbikeweek.com:

"As many of you have heard or received information on the events being cancelled. Not exactly true – The events will take place in the County and surrounding Counties just not inside of the City of Myrtle Beach. The City of Myrtle Beach has begun a media campaign designed to deter the respectable, law abiding motorcycle enthusiast from coming to the area. There are businesses inside the City limits of Myrtle Beach that do support and welcome Motorcycle Enthusiast. The City of Myrtle Beach can’t stop you from visiting and supporting the businesses that support Bike Week. Looking forward to seeing everyone again in 2009."

The fate of the Myrtle Beach Bike Rallies is still being written...Maybe this will end up being the East Coast's version of Hollister.