No More Rallies

Um, most of the Harley riders are servicemen, as well as a lot of the BBW riders.

I ride a Harley and for years have been renting a beach house with family and friends during Harley Week.

I'm so sick of reading that BOTH bike rallys are the same. They MOST certaintly are NOT.

Why don't the members of council
(both city and county) and the members of the NAACP, the media and a few bikers do a documentary of both. Believe me you will see a difference.

So now BIKERS are being discriminated against. Local bikers do many charity rides all thru the year. But of course that doesn't matter to many of you.

Go ahead and try to stop the bikers from coming - do you really think those of you who don't ride are that much better?

Harley riders are getting a raw deal because of the other rally where they are younger and show no respect. Grow a spine and fight the NAACP.

Agree. The month of May should be more family ( children )oriented vacation fun. Also, we need to dedicate the week leading up to and including Memorial Day to Our deceased armed forces & civilian service members; as well as the veterans,active duty, reserves and national guard members.
Atlantic Beach could step up to the ocassion and change the date,example; to June 19th; month of July ( exception 4th) or month of August. Harley's have a Fall rallie here. They could also look at the months of April, June, July or August.
The Greater Grand Strand should 'take back the month of May'for Family-children friendly peaceful vacation experience.

I note the vacancies at my beach homes for rent in May. How about keeping the bikers (who pay big bucks for a week or two)AND ADD the military appreciation program. What a concept! ADD, not take away.

This is very encouraging. A month of supporting the armed services sounds like a very honorable way to kick start our tourist season. It's because of them that we have the privilege of having the freedom to enjoy this great area!

Maybe Luke Rankin could push legislation thru to bring back the helmet law for all riders. That would effectively kill bike week. I would be willing to pay an extra couple of dollars a year in taxes to lobby the SC congress for helmet laws......

I feel bikers and their rallies are getting a bad rap! Does this mean we need to stop Spring Break and every other event to? What about all the strip clubs and adult toy stores? Is that good for the city? I thought beaches were about vacation...... tourism..... having fun.....!!!!! I don't think appealing to servicemen & women is a good idea either!!! We my husband & I were there last July & there were several on the beach drunk and causing a scene throwing beer cans all over the beach, crusing & degrading women!
We are coming down this week to look for a place to move our business because of the tourism count.

How great would it be to designate May or part of May "Military Appreciation Month" in Myrtle Beach? Offer a discount to all military - retired, active, disabled and so on. We might even get to be known nationwide for our efforts. Really now, who deserves a vacation more than our armed forces?

Resort Homes Owner wrote:

I note the vacancies at my beach homes for rent in May. How about keeping the bikers (who pay big bucks for a week or two)AND ADD the military appreciation program. What a concept! ADD, not take away.

EASY FOR YOU TO SAY- you don't have to live thru the misery and noise!

Grateful wrote:

This is very encouraging. A month of supporting the armed services sounds like a very honorable way to kick start our tourist season. It's because of them that we have the privilege of having the freedom to enjoy this great area!

Let me ask you this did you relize a great deal and I mean alot of the riders that come in may to both bike weeks are in the service, so if you go with this plan it will stop nothing because a whole lot of us service people ride.

I notice in the comments that half are local and half come from somewhere else. Those who live here and depend on tourism for their living, tolerate the bike weeks. Our guests don't realize that it takes up to an hour to drive to work during these rallies when the normal commute is 15 minutes.

They don't hear the constant roar or irritating buzz as these bikes draw near. They don't toss during sleepless nights when inconsiderate people trek through quiet, off limit, residents' streets for their own enjoyment. Yes, we know you're there. How can we help it?

It is not noted, because of fear of spouting discrimination, that there is definitely a difference in these two weeks. One is loud, but considerate. These people are older, mostly higher income folks who are out to have a good time and have respect for others and their property.

The other bike week is mostly young and aggressive and declare it is their right to have a good time, the residents be shushed.

Again, not all bikers in both rallies, are like this. As the usual comments, it only takes a few roudy ones to ruin it for the rest. Now this year, tourist or local, it had to take a death for everyone to stand together. That is sad.

It's time the city and county take charge and slam down the rules and regulations. The disrespectful ones will leave, yes, but I guarantee the ones who know what it's like to earn a living and work for a home or business will remain and continue in their fun loving good times without disturbance. That means both rallies, as well.

But, city fathers, be aware. These rallies have chased good, honest tourists away over the years because of all of the bikers' reputations. If by some miracle these biker weeks are stopped, for a long while, no one will come near our fair beach in May unless we have an honest-to-goodness theme to draw them. We have it in us, if we, locals, all pitch in. What say?

NMB Lady wrote:

How great would it be to designate May or part of May "Military Appreciation Month" in Myrtle Beach? Offer a discount to all military - retired, active, disabled and so on. We might even get to be known nationwide for our efforts. Really now, who deserves a vacation more than our armed forces?

I will say the same thing to you,did you relize a great deal and I mean alot of the riders that come in may to both bike weeks are in the service, so if you go with this plan it will stop nothing because a whole lot of us service people ride.

lord, sun news, please stop trying to play lawyer. are you seriously urging local government to pass laws that are valid ab initio?

that said, yes, the welcome mat needs to be rolled back in. but legally.

Lady Rider wrote:

I ride a Harley and for years have been renting a beach house with family and friends during Harley Week.
I'm so sick of reading that BOTH bike rallys are the same. They MOST certaintly are NOT.
Why don't the members of council
(both city and county) and the members of the NAACP, the media and a few bikers do a documentary of both. Believe me you will see a difference.
So now BIKERS are being discriminated against. Local bikers do many charity rides all thru the year. But of course that doesn't matter to many of you.
Go ahead and try to stop the bikers from coming - do you really think those of you who don't ride are that much better?
Harley riders are getting a raw deal because of the other rally where they are younger and show no respect. Grow a spine and fight the NAACP.

As a rider I agree with you on some points that you have made but what I don't agree with is making this an NAACP thing, because it's not, forget about them don't worry about them.

I feel it's a biker thing NAACP could not begin to know what we as bikers go through unless they ride themselves and have gone through the negative feed back so to me they are clueless.

We bikers have one thing in common, we ride, no one but another rider would understand that.

And it may seem as though harley week is getting a raw deal but the truth is there has been alot of negative things said about harley week also, the loud pipes going through neighborhoods wee hours of the morning until late at nite, drunk in public, riding while drunk,disorderly after drinking,they say we show our breasts for beads etc etc there was so much said I can't list it all, so it's not just the other bike weeks problem we have problems to.

Practical, easier suggestion: Widely publicize a Noise Ordinance with hefty fines ($500+). That will weed out a lot of the young gotta-show-how-bad-I-am crowd in both rallies. Write an ordinance (again, hefty fine, like $750) for disturbing residential streets after, say, 8 pm. Money talks, folks!
I am a rider and have attended the last 4 Spring Harley Rallies. But I stay out of neighborhoods! And I get aggravated by the engine-revving-idiots, too.
One more observation: Highway 17 was dangerous because of too much speed between lights. My husband and I actually avoided it after about 6 pm. It was much safer just to cruise Ocean Blvd a few times. Could there be a 35 mph speed limit for 17 during Bike Weeks? The noise ordinance fines mentioned above could help pay for police officers.
We certainly hope some way can be found to keep having the Rally, but I do empathize with those of you who have to put up with it year after year. For what it's worth, we have always been treated graciously by everyone in Myrtle Beach and the surrounding area.

June wrote:

I notice in the comments that half are local and half come from somewhere else. Those who live here and depend on tourism for their living, tolerate the bike weeks. Our guests don't realize that it takes up to an hour to drive to work during these rallies when the normal commute is 15 minutes.
They don't hear the constant roar or irritating buzz as these bikes draw near. They don't toss during sleepless nights when inconsiderate people trek through quiet, off limit, residents' streets for their own enjoyment. Yes, we know you're there. How can we help it?
It is not noted, because of fear of spouting discrimination, that there is definitely a difference in these two weeks. One is loud, but considerate. These people are older, mostly higher income folks who are out to have a good time and have respect for others and their property.
The other bike week is mostly young and aggressive and declare it is their right to have a good time, the residents be shushed.
Again, not all bikers in both rallies, are like this. As the usual comments, it only takes a few roudy ones to ruin it for the rest. Now this year, tourist or local, it had to take a death for everyone to stand together. That is sad.
It's time the city and county take charge and slam down the rules and regulations. The disrespectful ones will leave, yes, but I guarantee the ones who know what it's like to earn a living and work for a home or business will remain and continue in their fun loving good times without disturbance. That means both rallies, as well.
But, city fathers, be aware. These rallies have chased good, honest tourists away over the years because of all of the bikers' reputations. If by some miracle these biker weeks are stopped, for a long while, no one will come near our fair beach in May unless we have an honest-to-goodness theme to draw them. We have it in us, if we, locals, all pitch in. What say?

These people are older, mostly higher income folks.

That statement is rude and very untrue and you should be ashamed of yourself June, you sound like you are an older person that may be somewhat senseable, what does older have to do with higher income?

Are you saying because I am young I don't or can't possiably make good money, well your wrong and I am offened by that statement and I beg your pardon lady but I have a very good job, and I am no general goof off,I work hard everyday.

People from all walks of life and all kinds of income ranges come to harley week as well as atlantic bike week, so please understand it has nothing to do with income at all.

What it does have to do with is the young people who can't and do not behave themselves while they are in MB thats what it boils down to,and as you said it's not everyone just certain ones.and that goes for both bike weeks because we have our share of trouble at harley week to.

I hate any and all of these rallys. I'll be glad to never see one again

I hate these rallys and will be glad to see them gone.

I think if we pass a helmet law and clamp down enforcement of noise ordinances we may be able to get rid of these bike weeks and reclaim what is the first big holiday of the Summer.
I can remember taking tourists from Ohio through the AB bike week traffic and the mother holding her hands over her son's eyes as a scantily clad bike lady's bloomers shifted two inches to the side exposing what God gave her. The husband, turning bright red said, "WE WILL NEVER COME BACK TO MYRTLE BEACH DURING MEMORIAL DAY." This is a pure shame. I don't think that the city and county would make more money if we got rid of these nuisances, I know they would.
We need to stop this practice of offering up Memorial Day as a sacrifice to the NAACP. And that's exactly what it is. But this sacrifice is costly. I'd love to see how much it costs the city and county to clean up after Memorial Day weekend. But, i'm not being soley prejudiced towards the Memorial Day (AB) Bike Week. The Harley week is a nightmare, too. Any event where you KNOW people are going to die needs to END.
Virginia Beach ran them out years ago. It's time we wised up and did the same.

can someone tell me what brings in the most money tax-wise to SC? is it tourism?