No Bikes in Myrtle Beach

[towering]

OK folks Myrtle Beach S.C is doing everything to make it harder to enjoy a bike ride. They just passed city laws making it easy to loose your bike. You ride without a helmet your bike gets impounded. Even thou its a no helmet state. Your bike exceeds 82 db and your bike gets impounded. To get your bike out of impound you will need to trailor it out of town before you can start it.
The city officials have made it known that they dont want bike week there anymore. Were it will go i have no idea. The city has passed 18 local laws aimed at bikers.
Also all parking garages in Charleston S.C will not let bikers use there facilitys
Have a nice day ???

[bebop]

I'm sorry to hear this for the folks that enjoy riding to Myrtle Beach as well as the folks who live there. I used to drive through SC on my way to NC during the 60's 6-8 times a year. I didn't care much for it then. I rode through this summer on a trip from Fl to Md and the roads I chose were the worst of the entire trip. Now I'm sure there are some nice areas like Charleston or (?) and I don't mean to generalize for the whole state but I won't be making anymore trips through SC for a long while. I don't think they will miss my few tourist dollars anyway. I'll spend them in NC and VA.

Cheers!

[kawgirl]

The ordinances have not been passed yet. Here is the link for the proposed ordinances. http://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/proposals.html

The first reading was Sept. 9. If you click on the blue numbers next to the ordinance, and scroll through each actual proposed ordinance, you will see that is not yet a law. It also states when the ordinance becomes law once it is adopted. These will not affect the 2008 rally. Go have a good time. It may be the last fall rally.

[skeet]

Wow, those new ordinances for Myrtle Beach's City Limits are tough. Especially the loud noise ordinance. Here is a link for that law.

http://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/PDF%20Forms/No%20noise%20Sept%2008%2068.pdf

Get a load of the helmet law within the city limits. I'm wondering how are they training all law enforcement to know the difference in helmets. Plus I'm not going to ask to see the inside of a helmet to see if it meets the standards of "padding" inside.

http://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/PDF%20Forms/Helmet%20eyewear%20Sept%2008-64.pdf

It does appear that the city of Myrtle Beach does not want any motorcycle rally's.

Skeet
Aka Karen
Nashville

[mmartin]

Skip the 2008 rally and spend your money else where, that is a big chunk of change that they will wave bye-bye at.

[mikey911s]

I agree with skipping SC altogether. That being said, maybe this generation of (dare I say "older") bikers who have most of the discretionary dollars to spend should inform SC"s state Tourist Bureau that we, our families our bikes, cars and or RV's and most importantly our $$'s will not be visiting their state. We won't be buying their hotel room, food, gas, souvenirs or shopping at their malls and shops. Consequently, we won't be putting ANY tax dollars in their coffers.
Just maybe they will get the message. At least it would be worth a stamp.
mike

[kawgirl]

I never have gone to a MB rally. I grew up about 2 1/2 hours from there and just have no desire to spend a weekend with thousands of motorcycles packed in an area that is hard to maneuver anyway. There are several businesses fighting the ordinances and want the rally to stay so it my survive. SC has lots of other tourism to offer. Just my .02.

[mmartin]

The Carolina's have other places to visit, like 'Parris Island' , just kidding must of been a flashback. Really the Carolina's have some nice beaches and some nice places to visit and ride. The biker community really don't need Myrtle Beach, and like I have already posted- that is a big chunk of change they will lose. Skip it this year and see what happens.

[nomad]

forget them then. they will miss the revenue that the bikers bring in. spend your money elsewhere.

Can a City over ride a state law and either require a helmet (or not require one if the state says that the helmet is needed)?

[rksaw]

It's amazing how many outside of one community (those who do not ride) want to restrict the freedoms of those who do (the bikers) solely because they don't care for their recreation. We have many in Portland and Salem (our capital) who are doing their best to restrict 4-wheeling in my area. When they are done with that, they want to restict walking on the beach for the Snowy Plover, a bird not native to Oregon, and put in place Marine Reserves to restrict fishing and where they can't put in Marine Reserves, they want Wave Motion Electical Plants, and basically anything else that they can think of to restrict those who are from the area from managing the land closest to them. Sorry about the rant, but sometimes...........grrrrrr!
Rich

[ponch]

It sounds like pro bike people need to run for office there.

[macmac]

That will never fly in court.. Laconia pulls that crap each year too, and none of it flies in court..

[kawgirl]

I can understand the longtime residents of MB not wanting the rally. When it was down on the grandstrand, the resident's yards were being used as bathrooms, trash holders, and whatever else was being dished out. My understanding is that the rally event planners have moved it and many vendors are not going to be there. I see both sides of the fence.

[scion0]

Sounds like more reason to join the local ABATE or AMA groups.

I belong to the AMA.They have been updating about this for some time. Other towns (Denver for one) are trying the same thing. One thing for certain, most folks that do not ride hate loud motorcycles. We are our own worst enemy when it comes to noise.

Mikey911s, welcome to the forum.

[chainsaw]

That's why I've been a member of the AMA for 23 years.

I'm just in my fourth year. Wish now I'd joined back in the 60s. They do a lot of good things.

[Todd]

Those will never pass in MB. Too many voters and business owners. They have tried before and failed. The majority of the folks welcome bike week down there...lots of revenue and tax money.

[gghost]

When I was there this summer (vacation, not the bike event) it was my understanding from the newspaper that only one of the events was causing a serious problem. (There is more than one bike event) The problem was, they could not think of a way to stop one group and allow another.

Myrtle Beach is only doing what Fort Lauderdale did with the college, spring break kids. The citizens have simply had enough. I don't blame 'em a bit. If you lived there, you'd see what 'we' do to their town, during the rally.
Fort Lauderdale finally decided they'd go for the older, tourist business. They took quite a financial hit at first, but they have made up for the spring break losses in new revenue. Myrtle Beach is just following their lead.
As an example, the mayor of the small southern town where I live, decided to host a big motorcycle rally here a few months ago. He didn't consult anyone, even the community groups and organizations who would have had to be involved. You never heard such a hue and cry! Very few local citizens wanted that here.
I have been riding 51 years. I have always tried to represent 'us' as good, responsible citizens. Unfortunately, many of 'us' don't even consider the non-riding public, and how they feel. Myrtle Beach is only one of a number of cities who are becoming non-motorcycle friendly, because of the way some of our riding brothers conduct themselves. I'm sad to see this happening, but I DO understand it.

[cactusjack]

When I was there this summer (vacation, not the bike event) it was my understanding from the newspaper that only one of the events was causing a serious problem. (There is more than one bike event) The problem was, they could not think of a way to stop one group and allow another.

I know what you're referring to. That would be a field day for some bloodthirsty attorneys! It's a very delicate predicament.

[rksaw]

Smokey, that was a good post explaining a delicate situation.
Rich

[nomad561]

It sounds like they are just "playing politics" with this issue. I don't know how a city goverment can inact laws overriding state laws. I read the exhaust statute and it looks like they know it won't stand up in court if someone takes it that far but they can say"we tried".
Remember one thing, a politician"s primary objective is to get reelected,so they have to appeal to both sides of an issue.
I was going to MB this weekend,but my plans just got changed.

[dank]

I think motorcycle riders need to wake up and get the excessively loud pipes under control. I actually don't think the MB muffler ordinance would impact a stock Nomad one bit. Freedom also necessitates being responsible if we are all going to live together in a society, and the bozo's with straight pipes who ride around at 2:00 in the morning in the small town I frequent n Northern Michigan during the summer are just asking to have everyone else say "ENOUGH!" and take some action to ban their mufflers or bikes. In fact they actually are already illegal, it just doesn't get enforced. I don't blame the people in MB at all for trying to curtail this.

Having every little town or city decide it's own helmet, seatbelt, driving age, which side of the road you drive on, or other such laws is another matter. That would be anarchy from a traveler's point of view.

[jussmatt]

My thoughts on this are the same as some have already posted. How is it a City can enforce a "law" when the state has already ruled that "law" as LEGAL!!!???!!??? It'll just get caught up in court and of course cost $$, which I'm sure is their ultimate goal. They know it'll never fly, but they can try and drain your wallet in the process!!

As for Dank's loud pipe comments...I agree/disagree with you on this. I don't have any problems with loud pipes. If people want to run them....knock themselves out. (I can just hear TC now....lol!!) While I don't have a problem with loud pipes, I also think there is a time and a place for them.... The example you gave of somebody running loud pipes at 2am... I'm sure there's already a Noise Ordinance that will specify times when loud noises are appropriate and when they're not. Instead of creating ANOTHER law, on-top of ANOTHER law... just ENFORCE the Original Ordinance in the first place!!!!! Goes too much in the Common Sense column to me.

[tkd]

I wonder how many aftermarket exhaust systems such as cobras or V&H baggers would pass the test. The standard was 82db @ 20 ft @ a 45 degree angle while the engine was reving 2800 rpm....Based on the way that was written, I would challenge the court to prove:

1. The exact position of the officer during measurement
2. The measuring method used by the officer---I would be suprised if a "trained ear" would hold up
3. The exact rpm of the bike at exactly the moment of measurement.

You'll never fight it, but I would guess that some lawyer would love this.

[rksaw]

[quote author=nomad561 board=general thread=6693 post=119473 time=1221655868]I don't know how a city goverment can inact laws overriding state laws.[quote]

Oh, I don't know...ever heard of San Francisco??? There are tons of states ignoring federal law and creating their own laws as well.

Bottom line, we need to do our best to change the image of "bikers". We need to reach out to others even more than we do. We need to help out the old lady, we need to stop and help the stranded motorist, we need to be above it all.
Rich

[Dave]

"The Carolina's have other places to visit, like 'Parris Island' "

Now why would anyone want to visit a "navy" facility?

Go Army!

[gghost]

Hey, wait a minute...we gotta train our gate guards somewhere.....

Go Navy!

[Idaho]

We are own worst enemy. Loud pipes, outrageous behavior. Like others said, I don't blame em a bit. They don't seem to be saying "you can't come here", rather it sounds more like "you are welcome if you can be nice with the people who live here." Seems reasonable to me. Sometimes people have to get tough to get control of bad situations. While many of us on this site may not be contributing to the problem we all know that there are plenty in the biker community who do. Too bad.

[macmac]

I always like the boat week after laconia. Old geezers in blue jackets and white caps mob the place and roar around the lake with 4' open exhaust. I can here these 35 miles away!

[Idaho]

"The Carolina's have other places to visit, like 'Parris Island' "

Now why would anyone want to visit a "navy" facility?

Go Army!

Yes it is Navy, the better part of the Navy. BTW I had the joy of going through PI twice to graduate, made it both times.

[rksaw]

Go Army, Beat Navy!

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f252/rksaw/USArmySeal.jpghttp://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f252/rksaw/USArmyPatch.jpg

[samkjr]

[quote author=nomad561 board=general thread=6693 post=119473 time=1221655868]I don't know how a city goverment can inact laws overriding state laws.
[quote]

Oh, I don't know...ever heard of San Francisco??? There are tons of states ignoring federal law and creating their own laws as well.





Like Virginia banning Radar detectors when the federal governament says that its 100% legal to have a device accept and read the waves it just can't interfere with them. Thats a law I like to ignore. I agree with not using a jammer. Hey if they can hide, I can seek.

[Idaho]

Go Army, Beat Navy!

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f252/rksaw/USArmySeal.jpghttp://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f252/rksaw/USArmyPatch.jpg

I can root for that. I don't give a flying leap if Navy gets beat. Who exactly is ARMY? http://s2.images.proboards.com/cheesy.gif

[rksaw]

Don't tell me you're one of the Air FARCE people!

[chainsaw]

Air Farce people. hhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmm, is that like being a horsey fan?

[rksaw]

Al, Al, Al...funny, but everyone knows the story of the U.S. Army Air Corps. LOL.

[Idaho]

You wound me sir. Did you not read that I graduated twice from Parris Island? The better part of the Navy. USMC Hoorah.

[rksaw]

(Man have we hijacked this thread!)

I have a great Marine joke...guess I'll have to post it in the "Lighter Side" latter today.

[rksaw]

Okay, the joke is posted:

http://kawanow.proboards77.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=misc&thread=6739