Tamer motorcycle rally traffic for Myrtle Beach

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.

"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."