Myrtle Beach awaiting new shipment of beach wheelchairs

After announcing, and then reversing, a decision to stop delivering modified wheelchairs to beachgoers, the city of Myrtle Beach is awaiting a shipment of 12 new chairs.

In late May, the city announced it would no longer deliver for free wheelchairs that roll on sand, citing the cost of the service and wear and tear that has now reduced the city’s reserves to only four chairs. City of Myrtle Beach Spokesman Mark Kruea also said the deliveries, which previously were completed by beach patrol officers, used police time.

“It takes a lot of time to deliver a wheelchair along 10 miles of beach,” Kruea said. “It’s a great service, but it’s one of those that really fits the ‘above and beyond’ description.”

After the announcement, Kruea said the city received calls and emails from residents who were unhappy that the wheelchairs, normally available on a first-come, first-served basis, were being yanked.

Residents would have had to reserve chairs in advance from private companies. Private chair rentals with Wheelchair & Scooter Rentals of Myrtle Beach cost $45 per day, per chair, according to the company’s website. Customers who choose a seven-day rental pay a reduced rate of just over $28 per day, or $200 total.

Kruea said the decision to stop delivering wheelchairs lasted “about a day and a half.”

“It made sense to let the private sector do that (rent chairs), but the public really liked the service that we were providing. We heard them loud and clear,” he added.

In addition to local response, North Myrtle Beach posted on Facebook around the same time, proclaiming that municipality’s beach wheelchairs would remain free to the public.

Delivery of the chairs in Myrtle Beach is now delegated to community service officers, non-sworn staff who help local police, Kruea said.

Capt. David Knipes of the Myrtle Beach Police Department said the switch has been helpful for the force.

“It has relieved the officers from having to deliver them,” he said. “Obviously when they’re not doing that, they can use more enforcement actions for other things.”

The city may still change how it delivers the chairs, but the service is here to stay.

“Next year, or this winter, we’ll look for a better delivery system,” Kruea said. “It would be nice to take the police department completely out of the picture.”

Residents and visitors who would like to request a wheelchair can call 843-918-1488 or email beachwheelchairs@cityofmyrtlebeach.com.

This story was originally published June 20, 2016 at 3:30 PM with the headline "Myrtle Beach awaiting new shipment of beach wheelchairs."