The 69th Annual Cruisin’ the Coast Spring Bike Week starts up on Friday and lasts until May 17. This year, bikers are receiving a less welcoming reception from the City of Myrtle Beach. City spokesman Mark Kruea says last year the city passed 15 ordinances that would put limitations on bikers in the city. Because of this, the rallies will be primarily further west, at the Myrtle Beach Speedway off Highway 501.

“The city essentially said, ‘look, these rallies are too big, too loud, too boisterous, and we just don’t want to be the center of the motorcycling universe in May anymore.’ With that decision in mind, the city did look at its ordinances, amended a few and added a couple of new ones,” says Kruea.

For example, Kruea says in the city of Myrtle Beach it is required for bikers to wear a helmet if riding a motorcycle, there are noise ordinances, alcohol restrictions, and more. However, bikers don’t really see a need for these ordinances because on their website bikers claim 90% of bike rally activity has always been away from the city anyway. Kruea says that’s not exactly the case.

“These events were centered in Myrtle Beach. The Harley Davidson event was more scattered up and down the Grand Strand and the Memorial Day event really did occur inside the city limits. There’s always been a piece of it that’s been in the city,” says Kruea.

Kruea says the city notices this year will be a transition year, but they hope to see a change in noise and volume in the city.

As thousands of bikers get ready to “rev” up and ride in to the Grand Strand for the 69th Annual Cruisin’ the Coast Spring Bike Week, they face a less welcome reception than they have in the past. But there is one place that welcomes them.

When bikers enter the Speedway off Highway 501 in Horry County they have to ride right past the front stained-glass entrance of Grand Strand Baptist Church.

“More people will ride by my church in a matter of a few days than we would normally have happen in, maybe, all the weekends out of the other,” says Pastor Freddie Young.

Young says it was then, a light bulb went off. Young, staff, and members of the church will set up tents as part of a 2 week outreach effort.

“We’re gonna give free water because I’m satisfied that many will be appreciative after they have been sitting at the red light with the changes that will be taking place moving traffic in and out,” says Young.

Myrtle Beach City Council passed 15 ordinances and amendments last year, causing many changes to the bike rallies; including a mandatory helmet law, noise ordinances, alcohol restrictions and more. However, some bikers aren’t too worried about the changes because some of them saying most of the action happens outside of the city anyway. On the bike week website, www.mbbikeweeks.com, it reads “We Want Bikers, except the City of Myrtle Beach. So, while some people, in Myrtle Beach, may not see many bikers ride past their business or home, Grand Strand Baptist Church is ready for the crowd.

“This is giving us a chance for people to discover who we are in the middle of this particular community and I feel like it’s gonna work. Now, we could roll up sidewalk, shut everything down like a hurricane week, and just, ya know, nothing, or we could turn this thing around and use it for a great outreach and I believe that’s what’s gonna happen,” says Young.

This bike week event starts up Friday and runs through May 17.

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