Business Owners Organized to Save Tourism (BOOST) is calling for the City of Myrtle Beach to end safety checkpoints.
According to a press release from the group, they have expressed outrage and disappointment at the City’s decision to embark on a series of traffic checkpoints during this week’s Spring Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Rally.
“We’ve asked the City to reconsider its decision and to discontinue these roadblocks effective immediately,” said BOOST spokesperson Tom Herron. “For motorist of all kinds, not just bikers, these heavy-handed Gestapo-like tactics are shameful.”
“Considering the devastating twofold economic tsunami that businesses are facing – a major worldwide recession and the City’s decision to pull up the welcome mat to hundreds of thousands of bikers – our members are in a state of shock,” Herron continued. “The Visitor and Tourism Information page on The City’s official website proclaims ‘We’re glad you’re here!’ but their actions speak much louder than words. We’re not challenging the City’s legal right to set up these roadblocks, we’re challenging their moral obligation to support our community. The timing is anything but coincidental. By their own admission, this is the first time they’ve done so during the Spring Rally.”
BOOST members have been reporting that business is down all week because of the small number of bikers attending the Rally. “We have hotel members who are looking at bookings worse than February.” Herron continued, “Business is not just off, its way off. Some report 70% fewer room nights booked than last year at this time. And it’s not just hotels and so-called ‘biker-bars,’ but popular establishments like Studebakers who are reeling from the effects of this blitzkrieg against motorcyclist. With so many bikers avoiding the City limits and so few bikers visiting the Strand, we’re amazed that they chose this additional step to further alienate people from visiting this beautiful vacation spot.”
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