Myrtle Beach Bike Week - 70th Year Celebration

The 70th Myrtle Beach Bike Week is May 7 to 16, 2010 - at least that's the date set aside for the celebration in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina - one of the many beautiful beach towns in the crown of islands that welcome bikers!

Myrtle Beach Bike Week has been held since 1940, and until recent years, has drawn an estimated crowd of 300,000 to enjoy the mild weather, abundant restaurants and pristine beaches.

Inspite of the fact that neighboring towns favor the rally, Myrtle Beach -  the "crown jewel"  at the center - has made every effort to eliminate the rally.

Last year's hot spots included Barefoot Landing, Broken Spoke in Garden City, The Beaver Bar, SBB The Original and SBB Four Corners, H.B. Spokes, Harley-Davidson of Myrtle Beach and Harley-Davidson of North Myrtle Beach.

Biker-friendly businesses that have shut down since the economy took a nosedive and Myrtle Beach made its anti-rally stand include The Dog House, B&M Custom Cycles, Studebakers and Marti's Bar.

The Supreme Court heard two lawsuits against Myrtle Beach at the beginning of February, both of them asking the court to force the city to rescind its local helmet law because, they say, it supersedes state law.

The court's pattern is to issue its rulings on Mondays, which means it still could drop an opinion this week that would be in time to allow people to book rooms before the rally starts.

UPDATE: But no rulling was announced on Monday, May 3rd.

Last year, May room rentals were down to 32 percent occupancy in Myrtle Beach, a figure that is not likely to change in 2010.

State law says only people younger than 21 must wear helmets, but as part of its 14 ordinances targeting the May motorcycle rallies, Myrtle Beach decided everyone riding within city limits must wear one. The city also established "noise" check points and outside "loitering" ordinances that have caused rally goers and their friends to boycot Myrtle Beach, year round.

UPDATE: The SC Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the bikers and against the City of Myrtle Beach in regards to the City Helmet Law. The formal ruling will be released soon. - June 8th, 2010.