North Myrtle Beach officials plan for heightened safety measures ahead of Bike Fest

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) - Grand Strand residents should get ready to see more bikers on the road in the next couple of weeks.

A few events for bike lovers are coming up this month, including the Atlantic Beach Bike Fest.

North Myrtle Beach City Council approved mutual aid agreements Monday night that will help cover police staffing during the bike fest.

North Myrtle Beach Police Chief Dana Crowell told WMBF News a greater presence is needed, as the event brings some of the most people the North Strand sees all year.

“We want everyone to come here and to have a good time and to enjoy their vacation while they’re here, but in order for that to happen, everyone needs to be courteous and to follow safety rules and the rules of the road,” said Crowell.

Officers from Clemson, York, Summerville, and more will be in North Myrtle Beach during Memorial Day weekend, looking out for drivers and bikers alike.

“You have a lot of people trying to get into a small location, and it kind of creates a bottleneck, it creates a lot of traffic issues,” said Crowell.

Chad Fuller said he has attended bike festivals and rallies in the area for years, and now is an attorney for motorcyclists’ rights. He said people must be extra alert on the roads during events like these.

“Please, please watch out for us,” said Fuller.

He said although responsibility for safety on the roads goes both ways, people in cars have a buffer around them that motorcyclists do not.

“One of the things that scares me sometimes is when somebody’s right on the back tire as I’m riding,” said Fuller. “I can brake faster as a motorcyclist than that car behind me, and if that happens, I could potentially be under the car or my passenger could be under that car.”

Something both Crowell and Fuller emphasized is the need for patience, especially because tourists can be in a hurry to get places.

“I think the biggest issue is that when people get there, they’re there for a good time,” said Fuller. “You can be on vacation on the beach, you can be on vacation, you know, in a restaurant or hotel room, but you don’t get that vacation on the roadways.”

The Atlantic Beach Bike Fest runs from May 24 to May 27, but residents should expect to see a heavier police presence as early as the May 21.

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