Bike Week Ended: The Numbers

Winniboater81 · 06-24-2011, 11:24 AM

The issue with Bike Week now is the police. I live in walking distance of the Weirs and it is a cluster during bike week. Has anyone been to Sturgis? They let you walk around with beers outside, go from bar to bar, shop to shop. The few cops they have there are on horseback, and are very friendly. They dont just stand there starring at the bikers, with their arms crossed, trying to intimidate. They smile, talk to the people, and if somone is getting too rowdy, they ask them to chill out a bit. Asking gets you alot further than telling. Now I know most cops try to be robo-cops (since they were geeks in high school), and a badge and gun makes them feel powerful. But they are hurting themselves as well, when bike week is done and gone. They will be crying about the overtime.

I spend alot of time at the Broken Spoke during bike week, and the rest of the summer. Alot of people did not go down there because Sat night they had 11 state police cars lined up out front....11!! With at least 20 State Troopers starring at the bikers with arms crossed trying to intimidate them.

If the police eased up a bit, they wouldnt see as many issues as they think. Look at the old days, two to three times as many people showed up, and there were never as many cops as there are now.

Bike week was not, and is not, intended to be a "family event". If your dumb enough to bring your child to bike week then shame on you. Go do something else that is geared towards children.

All in all bike week will be gone in less than 10 years. Vendors wont show up, people wont show up, and the cops will be crying cause they dont get the OT.
For the people that want to come vacation up here, and crab about bike week, dont come up that week, plan around it. You dont see me planning a vacation at the same place you attend your star wars conventions.

Woodsy sounds like he knows alot about what is going on, and I am on the same page as he is.

VitaBene · 06-24-2011, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winniboater81

Has anyone been to Sturgis? They let you walk around with beers outside, go from bar to bar, shop to shop. The few cops they have there are on horseback, and are very friendly. They don't just stand there starring at the bikers, with their arms crossed, trying to intimidate. They smile, talk to the people, and if someone is getting too rowdy, they ask them to chill out a bit.

It is like that at Myrtle Beach as well. They are nice and treat riders with respect (as long as they deserve it).

Winnisquamguy · 06-24-2011, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VitaBene

It is like that at Myrtle Beach as well. They are nice and treat riders with respect (as long as they deserve it).

Well Myrtle Beach has had there troubles in the city limits I should say, they passed 2 laws a helmet law, and loud pipes, just in the city limits of Myrtle Beach so they were ticketing everyone who came through. No big deal everyone just drove around the city limits, but in was a pain in the a** so there numbers went way down.To make a long story short, they were force to give everyone they ticketed there money back because of state laws.The mayor doesn't like rallies at all. But the rally is still trying to recover. I haven't been back yet after going 3 years in a row, it was a great rally, I hope it gets back to where it was before! Sturgis this year can't wait!!

You can read more about Myrtle Beach here if you would like.

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/4/7177...lmet-Law-.aspx

VitaBene · 06-24-2011, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winnisquamguy

Well Myrtle Beach has had there troubles in the city limits I should say, they passed 2 laws a helmet law, and loud pipes, just in the city limits of Myrtle Beach so they were ticketing everyone who came through. No big deal everyone just drove around the city limits, but in was a pain in the a** so there numbers went way down.To make a long story short, they were force to give everyone they ticketed there money back because of state laws.The mayor doesn't like rallies at all. But the rally is still trying to recover. I haven't been back yet after going 3 years in a row, it was a great rally, I hope it gets back to where it was before! Sturgis this year can't wait!!

You can read more about Myrtle Beach here if you would like.

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/4/7177...lmet-Law-.aspx

WG, I should have clarified and said MB area. I actually stay down in Murrell's Inlet and business is booming. Between there and Surfside, I see no reason to go to Myrtle Beach proper.

They are actually trying to re-brand it the Grand Strand Rally. Either way, I suggest you check it out again. plenty of people and vendors.

Winnisquamguy · 06-24-2011, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VitaBene

WG, I should have clarified and said MB area. I actually stay down in Murrell's Inlet and business is booming. Between there and Surfside, I see no reason to go to Myrtle Beach proper.

They are actually trying to re-brand it the Grand Strand Rally. Either way, I suggest you check it out again. plenty of people and vendors.

We did usually go down that end for one day to the four corners... I was talking to the guy who is bringing my trike out to Sturgis and he said its getting better but still not there yet. The people are very friendly there and the prices are right.I stayed up in Little River the opposite of you. Maybe we will try in again this coming May.

Ryan · 06-24-2011, 04:14 PM

Here's a great example of where overbearing police presence will slowly turn people away.

My buddy and I were sitting on the fence/barrier directly across from the Smokehouse around 11am on Friday morning. We were just watching the bikers, shooting the breeze with some of the other bikers around me. It was early in the day, traffic was light, and there might have been 5-6 other people sitting there with us.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this area, the fence lines the sidewalk - which is probably 6-10 feet wide (estimating a typical sidewalk).

After we casually sat for about 20 minutes, Mr. Laconia PD comes by and tells us all that we need to move along. When asked why, he explains to us that we are "taking up too much of the sidewalk" and "people cannot pass when we are blocking the sidewalk".

Now, we were sitting ON the fence. Our feet were not even touching the sidewalk.

This is the type of police presence that will keep people away for years to come.

06-24-2011, 04:14 PM	#6
Ryan Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Mass/Gilford Posts: 247 Thanks: 216 Thanked 70 Times in 33 Posts	Over the top police presence Here's a great example of where overbearing police presence will slowly turn people away. My buddy and I were sitting on the fence/barrier directly across from the Smokehouse around 11am on Friday morning. We were just watching the bikers, shooting the breeze with some of the other bikers around me. It was early in the day, traffic was light, and there might have been 5-6 other people sitting there with us. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this area, the fence lines the sidewalk - which is probably 6-10 feet wide (estimating a typical sidewalk). After we casually sat for about 20 minutes, Mr. Laconia PD comes by and tells us all that we need to move along. When asked why, he explains to us that we are "taking up too much of the sidewalk" and "people cannot pass when we are blocking the sidewalk". Now, we were sitting ON the fence. Our feet were not even touching the sidewalk. This is the type of police presence that will keep people away for years to come. __________________ Please do not feel the trolls.

06-24-2011, 11:24 AM	#1
Winniboater81 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	The issue with Bike Week now is the police. I live in walking distance of the Weirs and it is a cluster during bike week. Has anyone been to Sturgis? They let you walk around with beers outside, go from bar to bar, shop to shop. The few cops they have there are on horseback, and are very friendly. They dont just stand there starring at the bikers, with their arms crossed, trying to intimidate. They smile, talk to the people, and if somone is getting too rowdy, they ask them to chill out a bit. Asking gets you alot further than telling. Now I know most cops try to be robo-cops (since they were geeks in high school), and a badge and gun makes them feel powerful. But they are hurting themselves as well, when bike week is done and gone. They will be crying about the overtime. I spend alot of time at the Broken Spoke during bike week, and the rest of the summer. Alot of people did not go down there because Sat night they had 11 state police cars lined up out front....11!! With at least 20 State Troopers starring at the bikers with arms crossed trying to intimidate them. If the police eased up a bit, they wouldnt see as many issues as they think. Look at the old days, two to three times as many people showed up, and there were never as many cops as there are now. Bike week was not, and is not, intended to be a "family event". If your dumb enough to bring your child to bike week then shame on you. Go do something else that is geared towards children. All in all bike week will be gone in less than 10 years. Vendors wont show up, people wont show up, and the cops will be crying cause they dont get the OT. For the people that want to come vacation up here, and crab about bike week, dont come up that week, plan around it. You dont see me planning a vacation at the same place you attend your star wars conventions. Woodsy sounds like he knows alot about what is going on, and I am on the same page as he is.

The Following User Says Thank You to Winniboater81 For This Useful Post:
ironhorsetim (06-25-2011)

The Following User Says Thank You to VitaBene For This Useful Post:
Winnisquamguy (06-24-2011)