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Myrtle Beach aims to replace Bike weeks with ACC TOURNAMENT

Myrtle Beach businesses unhappy with fewer bikers

Protests began Sunday on Ocean Boulevard, the last day of the Myrtle Beach Harley-Davidson Cruisin' the Coast spring rally.

Rumbles of discontent spread quickly along Ocean Boulevard.

Hotel owner Jack Rabon said rooms at The Diplomat and the Chesterfield Inn remained empty, and he does not know if that will change next week.

"We have always had 100 percent occupancy during bike week," Rabon said.

"We've had 10 or 12 rooms rented this year. We're going to take matters into our own hands. [The city council] absolutely took our business away."

Rabon's van was decorated with signs asking people to oust Rhodes and the council.

He said others were joining the protest this week.

Rhodes could not be reached for comment Sunday evening.

"I hope when he [Rhodes] goes to bed at night, he thinks about how many people he destroyed," said Karon Mitchell, Rabon's sister.

Meanwhile, organizers of the Atlantic Beach Bikefest said they are proceeding with plans for their rally.

The Atlantic Beach Bikefest begins Friday and runs through Memorial Day weekend.

"We're still hosting the event, and it is still going forward as planned," said Atlantic Beach Town Manager Kenneth McIver.

"We might be a little bit down, but are still expecting a large number of people."

The town had sold about 10 vendor permits by Friday, McIver said.

About 80 vendors set up shop last year, he said.

In Myrtle Beach, there were no problems with traffic on Sunday, said Myrtle Beach Police Cpl. Bill New.

Police answered the usual calls for service throughout the weekend, New said. "It was a lot smoother," he said. "We didn't have a lot of noise because we had fewer bikers this year."

Some riders said they were not bothered by the new helmet laws, and would return next year, New added.

There have been two motorcycle deaths this year, both of which occurred Friday night, according to the S.C. Highway Patrol.

Last year, there were three fatalities, Collins said.

Many riders left the beach by late Saturday or early Sunday.

"We did see a lot of motorcycle traffic Saturday around the south end and North Myrtle Beach," Collins said. "We had some congestion around the local hot spots, but overall, traffic moved very smoothly."

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