'Black Bike Week' riders cry foul over security increase at annual gathering

The Guardian ^ | May 25 2015 | Max Blau

[windcliff]

For more than two decades, thousands of African American motorcyclists have traveled across the nation to South Carolina, to attend the Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Bikefest. On the last weekend in May every year, the low hum of customized choppers with high-handle bars and the high-pitched revs of neon-painted street bikes have sounded out on Ocean Boulevard.

The 2015 Bikefest, however, was different. Ocean Boulevard, a two-lane commercial strip running parallel to the Atlantic Ocean, was partially closed. Hundreds of police officers enforced a one-way traffic pattern that clogged streets for miles and forced motorcyclists to idle in gridlock for hours. Much to the dismay of riders, pedestrians walked faster than bikes.

Outside the Sandy Beach Oceanfront Resort, Sean Robinson watched the stop-and-go traffic from the seat of his parked 2008 Harley Davidson, his arms crossed. For the sixth consecutive year, he had traveled five hours from Richmond, Virginia, to attend Bikefest, which is known to most attendees as “Black Bike Week”. He was upset with the way things had changed.

“I’ll never come again,” said Robinson, blasting Migos’ hit song Hannah Montana from the stereo of his bike. He said his group of friends spent more than $20,000 on lodging for a week-long stay, with little return.

“We’re spending a whole lot of money,” he said. “You can’t ride a Harley. You can’t move. It used to be open and you could go both ways, sideways, everything.”

[catnipman]

“But three people were shot to death and several others suffered gunshot wounds.”

Well, hey, that’s not so bad,right? After all, according to The Guardian, only three people were shot to death during the “festivities”. Pshaw, just minor collateral damage since the majority were “peaceful”. Really, such a small number were shot to death, so nothing really to worry about, right?

[caww]

I rather look at it like the public in general has become so rude and outright demanding that there's no place people gather that there isn't this sort of stuff happening.

We “expect” the freedoms we've always enjoyed in this country...but the people and chemistry of our nation has changed...and the people today do not have the set of morals nor common decency that once was...and when people abuse and misuse their freedoms as they do today there are simply going to be more restrictions on those freedoms.

[Kozak]

The local neurosurgeon would go on vacation every year that week. All head trauma had to be transported to Wilmington NC or Charleston or Columbia SC for treatment . He just got sick of it.

[Joe Boucher]

many businesses close during “black biker week”, as it is cheaper than taking the hit from theft and damage cause by the visitors.
Same thing happens in Daytona during their black biker week.

[trebb]

Gosh - cops enforcing traffic rules so they can't do the "mall mill" and create hazards for themselves and the locals who live there - how very racist that must seem.

A few years back, "Black Spring Break" in Biloxi area got way out of hand and the May or and others put word out it wouldn't be that way anymore - it has been a lot better since....

Treat them with a firm and unyielding hand and they get the message..........I know, I know - "thass raciss"

If the truth hurts, change the truth to something that won't cause one such pain by changing behavior....

[Tax-chick]

We’re in Garden City, just south of MB, as we have been several earlier years at this time. About 2 motorcycles per evening passed, and I saw some Bike Rally persons in the Walmart. Aside from that, we would never know it’s going on.

Lovely weather for the beach!

[AppyPappy]

The road was actually broken and then re-appeared on the other side of the barrier. Even in the mid 80’s I found it strange.