MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)-Bike fest is a little more than two months away and plans for that weekend are starting to be finalized. Many of you may remember the 23-mile traffic loop we had last year for Memorial Day weekend. You can expect to see that again but this year there will be some changes. If you drive a car or a motorcycle, you’ll be allowed in the traffic loop. If you’re one of the many who get around on a moped, those won’t be allowed in the loop this year.
Bike fest has historically been known for a weekend with a lot of accidents, crime and death.
The city wants to make Memorial Day weekend as safe as possible and that means taking moped and golf cart drivers off the road when they deem it unsafe.
The traffic loop doesn’t technically start until 10 pm but you won’t want to be in the loop after 8 p.m.
“After 8 p.m. you’ll be subject to possibly receiving a ticket for violating an extraordinary circumstance that we’ve given the city manager to enforce that no mopeds or golf carts are allowed to be in the traffic loop after 8 p.m.,” said Wayne Gray, Myrtle Beach city councilman.
Moped rental companies will tell all renters about the weekend rule at the time of rental and either ask drivers to return the moped or park it after 6 p.m. For those who drive that as a primary vehicle, you’ll have to navigate outside of the traffic loop.
As bike fest gets closer, the Myrtle Beach Police department will have a mobile app to help both tourists and locals navigate the loop.
