MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – As thousands of bikers celebrating the holiday weekend arrived in the city, the controversial traffic loop for the Memorial Day Weekend bikefest closed down after a little more than an hour.

This is the fourth year of the traffic loop, which the NAACP is filing a discrimination lawsuit over. A federal judge denied an injunction Wednesday, allowing the traffic loop to continue this weekend.

Myrtle Beach police spokesperson Capt. Joey Crosby said the 23-mile loop was shut down because traffic was moving fluidly along Ocean Boulevard.

In a statement to News 13 early Saturday morning, Capt. Crosby said, “During our meetings addressing our operational plan, we expressed the pattern was developed and utilized to keep traffic moving. Traffic was moving and did not warrant the continuation of the plan tonight.”

Many people at the bikefest Friday night said they were enjoying the start of the weekend.

“It’s just a fun atmosphere, getting to come out, see all the bikes, all the people,” said LaTasha McDaniels, who’s from North Carolina and celebrating her bachelorette party.

“We came down from Columbia and came straight from work,” said Malik Barnes, who was with three of his friends. “I came to enjoy it with my boys.”

Traffic along Ocean Boulevard is also kept to a single lane going south. The northbound lane is reserved for police and other emergency personnel.

Some enjoying Friday night of the bikefest say the traffic loop is unnecessary.

“I came down here for Harley bike week,” said Nathaniel Key, who traveled from Virginia. “It’s not the same. They need to get rid of it.”

“It limits us from doing things,” said Michael Patterson, who’s visiting from Miami.

“Yeah, it really does,” said Kim Platt, who came from Georgia.

“We can’t get on the strip, off the strip,” Patterson said. “You can’t do a lot of stuff.”

Others say the pattern does have some benefits and that police are helping visitors out.

“It’s not like people are out of control and the traffic is under control,” said Quintella Kemp, who’s visiting from Akron, Ohio. “So I think they do a good job.”

“Maybe they should do straight bikes along the strip instead of cars,” said Ariel Lewis, who came from Chicago.

The traffic loop is expected to restart from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. and between the same times on Sunday night.