MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)- The Myrtle Beach Police Department started a series of meetings this week for businesses ahead of Memorial Day Weekend Bikefest.
The department hosted its first informational meeting at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center on Friday at 8:30 a.m.
The goal of the meeting was to discuss the department’s plans for this year’s Bikefest, educational campaigns, business concerns and a new map services website.
Lt. Joey Crosby says they are starting their meetings earlier this year to be more transparent and improve upon relationships with the community.
“We’re going to extend that for all our special events. Not just for Memorial Day Weekend. We want to build those relationships that way we can partner with the community and attendees to make the event whatever it is a successful event,” Crosby said.
Crosby said they will also increase the amount of officers doing traffic patrol especially in areas like Kings Highway as a way to address concerns from last year.
“Through our critiques from last year, as we were evaluating our 2015 operational plan one of the things we heard from the community is that they would us to focus attention on the quality of life issues and also traffic related incidents,” Crosby added.
Another concern many business owners expressed were about the 23-mile traffic loop that will be in effect from 10pm-2am during the weekend. Crosby says they wanted to make it easier for people to navigate.
This year the city will launch a Map Services Website. It will feature an interactive map of the loop that’s labeled with the route, location of barricades and current roads closed. There’s also a function to enter your location and navigate a route that will keep you out of the loop. Having that information to share with visitors and employees was something local business owners appreciated.
“The city has made strides and the police department is really doing amazing things to ensure that we are informed. They’re using technology and doing their part,” Angela Kegler with The Kegler Group said.
In addition, city leaders are also reaching out to biker groups to inform them of what they can expect before coming in town.
“People like the information as far as the motorcycle community. They plan prior to coming. So having this information, it allows us the opportunity to plan ahead of time,” Violet Lucas said.
According to officials, similar meetings will be held every Friday during the month of February.
