MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)- Myrtle Beach City Manager John Pedersen issued a directive to the Police Department prohibiting the use of golf carts on parts of Ocean Boulevard during the Memorial Day Weekend Bikefest.
The ban will impact be Friday through next Monday in the areas south of 29th North during the hours that coincide with the one way (southbound) traffic pattern on that portion of the Boulevard.
Pederson says the order only affects this section of Ocean Boulevard and does not mean that golf carts cannot be rented or used during Memorial Day weekend.
In a statement issued Sunday night, Pederson explained the reason from prohibiting them. He says during this period almost all of the streets intersecting Ocean Boulevard south of 29th North will be barricaded off.
The City Manager says those that are not barricaded off are barricaded off from the side streets so that they only provide access from Kings Highway to the Boulevard.
He says the second factor is that State law prohibits golf carts on Kings Highway. Pederson said “there is no practical and legal way for a golf cart in that section of Ocean Boulevard to return to the rental agency or to the hotel where the person renting it is staying.”
In an email to the Myrtle Beach Police Department, Pederson said:
Pursuant to R2016-15, and Ordinance 2015-31, I hereby authorize the Police Department to prohibit all golf carts (excepting those used by law enforcement) from Ocean Boulevard south of 29th Avenue North between Friday 5/27/2016 at 12:01 AM and Monday 5/30/2016 until the traffic control devices on Ocean Boulevard are removed.
A resolution declared the Memorial Day Weekend Bikefest an extraordinary event meaning the City Manager can take the steps necessary to ensure the safety of residents, guests and staff.
