MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – The Bike Fest Task Force met again Wednesday to discuss plans for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. Representatives with the NAACP attended the meeting to express concerns over the 23-mile traffic loop.
NAACP Associate General Council Anson Asaka prepared a five minute speech for Wednesday’s task force meeting. He started by reminding people that Memorial Day weekend is about honoring the men and women who fought and died for our country.
“They died for freedom and democracy and unfortunately when people come to Myrtle Beach, they see that freedom is restricted,” said Asaka.
He’s referring to the 23-mile traffic loop. While officials says the loop did its job and kept traffic moving, Asaka says it failed.
“Some people were taking a ten minute trip to a friend’s house and ended up in traffic for two hours, that’s unacceptable,” he stated.
He also says the loop is unfair and discriminatory.
“This traffic plan is only in place when the majority of people here are black. There’s no rational reason for this traffic plan,” explained Asaka.
However, officials says its the sheer size of the event that requires structure.
“They’ve tried to explain it, but I don’t see it,” said Asaka.
So the NAACP came up with its own plan for traffic flow. the plan reduces the loop from 23 miles to five miles. starting at 6 p.m. northbound traffic on Ocean Boulevard would be shut down until 6 a.m. the next day. According to NAACP Law Enforcement Expert Willie Williams, this lane would be used for emergency vehicles only.
Officers would conduct so called “flush outs” every hour to move cars out of congested areas from 10 p.m. – 2 a.m. City leaders say it’s too late to make any changes this year.
“They definitely need to take it into consideration next year,” said Asaka.
Myrtle Beach Police Chief Warren Gall said he would need to take a closer look at the NAACP’s plan before he could comment.
Emergency Management Director Randy Webster welcomed the group to participate in future bike fest task force meetings.
