MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) –Friday night was the first night for the 23-mile extended traffic loop in place for the Memorial Day Bikefest.
The goal of the loop is to keep traffic going and prevent any gridlock but for the bikers in town for the holiday weekend, it’s having the opposite effect.
“Initially we took it as a safety precaution but it seems to appear it’s more of an inconvenience for us. They use the term safety but we were safe before all of this happened and I think the money that they’re investing with these barricades can be better used within the community,” Charles Johnson said.
Charles Johnson is a Veteran visiting from Virginia., he’s come down to Myrtle Beach for Bikefest for almost a decade. He says the traffic changes this year makes it harder to get around.
“When they push us down the road one way, it makes it difficult for everyone to navigate through the traffic, so what in the past may have taken us a thirty minute ride it’s turned into maybe a two and three hour ride now,” Johnson added.
But for those in charge of keeping the traffic flowing, it’s more about making sure everyone can quickly get where they need to go.
“We’re trying to keep this street safe for traffic, ambulances, police officers and we’re trying to keep Ocean Boulevard cleared so everybody can enjoy the evening,” Gerald Neill said.
Neill says so far the traffic changes are proving to be a good thing along Ocean Boulevard.
“I think it’s helped a lot because we don’t have the backups that I’ve heard about in the past and everybody seems to be moving and having a good time,” Neill said.
It’s trend everyone involved hopes will continue through the weekend.