Comments on: Rude Bikers NOT Welcome

By: D Bship

D Bship — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 01:40:22 +0000

I live in PCB over half the year…….I will retire here soon…..I am a teacher……..I love the kids I teach, and I also Love riding my Harley……..The Bikers were wrong, and I’m not even going to get into the $$$ side……It is absolutely ridiculous for you as a mother, or anyone to stereotype all bikers! I have sat on the beach during the summer and watched drunks raise all kinds of Cain while I tried to hide it from my 12 year old daughter…….it is what it is! You live in a tourist town for almost 8 months….if you don’t understand what that encompasses then I suggest you move elsewhere…..just a suggestion.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 03 May 2010 18:41:17 +0000

There is no excuse for any driver to behave poorly whether in a car or on a motorcycle. I have seen horrific driving habits from both type drivers. This particular rally seemed to have more participants than any other I’ve attended over the past six years. I came with family and bike club members, stayed at the Edgewater Beach Resort, toured many of the stores, parks, and establishments, and ate at some of the best restaurants. With the good there will always be bad and unfortunately one family had a bad experience with a biker. As many have said before…you don’t judge all by an individuals actions. Yes…many of the bikers are young, immature, love to rev the motors, get drunk, and carry on in a manner which I’ve seen immediately handled in most cases by the Panama City Beach Police. One must, however, assume that most participants in the rally are good people. It’s sad that you should feel so disgruntled because of one individuals rudeness. We all know as well that two wrongs don’t make a right. On a positive note I thoroughly enjoyed visiting PC as I do every rally and appreciate the hospitality. I enjoy the security with the presence of the PCB Police Department. The community is one of which provides beautiful beaches and entertainment. For the record, however, I am one of those bikers that spends a lot of my own hard earned money which does help with your economic needs in the community. The beach is a public land of which both visitors and residents can enjoy. No matter what you say or do…it will not change the fact that twice a year Panama City will host the bike rally just as it will the Spring Break. Panama City enjoys the tourism dollars just as the condo owners, hotel and motel owners, restaurant owners, service station and convenience store owners, and every other business type owner does. Instead of branding the entire biker community as “evil doers,” chalk the experience up to that of one that could happen in any city or town in the US. Do that and I won’t brand all Floridians as disgruntled short tempered people who don’t know how to express themselves better.

By: bear

bear — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:18:05 +0000

i don’t no were you get your figures me and my friends spend on a average of eight to nine hundred dollars every year each on of us

By: Thomas

Thomas — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:43:38 +0000

To begin I am a local – lived here all my life. Last year a biker pulled out in front of me, mind you I drive a heavy SUV – This biker almost caused me to flip because I had to take evasive action, I was actually driving on two wheels for a brief second. Next time I am not so sure I will risk my life to save someone whom was not paying attention to the roadway. Just want to remind those of you who ride your motorcycles, pay attention to the roadways! Its not only my duty to pay attention but you the bikers as-well.

By: Suzanne Henderson

Suzanne Henderson — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:25:43 +0000

Unfortunately, bikers don’t look or sound the part of the happy tourist on vacation, and are easy prey for criticism. Whether it’s spring break, hordes of people on bicycles, marathon participants or bikers…incidents happen…it’s all part of the package of being a resident of Bay County.

By: Bryan Durta

Bryan Durta — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:31:00 +0000

I better clarify my post above:
I am not advocating against Thunder Beach. In fact, the organizers of Thunder Beach try very hard to keep the event “Family Friendly”. Unfortunately, some of the participants(both tourists and businesses) do not conform.

By: Bryan Durta

Bryan Durta — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:16:07 +0000

Those of us who would like our destination to be “Family Friendly” do not necessarily want it to be “A Family Only Vacation Spot”. There are many tourists without children who prefer to visit destinations that are “Family Friendly”.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:39:42 +0000

Walter,

Please don’t get me wrong and not intending to be negative.

If Panama City Beach is wanting to become a Family Vacation Spot, should it not have things for the kids of all ages to do after the sun goes down. When I was a child, my parents had a place at PCB and the fun part as a kid was getting to go to either Petticoat Junction or Miracle Strip Amusement Park at night with friends and ride the rides, etc… The only things to do now are putt-putt, shopping, go carts, and Ship Wreck Island (and it has not changed for years) that is affordable. Wave runners, para-sailing is not cheap and only last about 30 minutes.

I was one of those bikers that came down for Thunder Beach, I am retired military and I bring my family down to PCB during the summer now only for the weekend becuase my son gets bored when it gets dark because there is nothing for him to do. Does Panama City Beach plan on building another Amusement Park that will attract families with older children.

We now go down to Orlando for extended vacations because of all the Amusement/Theme Parks (ie.. Disney/Universal Studios/Sea World). If PCB is to truly become a Family Vacation Spot it will need to be able to provide entertainment for children of all ages, not just pre-school (age 3 thru 10).

Please don’t get me wrong, I beleive that visitors should respect the places that they visit as guest, but without the right things and the money to make it happen, how is PCB going to get to that point that you would like to see.

I went to PCB as a Spring breaker in the early 80′s, so PCB was welcoming Spring Breakers in the 80′s and my brother, who is 60 went down to PCB in the late 60′s for Spring Break. It has always been a place for Spring Breakers, not something that has only been going on for the past 10-15 years.

I have asked the same question on this blog to thoses that keep throwing out that they want PCB to be a Family Vacation Spot Only and get rid of Bike Week/Spring Break. But when I ask the question about Amusement Parks to attract families with older kids I get no response. Why is this. I would really love to know if PCB is in talks with anyone to bring/build an Amusement Park.

I do not believe that PCB will be able to make the change to A Family Only Vacation Spot until it has things for children/kids of all ages to enjoy.

I may be wrong, but I been going to PCB since I was 5 yrs old and nothing has changed except that you can no longer see the beach because of all the new High Rise Condo’s.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:37:27 +0000

Jason,

Here is what is on the HD Website for HD of Myrtle Beach
about the Rally.

Every One that thinks that the people don’t want the Rally in Myrtle Beach needs to read this. I copied and pasted this from the HD Website.

From Harley Davidson of Myrtle Beach and Horry County Residents:

We look forward to seeing all bikers for the 69th Annual Spring Bike Week (May 8-17) in Horry County (everywhere but the City of Myrtle Beach) in 2009.

The City of Myrtle Beach has initiated a media campaign designed to deter the good, law abiding motorcycle riders from coming to our area. The information being disseminated by the Grand Strand Chamber of Commerce and City of Myrtle Beach does not accurately portray the views of the people of Horry County. The majority of people and businesses look forward to you visiting and desperately rely on your visiting to make it through the year.

Furthermore, the City of Myrtle Beach has never played a role in bike week and has made it clear they don’t want to play a role. In years past, over 90% of the events taking place were outside the limits of the City of Myrtle Beach. The new rules and regulations really WILL NOT affect your visit or any of the activities and events.

By: Shannon Love

Shannon Love — Sun, 10 May 2009 23:38:03 +0000

Larry, I can’t veiry this as it is second hand info but it did come from someone who attended Myrtle Beach every year. The reason I got as to why Myrtle Beach was done away with is this….a city official’s son was murdered during “Black Bike Week”. This was apparently the catalyst that motivated the powers that be to determine that it would be best not to host “Black Bike Week” anymore. They couldn’t quite do this without also doing away with “Bike Week” lest they be accused of racism. Now, I’m not trying to bring race into the discussion, I’m just relaying the reason I was given.

Why are you singling out Thunder Beach? Why do you feel it should be stopped? Yes, it’s noisy & traffic is sometimes heavy but as I said before, during the summer months, when there’re no bikers or Spring Breakers, it’s still noisy & congested. This last rally was my seventh & I have yet to see one single fight or any other form of “rowdy violence” for that matter. Some of you locals speak of PCB as “your community”, which it is but I really doubt that the area turns into a quiet, seaside community when the bikers leave.