Bikers crowd Horry Council

CONWAY - About 700 people attended the Horry County Council meeting, concerned about a topic the panel didn't even discuss.

Supporters and opponents of the spring motorcycle rallies on the Grand Strand were at Tuesday's meeting, even though a proposed ban on those events was not on the agenda.

Council didn't discuss the issue, but the Sun News of Myrtle Beach reported bikers wanted to show support for the Harley Davidson spring rally and the Atlantic Beach Bikefest, both in May.

Myrtle Beach City Council voted to raise property taxes in early June and plans to use some of the money in an effort to get ride of the rallies.

Rally supporters say the events boost the local economy. Opponents say the rallies create noise, congestion, reckless driving, crime, nudity, lewdness, rudeness, litter, wrecks and fatalities.