No Traffic Loop, Other Safety Plans Move Forward For Memorial Day ...

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WPDE) — The City of Myrtle Beach is one step further in planning its advanced safety efforts for the upcoming Bikefest.

Starting off with a timeline of the NAACP and Myrtle Beach's history over Black Bike Week.

The disagreement started back in 2003 when the NAACP filed a lawsuit against the City of Myrtle Beach over a traffic plan used during Memorial Day weekend, commonly known as Black Bike Week.

Safety planning moves forward for Memorial Day weekend in Myrtle Beach; no traffic loop

In 2005, the court granted the organization an injunction finding that the differences between the Black Bike Week and Harley Week bike plans were a violation of the 14th amendment.

That agreement expired in 2015 one year after a violent weekend on Ocean Boulevard where three people were shot and killed at a hotel.

TRENDING:Deputy, truck driver help save kids trapped in submerged Florence County SUV

In reaction to the deadly 2014 incident, the city imposed a new 23-mile traffic loop that was even more restrictive, hired more police officers for the weekend and put up barricades along Ocean Boulevard.

All those actions led to the NAACP filing another lawsuit in 2018.

Atlantic Beach bikers (Credit: Andrew James/WPDE)

In December 2020, a jury found that race was a motivating factor in the city's traffic plan for Bikefest, however, the jury found that the city would have made the same decision anyway, even if it had not considered race in its official actions regarding Black Bike Week.

The two parties reached a settlement in October of last year.

Part of the settlement included reviewing other busy weekends in the area, comparing historical data from those weekends and hiring a diversity, equity and inclusion director.

During Thursday night's Human Rights Commission meting, safety leaders did just that.

Their biggest decision was to keep their safety response plan the same as their plan in 2019, the last time the event was held pre-Coronavirus.

TRENDING:Crews put out Myrtle Beach brush fire near Highway 501, captain says

The Human Rights Commission said its mission is having its actions be inclusive and reflect on the diverse community with the main goal being life safety.

Human Rights Commission meeting (Credit: Emma Parkhouse / WPDE)

They're planning in focus areas including public information, law enforcement, fire and traffic.

Travis Glatki with the city said they will continue to have an increased first responder presence throughout the weekend along with barricades, cones and barrels in designated locations.

"There's no discussion of a traffic loop," he said. "We looked at having a single lane management along Ocean Boulevard from 29th Avenue North down to 29th Avenue South with all traffic southbound and emergency vehicle response in the northbound lane."

TRENDING:Engineer pulls controversial Carolina Forest development proposal at Horry Co. Council

After evaluating the plans, public safety expert, Kristal Turner-Childs said, "I thought about should this be changed; should there be some changes? And I say no. At least not at this time. I'm in agreement with the traffic safety experts as well. I think this is the best way to approach this issue on Memorial Day weekend to at least ensure that we minimize the threat of harm to people. That's what I'm here for. I here to make sure the people are safe, period."

Childs reviewed violent crimes rates from 2011 through 2018 during Memorial Day weekend in Myrtle Beach saying on average, over 40 calls were made.

She explained not having a traffic loop will also help cut down the number of calls.

"A one-way traffic lane with a dedicated emergency response lane is put in place to mitigate emergencies," she said. "It is in response to the fact that calls for service have increased, they do increase during that memorial day weekend."

ABC15 News asked Kelvin Waites, who was hired in January as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, for an interview about his position, which he declined to do at this time. We also asked him about the meeting and the Memorial Day plans and he said that the meeting spoke for itself in the plans.

Mark Kruea, spokesperson for Myrtle Beach, said the position Waites now fills was in their city budget prior to the lawsuit settlement and that the position was part of the settlement as it was already in motion at that time.

The final meeting for the Human Rights Commission to present its official plan is scheduled for May 19.

They said they will also be holding a meeting after Memorial Day weekend to review how they feel their plans held up and what they can improve in 2023.