Biker Unfriendly?
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 2
From: Cave Creek, AZ
No Stimulas money for the towns that don't want us or our bikes and more stimulas for those that do want us. It a shame what was once a place to have fun and play, it dosen't matter where in our country it might be. Times they are a changing.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,034
Likes: 128
While I don't approve of discrimination against motorcycles...and I don't want to get into a pi$$ing contest....and everyone has the freedom to do as they wish......But
We've done this to ourselves....obnoxious loud exhaust, sitting at red lights revving the bike, roaring away from stops, burnouts, too much of a good thing...people are getting tired of all this, and now we're paying the price....
Do I like it, NO....but that's the hard truth.
Now I'm sure a lot are going to log on and say I'm wrong, and I wish I was...but the proof is in the lack of more and more Hotels and places wanting motorcycles....
We've done this to ourselves....obnoxious loud exhaust, sitting at red lights revving the bike, roaring away from stops, burnouts, too much of a good thing...people are getting tired of all this, and now we're paying the price....
Do I like it, NO....but that's the hard truth.
Now I'm sure a lot are going to log on and say I'm wrong, and I wish I was...but the proof is in the lack of more and more Hotels and places wanting motorcycles....
Past performance will dictate how we are received in the future. That works for nations as well as individuals. Unfortunately it is very hard to tell someone they are stupid without making them mad. There are general rules of acceptable behavior for all human beings. I have personally witnessed both acceptable and unacceptable behavior amongst my riding brothers and sisters over the last 40 odd years. For the most part about 98% of us conduct ourselves in a manner that is acceptable to society in general. It is that lone 2% of us out there that always seems to cause problems for the other 98% of society. It is way, way above my pay grade as to how we can change them without just killing them.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,803
Likes: 11
From: El Paso, Texas
While I don't approve of discrimination against motorcycles...and I don't want to get into a pi$$ing contest....and everyone has the freedom to do as they wish......But
We've done this to ourselves....obnoxious loud exhaust, sitting at red lights revving the bike, roaring away from stops, burnouts, too much of a good thing...people are getting tired of all this, and now we're paying the price....
Do I like it, NO....but that's the hard truth.
Now I'm sure a lot are going to log on and say I'm wrong, and I wish I was...but the proof is in the lack of more and more Hotels and places wanting motorcycles....
We've done this to ourselves....obnoxious loud exhaust, sitting at red lights revving the bike, roaring away from stops, burnouts, too much of a good thing...people are getting tired of all this, and now we're paying the price....
Do I like it, NO....but that's the hard truth.
Now I'm sure a lot are going to log on and say I'm wrong, and I wish I was...but the proof is in the lack of more and more Hotels and places wanting motorcycles....
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 7
From: Daytona, Fla.
I just moved down near Jacksonville (Middleburg) a couple years back and have to say the North East Florida area is one of the most biker friendly area's I've lived. There is a bike night every night somewhere between Jacksonville and Daytona. The number of biker friendly bars in the area is just amazing and they all welcome us with open arms. The only negative thing I've heard is the notherners who have moved down in the past 20 or so years is trying to push Bike Week and Bikertobefest out of Daytona proper. But according to the true locals that will never happen because Bike Week and Biketoberfest is where they make the big money. The NASCAR crowd and Sprink Break crowd, according to the locals, are just plain cheap! They say it's the bikers who bring the big money into town. One thing you have to be careful of in Florida is the location of your license plate. They just recently enacted a law that has a $1500.00 fine for improper placement, which is any area other than the rear of the bike. The law was designed to crack down on the sport bikes who would hide their plates. From what I understand most cops won't write the ticket unless you screw with them. Plus several have said if you do get the ticket and fine to take it court because the law is vaguely written and the judge can lower the fine. ABATE is working now to get the law repealed.
One very real problem is a combination of the number of us, & the number of us that can't behave. Forty some years ago when I started coming to Bike Week the average crowd was around 60,000. That meant that if 10% of us had loud pipes & insisted on making noise & being jerks there were 6,000 noisy jerks in the Volusia county area. Today attendance sometimes hits 600,000. That same 10% is now 60,000 noisy jerks in the same geographical area. See the problem?
Also, do the math of trying to fit ten times the number of attendees in the relative small area of downtown Daytona & the track area. There really isn't room. Volusia county is doing a great job of welcoming bikers, spreading the activity areas to less crowded locations, & maintaining the flavor of Bike Week in Daytona. As things grow, they *have* to change. Daytona has chosen to change with us. Myrtle Beach has chosen to change without us. Works for me!
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 267
Likes: 1
From: S.C.
F*&K myrtle beach and the rest of the a$$holes that don't want our money. I will be happy to spend it elsewhere. Like was said before to bad for the people who want our money in these kinda places but oh well. You know we are and always will be BIKER TRASH to somepeople. F*&K'em they just don't get it. And the thing that sux the most is most of the people who judge people for what they think they see are the LOWEST forms of scum in the world themselves. So spend and visit elsewhere and ride safe. and F.T.W.
Very Well Said, That is exactly what myself & my riding crowd are going to do this year. This Thursday we leave for the Smokey Mountains instead of Myrtle Beach. This will be the first M.B. Bikeweek I have missed since 1987. I will go where me & my $$$$ are appreciated!
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: York, PA
It's not so much the "Harley" bike week as it is the week that follows which I believe they "officially" called "Atlantic Bike week", and dubbed "Black bike" week by some which is the week the crotch rocket, sport bikes etc. are there. Last year I witnessed this myself as we took a family vacation to M.B. Our vacation started over the last 2 days of "Atlantic" bike week. When my wife made reservations the lady told (warned) her that we should be advised and prepared that the 1st day or two might not be "family friendly" due to Atlantic bike week. We went anyway due to my work schedule. They were right, we pulled into town and what a freaking ZOO! People with bikes parked on the sidewalks, blocking traffic while carry coolers, yelling, acting cocky, etc. like a bunch of damn uncivilized animals, and Myrtle Beech's finest trying to direct traffic in some places, but not where it looked like they needed it the most. Anyway, get through the mess and traffic and into the apartment, turn on the tube, and there on the news is a story about a Parking lot attendant (college student) who had just been shot and killed by a "biker" over a $20 parking fee dispute. The Mayor is on TV admitting that the 2nd Bike week is the source of most the problems and vowing to put an end to "both" Bike weeks to be "fair". Over the following year the powers that be passed all the ordinances effectively shutting down activities within city limits. So, to hell with them. The party has been moved to outside the city limits and will go on. Unfortunately the merchants within city limits will lose the revenue they normally gained from this.
Banned
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,492
Likes: 2
We went to bike week a few years back ... and swore we wouldn't do that again.
We discovered during a run down the keys that Floridians (at least the hotels/motels) don't like bikers ... period! Couldn't get a hotel rooms to save our lives. We even took it up a few notches ... ask for a room then being told the place was full ... Even though the Vacancy sign was lit... and EVEN though, while we still lingered outside the lobby ... motorists would drive up, walk in and walk out with room keys only moments later. This happened numerous times. Funny how that happens? Happened too often to be a coinkidink.
We discovered during a run down the keys that Floridians (at least the hotels/motels) don't like bikers ... period! Couldn't get a hotel rooms to save our lives. We even took it up a few notches ... ask for a room then being told the place was full ... Even though the Vacancy sign was lit... and EVEN though, while we still lingered outside the lobby ... motorists would drive up, walk in and walk out with room keys only moments later. This happened numerous times. Funny how that happens? Happened too often to be a coinkidink.
I always send in my wife who is cute, pretty and nice, to get the room. All the things I'm not. She never has a problem. I stay "guarding" the bike.
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 395
Likes: 0
From: San Berdo, So. Cal
Sounds like they are cutting off their nose to spite their face..
Read this article about it:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,519611,00.html
Read this article about it:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,519611,00.html
Intermediate
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
I happened to be in Daytona this past year working for about a month prior to the strt of Bike Week. Locals had no disregard towards bikes at all. The only change is taht the tents and booths were moved off of the beach area, all the bars on the strip were still just as packed and bikes lned up as usual on the curb. I left Friday night begining the weekend only cause I dont care for a lot of the "family" theme that Daytona (and locations like Myrtle Beach) have changed towards. Daytona is not what I call a Rally any longer, I stopped going years ago just for that purpose. Those of us who think on this same line have all moved on and go to our more out of the way or isolated events. I dont talk crap about those who still attend daytona or Myrtle but I just dont bother to go. I MADE A CHOICE. It was my choice and if you dont agree with the towns changes then you should also make that choice. I drink, I enjoy myself and I carey myself around startin problems with no one. i ride with all walks of life from 1%ers to the weekend warriors. I'm not in either "stereo type" I'm me, always will be and aint changing. I attend a HOG rally once every couple of years (too many rules for me) and I go to the towns i want to see.
Ride Hard Play Hard but live safe. Why complain about those towns who dont want our lifestyle there.....just because you own a harley or wear leather doesnt mean you are a part of this lifestyle.....a lifestyle is how you choose to live your life not how you live it on weekends.
Eeyore
Ride Hard Play Hard but live safe. Why complain about those towns who dont want our lifestyle there.....just because you own a harley or wear leather doesnt mean you are a part of this lifestyle.....a lifestyle is how you choose to live your life not how you live it on weekends.
Eeyore