SC motorcycle rally moving from beach to NC

MYRTLE BEACH — A motorcycle rally that has become controversial on South Carolina’s Grand Strand is moving to North Carolina.

The Sun News of Myrtle Beach reported Monday that the Carolina Harley-Davidson Dealers Association is moving its May motorcycle rally to New Bern, N.C.

The association said New Bern Mayor T.A. Bayliss III has welcomed the rally that can be held at the New Bern Fairgrounds on May 15-16. That’s shorter than the rally that has attracted 500,000 people to Myrtle Beach.

Myrtle Beach officials have passed ordinances to restrict the rallies. The city acted after a Coastal Carolina University student was shot and killed last year during one of the rallies in a dispute over a parking space.

Mark Cox with The Carolina Harley-Davidson Dealers Association says New Bern offers a rally without restrictions.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)