Harley Davidson Biker Rally final numbers

The Harley Davidson Biker Rally ended officially Sunday.

Here's a look at the final numbers compiled by Horry County's Emergency Operations Center.

There were a total of 135 accidents during the rally.

Three of them were fatal. In all 163 people were injured.

Experts say preliminary numbers show about 250,000 people were here over the ten days, including bikers, golfers and other tourists. That's down at least 10% from last year.

"As far as Myrtle Beach Harley Davidson goes, we had a good week," said Mike Shank with Harley Davidson.

"At Jamin' Leather we were very busy," said Jamin' Jamie Keats of Jamin Leather.

"We were very fortunate," said Shawn Croley of Surfside Live. "We did have a few record breaking nights this past week."

But the bikers weren't spending money everywhere.

"It was a lot slower than what we thought it would be," said Rachel Bailey of Tequila Mockingbird.

Certain bars didn't welcome as many bikers as they would have liked. Vendors also complained about a lack of business.

This year, fewer bikers made their way to the Grand Strand for the Harley Davidson Spring Rally, and with a new vendor location at Hard Rock Park on Highway 501, the bikers that were here were more spread out.

"I do think it moved traffic around a little more, away from Highway 17, and maybe some of the congested areas so that may have thinned things out in different areas around town," said Shank.

Still, traffic managed to mount as bikers left town Sunday.

As the rally wraps up, businesses look ahead to next year, when they expect more bikers and more money.

"I expect 2009 to be a better year, and 2010 I think it will blow up again," said Keats. "Once the election year is over and once gas prices start leveling out and people get used to it, things will change."

Gas prices and the economy are likely reasons the bike rally numbers were down.