Mount Clemens business owner says city is singling out Tuesday bike nights; city offers meeting

Scott Atchison, a Mount Clemens resident and owner of Abibo Dining and Spirits, told the City Commission he believes city parking enforcement has targeted his Tuesday bike nights and disputed several complaints the city has received.

"We have not had any warnings from or discussions with the city regarding our Tuesday bike nights this year, until last Tuesday afternoon when I flagged down the head of the Mount Clemens DDA on the street and spoke with her about it," Atchison said, describing what he said was a warning that parking officers would be ticketing his customers. He said his staff and hired security enforce back-in parking rules, ensure patrons do not block sidewalks or the roadway, and that sheriff patrols visit multiple times per night.

Atchison disputed claims that motorcycles block traffic, that people carry alcohol into the street, or that lewd behavior and fights occur. "For the record, never in 2 plus years going on over 3 years now of bike nights, we have never had a single fight," he said. He also said his security cameras record the events and that he is trying to bring customers to a downtown that is otherwise quiet after 6 p.m.

A member of the city staff asked Atchison to contact the city manager's office so staff could "sit down and talk" about the concerns; the clerk's office and other staff also noted that the parking ordinance language refers to a singular "vehicle," which prompted a brief exchange about how the ordinance is written and applied.

The mayor encouraged Atchison to work with the city manager to resolve the issue and said the city wants downtown businesses to succeed. No enforcement action or policy change was voted on during the meeting; commissioners urged the owner and city staff to meet and report back if needed.