Annual Sturgis rally expecting 250K, stirring virus concerns
Source: Associated Press
Stephen Groves, Associated Press
Updated 10:47 am CDT, Sunday, August 2, 2020
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) Sturgis is on. The message has been broadcast across social media as South Dakota, which has seen an uptick in coronavirus infections in recent weeks, braces to host hundreds of thousands of bikers for the 80th edition of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
More than 250,000 people are expected to rumble through western South Dakota, seeking the freedom of cruising the boundless landscapes in a state that has skipped lockdowns. The Aug. 7 to 16 event, which could be the biggest anywhere so far during the pandemic, will offer businesses that depend on the rally a chance to make up for losses caused by the coronavirus. But for many in Sturgis, a city of about 7,000, the brimming bars and bacchanalia will not be welcome during a pandemic.
Though only about half the usual number of people are expected at this year's event, residents were split as the city weighed its options. Many worried that the rally would cause an unmanageable outbreak of COVID-19.
This is a huge, foolish mistake to make to host the rally this year," Sturgis resident Lynelle Chapman told city counselors at a June meeting. The government of Sturgis needs to care most for its citizens.
In a survey of residents conducted by the city, more than 60% said the rally should be postponed. But businesses pressured the City Council to proceed.
Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/article/Annual-Sturgis-rally-expecting-250K-stirring-15452439.php
Hello1
(1 post)Whatever you do, stay safe
raging moderate
(4,281 posts)Last edited Sun Aug 2, 2020, 03:54 PM - Edit history (1)
We don't need any more mass tragedies!
marble falls
(56,371 posts)TeamPooka
(24,156 posts)not_the_one
(2,227 posts)Assholes with obnoxiously loud "compensaters".
They will be eager and willing to do ANYTHING to show support for their fuehrer.
Bikers, cops and the military. Allegedly. The turd has already lost the military, and a LOT of the cops. All that's left are a few nazis in training on loud bikes. That says a lot.
It will be really funny when he doesn't accept the election results, shouts RIGGED, RIGGED, and no one shows up to surround him with protection...
That is assuming that he will even still be in the country. More than likely, he will not.
xxqqqzme
(14,887 posts)I'd get out of the area now!
Traildogbob
(8,584 posts)Always has. Always will. And usually the ones getting the money take no risk. Not here though. Those businesses and their tip dependent workers will be at max risk, as will their families. But, what choice do they have with Mitch the bitch et al. Pro life republicans as always. Those attending should be denied access to hospitals and putting even more at risk. On the bright, trumps motorcycle cult will get the Herman Cain exit strategy. We gonna run out of burial real estate. May thin out his miles and miles of motorcycles with Trump flags he loved so much.
Any bets on Trump attending Cains funeral on a golf weekend?
Sorry, but no fucks left here. Lick a door Knob on an assisted living home assholes.
barbtries
(28,703 posts)please use that term or at least put "pro life" in quotes. we need to take that nomenclature away from people who are no such thing. thank you.
Traildogbob
(8,584 posts)Pro-Life. I used that term to express the ridiculous hypocrisy of the GOP and their concern for life post womb. After the package is opened that life is completely expendable. Like a rare comic book. Post womb people mean zero to the self proclaimed Pro Lifers. If they hate abortion, dont have one. That is the decision of that family alone. FreeDumb. Trump Family alone show why abortion is sometimes the correct choice.
barbtries
(28,703 posts)giving them that ground. I'm pro life in reality and pro choice. it's just a pet peeve.
Traildogbob
(8,584 posts)I will be more aware of my words. We all have pet peeves and personal opinions. I think we both are of the same opinion on pro life and right to chose. I am an only parent with 30 year old daughter. I stand for her decision for her body and health. If she were brutally attacked by a meth head trump humper when she is leaving ICU after a 12 hour shift in the early hours, NOBODY but her can make the choice. Or if a librul pot head, atheist, Hillary supporting, bisexual Muslim supporter attacked a Karen Jesus freak Trump bumper, would I have any right to dictate Karens choice to keep it or not.
Stay safe, life is precious. Even theirs. The Trumps......I have an opinion.
brewens
(13,400 posts)of bikers heading there from coming through. There are biker bars everywhere that depend on the big rallies packing the place, even if they are nowhere near them. Great idea to have bars packed with people that are blowing off all common sense safety measures. That's begging to have outbreaks.
Traildogbob
(8,584 posts)I live in Western North Carolina. Bike rallies every weekend. With them are a constant flow of Floridiots and Georgia tourists. Usually the ones at grocery stores with no mask and trump shit on their Florida tagged vehicles, they dont give a fuck. I agree. Stay the fuck in you own republican rules state. I volunteer to be state border militia. We dont have a border threat with Mexico or Canada. We have it with Florida, Georgia, Texas et al. Many species go extinct with stupid, we are on that highway to hell.
Evolve Dammit
(16,632 posts)Don't know if it is salvageable. We will see in the next 6 months. Stay safe.
Traildogbob
(8,584 posts)Avoid bike rallies. Unless they are mandated to wear full face helmets 24/7. And head to toe leather with full fingers gloves. Then 6 feet may work.
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)reimburse businesses for at least some of the lost revenue, but we choose to expose a quarter million people to a deadly disease.
Some goddam MAGA that is.
EX500rider
(10,532 posts)No, people who decide to go on their own free will choose that. And I doubt the City Hall has enough surplus cash to hand out in a town that small. Canceling it would have made sense though.
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)things like speed limits.
And it's not City Hall that bails out businesses, it's a national effort.
jaxexpat
(6,703 posts)The interests of non-sentients don't count. Tell them NO.
Lots of people are finding that they can survive quite nicely with less help from the "job creators".
Olafjoy
(937 posts)We may be barred from travel to other countries forever.
Unbelievably Stupid Assholes
Docreed2003
(16,818 posts)That is why they are doing this. I understand the appeal of Sturgis and what that must mean to the local economy but it is a sad statement on our national response, or lack thereof, that communities are willing to put themselves and others around the country at risk, just to host their event. This will be a disaster long term. Prime example of why we can't get this crap under control in our country
jalan48
(13,798 posts)LastLiberal in PalmSprings
(12,539 posts)SergeStorms
(18,907 posts)who always seem to travel and congregate in packs.
dhill926
(16,234 posts)for the duration...
bucolic_frolic
(42,681 posts)Patriotism for the People.
Undertakers love you!
2naSalit
(86,074 posts)Fuck your health concerns.
underpants
(182,285 posts)Of Franken and Davis
Aykroyd is asked to MC the main Harley stage. He takes Davis along for laughs and to write jokes. They have an area under the stage. Danny goes up a staircase to introduce the next act, tell a joke, make announcements. Its all building towards that night and the Special Musical Guest which at the time for an event like this probably meant The Stones. All day in the sun baked Bikers. As a helicopter comes flying in Danny is handed a piece of paper by the President of Harley-Davidson (I think) this is his choice. Aykroyd wisely goes over to Davis and tells him, I dont know whats inside this paper so get the limo started up and have the door open for me. Davis is in the limo backseat waiting as Aykroyd mounts the stage...opens the paper... and says Ladies and Gentlemen......ELTON JOHN!
Davis and Aykroyd were gone within a minute.
Harley's 100th anniversary bash in Milwaukee had Elton as the Musical Guest. People started getting and leaving. When I worked at H-D years later, the office people were still curious "I still can't believe no one got fired over that".
underpants
(182,285 posts)Or maybe it happened twice. The Harley President was supposedly a big Elton fan. I thought it was Sturgis.
JustGene
(421 posts)This will be bad.
denem
(11,045 posts)IronLionZion
(45,269 posts)Aristus
(66,099 posts)She looks hot!
IronLionZion
(45,269 posts)Aristus
(66,099 posts)But yeah, I'm sure she's that kind of hot, too. I wonder if bikers rely on wind-chill when riding at speed to overcome the heat of all that leather?
IronLionZion
(45,269 posts)To protect from wind and any debris hitting them while riding
Marcuse
(7,399 posts)SergeStorms
(18,907 posts)Beneath all that leather might exist a scabrous leper.
Talitha
(6,479 posts)SergeStorms
(18,907 posts)to be next to useless in protection of the wearer, and in transmission to others. I see these "bad asses" all over with their bandanas on, and feel like telling them, but at my age pugilism is off the menu.
IronLionZion
(45,269 posts)marble falls
(56,371 posts)SergeStorms
(18,907 posts)make them stay in Sturgis on self-quarantine for two weeks. No one attending gets out of Sturgis for at least two weeks. That would cut down a little on attendance. Maybe.
marble falls
(56,371 posts)ProfessorGAC
(64,427 posts)The council bowed to businesses. In a town of 7,000, small biz owners likely have undue clout.
Well, they must if 60% of the residents wanted to cancel this year's gathering.
B Stieg
(2,410 posts)Except with motorcycles, not sharks.
Roy Rolling
(6,856 posts)Sturgis 2020its to die for
Hulk
(6,699 posts)Since it's out of their control to cancel, if I was a resident in or near Sturgis, I'd simply stay off the streets and follow the protocols because your town is about to be hit with a major influx of coronavirus infections.
Got to make that almighty buck.
kimbutgar
(20,882 posts)Please proceed.
Theyll learn two weeks after the event that Corona virus is not a hoax.
bronxiteforever
(9,287 posts)A wild interpretation of Poe By Roger Corman. Poes last line was also in the movie.
And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all."
Grokenstein
(5,707 posts)llashram
(6,265 posts)to worship motorcycles. Three weeks later how many have COVID-19 and how many more have they infected? This is insane
marble falls
(56,371 posts)llashram
(6,265 posts)KY_EnviroGuy
(14,483 posts)not just each other in Sturgis. Our freedoms are killing us.
Demographics (from Wikipedia):
The median age in the city was 41.2 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.3% were from 25 to 44; 27.1% were from 45 to 64; and 18.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.
Hope Sturgis has a nice, well-equipped hospital for the hangover.......
KY
MarcA
(2,195 posts)I_UndergroundPanther
(12,452 posts)Bikers for trump show up.
barbtries
(28,703 posts)to make sure she's not going. She's 65. Pretty sure she's got a biker boyfriend who is younger, possibly by a lot.
CCExile
(456 posts)marble falls
(56,371 posts)dalton99a
(81,091 posts)ProfessorGAC
(64,427 posts)But, that's out of the usual half million.
So, only 1&1/2 doctors and lawyers.
Would that be 3/4ths of a doctor & 3/4ths of a lawyer?
JohnnyRingo
(18,581 posts)I'm not talking about the bikers, but just try to get between the Sturgis merchants and the money they fleece from tourists. Most of them only work one month a year, then Netflix & chill for 10 months
BigmanPigman
(51,432 posts)Do these idiots ever learn? Take an economic hit now or it will continue and be a lot worse later, again. DUH!
Bengus81
(6,909 posts)Never happen. They wanted this shit, then they shall get it.
Blue Owl
(49,939 posts)n/t
Progressive Jones
(6,011 posts)NickB79
(19,117 posts)It's not like they're mostly older, heavier men with histories of bad diets, smoking and no exercise. If that was the case I'd be pretty worried.
StevieM
(10,499 posts)NickB79
(19,117 posts)riversedge
(69,731 posts)Skittles
(152,967 posts)oasis
(49,152 posts)Wolf Frankula
(3,595 posts)Wolf