Here is the ride-through on Main Street, Sturgis
Big numbers of Hells Angels at Sturgis
- More than in past years, as far as I can tell by shooting photos on Main Street
- Police accomodate with occasional blocking off of traffic at intersections so large group of Hells Angels can quickly ride through.
- Some business activity in the past, with selling of biker merchandise and paraphenalia.
- People always take an interest in the mystique of this.
Reflecting the national mood, apparently
Motorists Yelling at First-Responders
The Meade County Sheriff's Department responded to an accident at Highways 79 and 34.
Motorists started yelling at first responders.
There was a serious injury at the scene, say authorities. The road was temporarily closed as the resuce was going on. Motorists were apparently angry.
Bear Butte most famous landmark in Meade County "Bear Butte Scan 0001" by Stefan Fussan is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Fewer entries into Sturgis on the first weekend
Maybe down 15 percent from last year
Those little rubbery hoses across the main enrances to Sturgis measure traffic. And it's less than last year.
Biker Bars doing a good business as usual. This is The Knuckle Saloon
Being attributed to the weather
Officials speculate that the heavy rains this year, and cool weather (only 63-degree highs on a couple days) resulted in lower attendance.
I'm suspicious of that theory
Seems to be good numbers here, but they the Main Street is always packed no matter what. It could be that with the cold rain, more bikers stayed in their hotels/campgrounds.
- We'll see later in the week when there will be sunny skies and sunshine. It hasn't been 100-degrees on any day this summer, in and around the Black Hills.
Total chaos is part of the allure
One of the famous 59-second videos
More law enforcement patrols out
Colorado officials admit they up patrols
Prior to, during and after the Sturgis Rally, Colorado law enforcement is increasing patrols.
Getting to Sturgis, many pass through Colorado which increases law enforcement on the roads before and during the huge biker cultural event in South Dakota
Lots of bikers pulled over
- Colorado is just one of the states that many bikers pass through on their way to and from Sturgis.
- Last year 308 DUI arrests were made in Colorado during the Sturgis biker ride-through.
- From 2019 to 2023, most injuries and deaths occurred between 6 pm and 1:59 am
"With more people on our roads during the rally, it’s especially important to drive sober or plan a safe ride home,” CDOT Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk said.
The wettest summer in memory in the Black Hills
Rain!
The very unusual weather pattern continues in the Black Hills this summer as it often rains every day or night. Even in summer when the usual is a dry heat that bakes the grasses into dormacy.
Four hours of solid rain yesterday, and more today with temperatures reaching only 63-degrees even down on the Plains.
Mountains Colder
Those coming in from 110-degrees plus from Arizona and the Southwest in for a real climatical shock here this year.
Tomorrow's forecast:
Rain!
Intense Energy for Sturgis
The biker cultural event of the year
Now only days away
We'll have plenty of videos here as the the 2023 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally explodes