Sturgis bike rally and Highway 127 Yard Sale going on more or less as usual

[essentialsaltes]

Harleys everywhere, masks nowhere: Sturgis draws thousands

Thousands of bikers poured into the small South Dakota city of Sturgis on Friday as the 80th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally rumbled to life despite fears it could lead to a massive coronavirus outbreak.

The rally could become one of the largest public gatherings since the pandemic began, with organizers expecting 250,000 people from all over the country to make their way through Sturgis during the 10-day event. That would be roughly half the number of previous years, but local residents — and a few bikers — worry that the crowds could create a “super-spreader” event.

World's Longest Yard Sale still lines roads
A six-state yard sale that stretches from Alabama to Michigan is being held this weekend despite concerns over the coronavirus pandemic

And though the coronavirus pandemic has canceled events around the globe, the six-state yard sale is happening this weekend for the 34th straight year.

Beginning Thursday and ending Sunday, thousands of people will mingle, chat and bargain across a 690-mile-long (1,110 kilometer) stretch of Middle America. Organizers say they might not get the usual crowd, estimated at 200,000 people, but they could.

The yard sale began in 1987 as a way to lure visitors off interstate highways to a small town in Tennessee. No one owns the event, Randall said, but it’s promoted on a website that includes tips for vendors, maps and, for 2020, pandemic health guidelines.

Also known as the 127 Yard Sale, the event follows U.S. 127 from near Addison, Michigan, to Chattanooga, Tennessee, through Ohio and Kentucky. From there, it meanders through northwest Georgia to Noccalula Falls, a 250-acre (100-hectare) public park in Gadsden.



I'm predicting a terrible September for South Dakota in particular.

 

[mnorian]

Harleys everywhere, masks nowhere: Sturgis draws thousands

Thousands of bikers poured into the small South Dakota city of Sturgis on Friday as the 80th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally rumbled to life despite fears it could lead to a massive coronavirus outbreak.

The rally could become one of the largest public gatherings since the pandemic began, with organizers expecting 250,000 people from all over the country to make their way through Sturgis during the 10-day event. That would be roughly half the number of previous years, but local residents — and a few bikers — worry that the crowds could create a “super-spreader” event.

World's Longest Yard Sale still lines roads
A six-state yard sale that stretches from Alabama to Michigan is being held this weekend despite concerns over the coronavirus pandemic

And though the coronavirus pandemic has canceled events around the globe, the six-state yard sale is happening this weekend for the 34th straight year.

Beginning Thursday and ending Sunday, thousands of people will mingle, chat and bargain across a 690-mile-long (1,110 kilometer) stretch of Middle America. Organizers say they might not get the usual crowd, estimated at 200,000 people, but they could.

The yard sale began in 1987 as a way to lure visitors off interstate highways to a small town in Tennessee. No one owns the event, Randall said, but it’s promoted on a website that includes tips for vendors, maps and, for 2020, pandemic health guidelines.

Also known as the 127 Yard Sale, the event follows U.S. 127 from near Addison, Michigan, to Chattanooga, Tennessee, through Ohio and Kentucky. From there, it meanders through northwest Georgia to Noccalula Falls, a 250-acre (100-hectare) public park in Gadsden.



I'm predicting a terrible September for South Dakota in particular.

The CV-19 won't show up in S.D. but to all the states the biker's go back to.

How do they track that if there is an increase in Harley riders getting sick; blame it on a poor choice in beer?

 

[timothyu]

Perhaps instead of protesters burning businesses being tops in the media, perhaps they should focus on those who are out of work and out of rented homes who should go out and teach these selfish people at their summer do's that are going to prolong the situation, a lesson in care for fellow man.

 

[essentialsaltes]

The CV-19 won't show up in S.D. but to all the states the biker's go back to.

That, too, but the bikers are interacting with the staff of restaurants, grocery stores, and other local businesses.

 

[Richard T]

The rally is bigger than just Sturgis. Wyoming Towns Prepare For Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Visitors
Montana and Wyoming will see their fair share of bikers. This is very sad to me because both Montana and Wyoming have had very low case levels and this is likely to change.
Also, there is really only one halfway decent hospital with a couple of hundred miles, that being Monument in Rapid City. In a typical year with no covid they are pushed to the limit, so I hope they can maintain. Locals have to sacrifice too. Many are hunkered down, not wanting to go out much until the damage from COVID is figured out. Meanwhile, the city of Sturgis set aside a couple of hundred thousand for additional Covid testing. Their decision was all about the money.
The only positive on this is that it will provide a test case for large events and spread.

 

[cow451]

Harleys everywhere, masks nowhere: Sturgis draws thousands

Thousands of bikers poured into the small South Dakota city of Sturgis on Friday as the 80th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally rumbled to life despite fears it could lead to a massive coronavirus outbreak.

The rally could become one of the largest public gatherings since the pandemic began, with organizers expecting 250,000 people from all over the country to make their way through Sturgis during the 10-day event. That would be roughly half the number of previous years, but local residents — and a few bikers — worry that the crowds could create a “super-spreader” event.

World's Longest Yard Sale still lines roads
A six-state yard sale that stretches from Alabama to Michigan is being held this weekend despite concerns over the coronavirus pandemic

And though the coronavirus pandemic has canceled events around the globe, the six-state yard sale is happening this weekend for the 34th straight year.

Beginning Thursday and ending Sunday, thousands of people will mingle, chat and bargain across a 690-mile-long (1,110 kilometer) stretch of Middle America. Organizers say they might not get the usual crowd, estimated at 200,000 people, but they could.

The yard sale began in 1987 as a way to lure visitors off interstate highways to a small town in Tennessee. No one owns the event, Randall said, but it’s promoted on a website that includes tips for vendors, maps and, for 2020, pandemic health guidelines.

Also known as the 127 Yard Sale, the event follows U.S. 127 from near Addison, Michigan, to Chattanooga, Tennessee, through Ohio and Kentucky. From there, it meanders through northwest Georgia to Noccalula Falls, a 250-acre (100-hectare) public park in Gadsden.



I'm predicting a terrible September for South Dakota in particular.

You are not entirely correct about the Hwy 127 yard sale. It was created as a way to lure gullible Yankees into a trap in order to steal their money by passing off otherwise discarded crap as antiques and collectibles.

Donald Trump later tried a similar strategy with Trump Steaks, Trump Vodka and Trump University. However, his useless crap resulted in bankruptcy and fraud settlements. The Yard Sale, OTOH sent small-town southerners laughing all the way to their credit unions.

 

[MIDutch]

Bummer for Harley-Davidson.

 

[cow451]

Sturgis just entered the Guinness book of World Records for largest Petri Dish.

 

[timothyu]

♪ Get your virus running. Head out on that highway. Looking for a ventilator,.. and whatever comes your way ♪

 

[essentialsaltes]

Since Friday, visitors have packed into bars, used communal Slip n Slides, and — for the most part — flouted advice from local officials to wear masks.
...
On Sunday, Pinard said he visited a local bar but left after people there were participating in a "sneeze contest."

"It was to see who can sneeze the furthest out," he said. "People were laughing and applauding."

City officials have no real authority to order guests to wear masks. An ordinance like that would have to come from the office of Gov. Kristi Noem, who has chosen not to pursue such an order.

Instead, the city implemented grocery delivery services for seniors and at-risk residents, it has encouraged locals to stay home, and organized a mass-testing event scheduled for the week after the rally.

 

[timothyu]

City officials have no real authority to order guests to wear masks. An ordinance like that would have to come from the office of Gov. Kristi Noem, who has chosen not to pursue such an order.

Ya can'ts regulate the stupid. You can only put out warning labels and let them self clean the gene pool.

 

[essentialsaltes]

LINK

Following alarming scenes of maskless bikers packed into the small South Dakota town of Sturgis for a motorcycle rally, the slightly scaled-down East Coast alternative, Laconia Motorcycle Week, may not be going ahead full throttle, but it is still expected to attract masses.


On Tuesday, after seeing the images from Sturgis, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) announced that face coverings would be mandatory for gatherings of more than 100 people ahead of the week-long event that begins Aug. 22. Laconia’s rally brought an estimated 250,000 people last year to the New Hampshire town and is one of the largest motorcycle events in the country. Public health experts say that mass gatherings like these have the potential to be superspreader events.

“Sturgis was a really clear warning sign to us,” Sununu said at a news briefing. “I don’t think anyone saw the photos out of Sturgis and said, ‘That looks safe.’ ”

After the event was delayed for two months due to the coronavirus pandemic, New Hampshire officials promised an abridged gathering. Laconia Mayor Andrew Hosmer (D) pledged on Monday that the rally “will take place in name only,” with a smaller crowd, no vendor tents and no concerts or fireworks displays.

Like Sturgis residents, 60 percent of whom disapproved of holding the rally in their town this year, many people in Laconia have said the event should not take place at all, the Laconia Daily Sun reported.

South Dakota has reported 1,136 confirmed cases per 100,000 people, compared with New Hampshire’s 513 infections. In the past week, South Dakota’s average daily case count was 92 cases, compared with New Hampshire’s 24 cases.

 

[timothyu]

Hard to drink kegs of beer through a mask.

 

[essentialsaltes]

The rally news comes amid an increase in the COVID-19 infection rate in South Dakota. Health officials reported Thursday that there were 125 new confirmed cases of the disease and two new deaths. Over the past two weeks, the average number of daily new cases has increased by 32, which is an increase of about 43%.

 

[ArmenianJohn]

This is in line with the generally sinful, anti-Christ lifestyle of the "biker" subculture.

 

[essentialsaltes]

The rally news comes amid an increase in the COVID-19 infection rate in South Dakota. Health officials reported Thursday that there were 125 new confirmed cases of the disease and two new deaths.

Friday: 193 cases, the most in a single day in months.

The Department of Health confirmed 193 new COVID-19 cases, which is the highest since the state reported 293 cases on May 8 amid a mass-testing event for Smithfield Foods workers, bringing total known cases in South Dakota to 10,884. Active cases rose by 107 to 1,376.

 

[The IbanezerScrooge]

Honestly, though. Could any of these cities or towns actually stop this from happening? I mean, at this point in time this event has been going on so long that even if the cities and towns "cancelled" the event officially I guarantee thousands of bikers would still show up to these places if nothing else out of habit, but more likely out of defiance. Same deal for Biketoberfest in Ormond/Daytona. The bikes would just show up.

 

[Caliban]

Update: Tracking Sturgis

 

[timothyu]

The bikes would just show up.

Bikes aren't the problem. It s the riders.

 

[essentialsaltes]

An analysis of anonymous cell phone data from Camber Systems, a firm that aggregates cell phone activity for health researchers, found that 61% of all the counties in the U.S. have been visited by someone who attended Sturgis, creating a travel hub that was comparable to a major U.S. city.

Health departments in four states, including South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Wyoming, have reported a total of 81 cases among people who attended the rally. South Dakota health officials said Monday they had received reports of infections from residents of two other states — North Dakota and Washington. The Department of Health also issued public warnings of possible covid-19 exposure at five businesses popular with bikers, saying it didn’t know how many people could have been exposed.