STURGIS, SD (AP) – Thousands of cyclists stormed the small South Dakota town of Sturgis on Friday as the 80th Sturgis motorcycle rally crashed to death 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 across the country to make their way through Sturgis during the 10-day event. That would be roughly half the number of previous years, but locals – and a few cyclists – are worried that the crowds could create a ‘super-spreader’ event.
Many who rode their bikes in Sturgis on Friday showed opposition to the rules and restrictions that marked life in many venues during the pandemic. People are flocking from all over the country to a state that is proposing a proposal to curb coronavirus restrictions because South Dakota has no special borders for covered audiences, no mask mandates and a governor who is very welcome to visitors and the money that they bring.
“Screw COVID,” read the design on one T-shirt being hawked. “I went to Sturgis.”
Cyclists rummage through hundreds of tents filled with motorcycles, T-shirts and food. Harley Davidson motorcycles were everywhere, but masks were almost invisible, with an Associated Press reporter counting less than 10 in a crowd of thousands over a period of several hours.
For Stephen Sample, who drove his Harley from Arizona, the event was a break from the routine of recent months, when he is mostly homebound or wearing a mask when he went to work as a surveyor.
“I do not want to die, but I also do not want to spend my whole life working together,” he said.
However, Sample, 66, was worried about what might happen if he caught COVID-19 at the rally. He said he tried to avoid incidents and locations inside where he felt the risk of infection was greater. But on the opening day of the rally, he said he ate breakfast at an indoor dinner.
As Sample waited for the risks of the crowd to navigate, the same tension-seeking that lured him to ride motorcycles seemed to win.
“I think we’re all ready to take a chance,” he said.
Republican Gov. Kristi Noem has taken a largely hands-off approach to the pandemic, by avoiding a masked mandate and preaching personal responsibility. She supported the holding of the Sturgis rally, pointing out that no virus outbreak was documented from the several thousand people who saw President Donald Trump and fireworks at Mount Rushmore last month.
Daily virus cases have gone up in South Dakota, but the average of seven days is still only around 84, with fewer than two deaths per day.
The rally drew crowds of retirees and people in old age considered to be at higher risk of the coronavirus. But for many who see the rally as an annual pilgrimage, the camaraderie and atmosphere could not be missed.
‘I fell in love with the rally. I love the sound of the bikes, ‘said Bill Sudkamp, who made his 20th consecutive rally appearance.
He and his wife, who refused to give up their age but said they were at increased risk for COVID-19, were one of a handful of people seen wearing masks in downtown Sturgis, a community of about 7,000 which is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Rapid City. They also planned to avoid bars. Sudkamp felt that it was inevitable that infections would spread in the packed bars and concert venues.
“It looked like South Dakota was mostly plateau,” Sudkamp said. “It will be interesting to see what it looks like in two weeks.”
Marsha Schmid, who owns the Side Hack Saloon in Sturgis, tried to prevent her bar and restaurant from becoming a virus-hot spot by splashing around inside tables and offering a lot of hand processing. She also scaled back the number of tires hired for the rally, hoping the crowds would stay thin but still spend the money that makes her business viable for the rest of the year.
She pointed out that many of her employees depend on the rally and the tips they can make.
“You’ve got people from all over the world,” she said. “I just hope they are responsible and if they don’t feel good, they stay away.”
Several locals said they would spend the rally at home. Carol Fellner stepped up with shopping and had planned to stay away from all meetings. Her husband suffers from pneumonia and kidney problems, and COVID-19 would be a “death sentence” for him, she said.
Fellner felt the risk of an outbreak would be felt long after the cyclists left. The city has plans to mass test residents to detect and stop outbreaks, but the area’s largest hospital system is already burdened with the influx of tourists and cyclists who are in dire need of hospital care at this time.
Sample was aware that his trip to the rally could end up in the hospital, which seems to weigh on him.
“This is an important experiment,” he said. “It could be a big mistake.”
