Wyoming citizens may need to be on the lookout for motorcycles in coming weeks

CASPER, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - Wyoming citizens may have noticed a surge of motorcyclists on interstates and in towns recently. This is due to the motorcycle rally being held in Sturgis, South Dakota that begins August 5. This rally is huge, not only for Sturgis, but for surrounding states like Wyoming as well. The rally brings riders from all across the country through Wyoming on their way to South Dakota and this can have a significant impact on the economy.

Casper city councilman Bruce Knell often attends the rally and had this to say on the impact it has, “It’s a boost to our economy, they stop, they buy fuel, they eat, they stay the night. It’s a good midpoint on the way there and we want to welcome them of course to the city of Casper and the state of Wyoming, and we want to welcome the money that they bring into our community.”

With so many motorcycles coming through it’s important for drivers to be safe and aware of those traveling around them. One motto of many motorcycle enthusiasts is “Look Twice, Save A Life”, and this is a saying that safety officials can get behind.

“While people are on the roads this weekend they just need to stay more alert and maybe look twice. It doesn’t hurt to keep your head on a swivel and just be extra aware of your surroundings as we see more travelers through the state this weekend,” Said Kiera Grogan, the Public Information Officer for the Natrona County Sheriffs department.

The rally lasts two weeks and some folks are expecting that there may be over 750,000 people in attendance. Even with COVID pandemic causing some folks to stay home from the rally last year there were still over 500,00 riders who turned out. This means that Wyoming citizens will not only have to look out for riders in the time before the rally begins, but also when riders head home from South Dakota.

“When they’re done at Sturgis they’ll be coming back to travel through here to go back home so just over these next couple weeks stay extra alert of motorcyclists on the road. Take your time, slow down, leave some extra space, and just be mindful of your fellow passengers that are on the roadways,” Kiera said.

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