STURGIS, S.D.

— Tens of thousands of motorcyclists roared into the western

South Dakota community of Sturgis on Friday, lining Main Street from end to
end, for the start of an annual rally that kicked off despite objections from
residents and with little regard for a public health emergency ravaging the world.
It could have been any other past summer rally in Sturgis, with herds of
recreational vehicles, bikers and classic cars converging for the Sturgis
Motorcycle Rally, a 10-day affair that was expected to attract roughly 250,000
enthusiasts this year — about half the number who attended last year but a figure
that puts it on track to be among the country’s largest public gatherings since the
first coronavirus cases emerged in the spring.
Save for a few hard-to-spot hand-sanitizer stations, it could have been any other
major festival in pre-pandemic times.
“Screw COVID I went to Sturgis,” read a black T-shirt amid a sea of Harley-
Davidson and Trump 2020 outfits sported by the throng of people walking along
Main Street. Their gear did not include face masks, and social distancing
guidelines were completely ignored.
South Dakota is among several states that did not put in place a lockdown, and
state officials have not required residents to wear masks, giving attendees who
rode in from outside the state fewer restrictions than they may have had back
home.
Attendance Friday was on par with previous years, said Dan Ainslie, city manager
for Sturgis.
“It’s kind of like a typical rally,” Ainslie said of the number of people coming
into town, “and the crowds are still building.”
Indeed, fears that the rally could be a potential superspreader event did not appear
to scare riders from attending. Bikers flocked to tents featuring tattoo artists,
apparel, gear and food.
Health experts say the coronavirus is less likely to spread outdoors, especially
when people wear masks and socially distance. But large gatherings like the
motorcycle rally also increase the number of visitors inside restaurants and stores.
A few businesses in Sturgis put up signs limiting the number of customers who
could enter, but most did not.
Over the past week, there has been an average of 84 coronavirus cases per day in
South Dakota, a 31% increase over the previous two weeks. At least four new
virus deaths and 105 new cases were reported Thursday.
Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, encouraged people to attend the rally in an
interview on Fox News on Wednesday night, saying the state had successfully
hosted other large events — including a Fourth of July celebration at Mount
Rushmore that President Donald Trump attended — without seeing a direct
increase in virus cases. Plus, she said, the state’s economy benefits when people
visit.
The state’s Department of Tourism has estimated that the annual festival
generates about $800 million in revenue.

The rally, which has taken place every summer in Sturgis since 1938, commenced
amid strong objections from residents. In a city-sponsored survey, more than 60%
of the nearly 7,000 residents favored postponing the event.
Little could be done to stop the event, said Doreen Allison Creed, the Meade
County commissioner who represents Sturgis. Creed said the county lacked the
authority to shut down the rally because much of it takes place on state-licensed
campgrounds.
When it became clear that it would go on as planned, the city said in a news
release that changes would be made to safeguard residents from the coronavirus,
including adding hand-sanitizing stations to the downtown area. The city plans to
offer coronavirus testing for its residents once the rally concludes Aug. 16.
While the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines do
not suggest a specific limit for the number of attendees at gatherings or
community events, they encourage organizers to maintain a capacity conducive to
reducing the spread of the virus. The agency encourages people to socially
distance at 6 feet apart and wear masks.
“Attendees will be asked to be respectful of the community concerns by
practicing social distancing and taking personal responsibility for their health by
following CDC guidelines,” the news release said.
But Friday, throngs of ralliers parked their bikes and walked shoulder to shoulder
along the downtown streets, nary a mask in sight. Police officers stationed at the
intersections also were not wearing masks.
Bruce Labsa, 66, drove from North Carolina last week to be among the first in
town. This was the first year he would be able to attend the rally since retiring,
and he did not want to miss it. On Friday, he was not wearing a mask, and he said
he had no concerns about catching the coronavirus.
“I don’t know anyone who’s had it,” Labsa said.
Amy Svoboda, 27, who was working in a women’s apparel shop for bikers called
One Sexy Biker Chick, said Friday’s crowd of shoppers had been steady. She said
she didn’t know what to expect but was happy to see people turning out.
“We are allowed to make our own choices,” she said, “if we get it, we chose to be
here.”
Still, Nelson Horsley, 26, of Rapid City, South Dakota, said he expects there will
be a rise in coronavirus cases in the area once the rally concludes next weekend.
But he said he didn’t feel the need to wear a mask while walking around
downtown Friday afternoon. He compared the virus to getting the seasonal flu.
“I haven’t seen anyone out here wear a mask, so it kind of feels like it defeats the
purpose,” he said, to wear a mask himself.
While most residents opposed the rally, some offered their front yards as
campsites for bikers who were unable to find a hotel room. But many others said
they were worried about the effect the rally would eventually have on the small
community.
Among those was Patricia Viator, 64, who has lived in Sturgis for 16 years. She
said she became resigned to the fact that there was nothing residents could do to
keep thousands of bikers from coming to the city. She said she’s worried for her
family and the town, and she takes several precautions when leaving her house,
including wearing a mask.