Sturgis, South Dakota — The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is underway, and will be for the next week.
Many northwest Iowans and people from every corner of the globe head to the small western South Dakota town on their motorcycles. It began in 1938 and typically draws a half a million people to the town that normally isn’t much bigger than Sheldon. The other 51 weeks of the year, about 7000 people live in Sturgis.
The Jackpine Gypsies motorcycle club started the event all those years ago and still run part of it, but there are a large number of events run by others in sort of a pluralistic endeavor.
Some people stay for the whole festival, plus days on either side, and some just ride up for a day or two. The Iowa DOT is asking people to be aware of motorcycles on the roads, as they aren’t as easy to see as other vehicles, and there are bound to be more of them out there going to and returning from the Sturgis rally.
While helmets are optional in Iowa, officers recommend everyone on a motorcycle wear one, along with other proper riding gear.
