Motorcyclists aren’t known for their caution, so it comes as no surprise that 250,000 riders were expected to gun it to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally between Aug. 7 and Aug. 16 this year, coronavirus be damned. This year marks the 80th convergence of tough guys (and gals) with leather, tattoos, and bad hair to spare in South Dakota.
This super-spreader event angered local residents – more than 60 percent of them voted against the rally but the city council approved it anyway. The fear was not unfounded; early images of the event showed streets packed with bikes, bars teeming with people, and hardly a face mask in sight. Ride or die, indeed.
We wish we could just pass this off as natural selection, and let these Covidiots suffer the consequences of their recklessness, but the rub with coronavirus is that all it takes is one irresponsible asshole to infect whole swaths of people, even those practicing social distancing and diligently wearing masks. Because these bikers come from all over the country, the potential for them to take home more than a few good memories, a harsh hangover, and a MAGA hat is high.
We can only hope that, if worse comes to worst, what unfolds can be used for a Kurt Sutter spinoff.
Cover Photo: BRYAN R. SMITH / Contributor (Getty Images)
Steer clear: 10 Kinds of Shoppers You’ll Encounter (And Who Will Annoy the Hell Out of You) During the Coronavirus Pandemic
MORE NEWS:
Not-so-secret: 10 Ways to Tell One of Your Friends Has Coronavirus (But Isn’t Telling You)
Visit the Mandatory Shop for great deals on your very own Mandatory merch.
Follow Mandatory on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Mandatory Good News 6 12 20
-
Mandatory Inspire: Celebrities Who Stand Up to Help the Black Community in Wake of George Floyd
-
LeBron James Joins Other Black Athletes, Entertainers to Form Voting Rights Group
-
The Mandatory Guide to Being a Supportive White Guy
-
The Pride Community Teams Up With Black Lives Matter For Ultimate Power Punch, Lord Help You If You’re Not a Supporter
-
Breweries Collaborate on 'Black Is Beautiful' Brew (And the Best Black-Owned Breweries to Patronize Right Now)
-
Trevor Noah’s ‘Between the Scenes’ Video Explaining Black Reparations to a White Man Will Clear Everything Up For You
-
Loving Dad Plays Food Critic to Baby Daughter’s Play Kitchen, Supports Local Black Business