Motorcycles made their way in and out of Northern Nevada this weekend for Street Vibrations, and as the event went on, there were some crashes on our roads.
Deputies we spoke to in Storey County said each year they expect to see incidents related to Street Vibrations since it's such a popular event, and this year was no different.
This past weekend, they told us they saw almost 11,000 motorcycles enter Virginia City from Friday morning through Sunday evening.
They say there were 210 incidents related to Street Vibrations this year, but only three were minor crashes, and there were no major incidents for them.
Deputies responded to 88 service calls, with 56 traffic stops. They tell us they made seven arrests.
Mike Cullen, the Sheriff for Storey County, said, "Some of it is just presence. We want folks to see the deputies on the grade, see them around town. We have motorcycle officers and a lot more patrol units in the area just for that presence, reminding folks to slow down, be careful, watch them, watch the roadways, and watch for animals and such and be careful."
Deputies tell us Virginia City continues to be a popular place for motorcycles well before and after this event.
They tell us the responsibility for safe riding ultimately falls on the rider.
"It's grown in the last few years and getting a lot more people up here, a lot more visitors on motorcycles, but again, we're kind of a destination for motorcycles. It's nice and beautiful up here, and a good place to ride," said Cullen.
They told us all riders are welcome to participate during this event, but they do share how it can sometimes require a certain level of skill to ride during a busy time.
"There's a lot of curves, a lot of hills, ups and downs, and then you add vehicles, you add more motorcyclists, and it can get a little intimidating. So we just want folks when they're coming to visit. Be careful. Do the speed limit, be cautious, and know your limitations when it comes to riding motorcycles in the mountains,” Cullen told us.
It's still good weather for motorcycle riding, so officers want to continue reminding riders that lane splitting is illegal and to please be as alert as possible when on the road.
