Jun 17, 2006 12:01 pm US/Eastern
N.H. Bike Week Business Not Booming
LACONIA, N.H. (AP) ―
Bike Week remains a popular event but won't be setting any attendance records this year, organizers say.
Charlie St. Clair, executive director of the Laconia Motorcycle Week Association, said soaring gas prices and the shaky economy explain why fewer bikers are coming and why there are still vacancies at area lodging establishments.
Meanwhile vendors are reporting that business is down.
"They're looking, not buying," said vendor Ted Whipple.
St. Clair said the problem is not unique to Bike Week, adding this appears to a trend at other rallies and motorcycle events across the country.
"I expected this year to be flat and we would be very happy with whatever we get," he said.
By outward appearances, there are plenty of bikers crowding the Weirs section of Laconia but "certainly not higher than other years," said police Capt. Tim Cavanaugh, who has policed 28 Bike Weeks.
Estimating attendance is always problematic but in 2005, it was estimated that some 350,000-400,000 people attended the rally statewide.
This year's festivities have been marred by several fatal crashes believed related to people coming to or leaving Bike Week.
Entering the final weekend of this year's event, nine motorcycle fatalities had been reported.
Early Saturday, a Connecticut biker died coming around a curve in Dorchester, hitting a tree.
The week started with news of three motorcyclists who died in Stoddard on their way to Laconia after one rider crossed the yellow line and hit a Jeep Cherokee that lost control and rolled into several motorcycles traveling in a group.
Cavanaugh said locally, police have been busy with alcohol-related problems as usual but those have been "kept to a minimum," he said.
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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