LACONIA, N.H. (WCAX) – Tens of thousands of riders are headed to New Hampshire. The 101st Laconia Motorcycle Week is well underway and 300,000 people are expected to show up in the Granite State this week.
The sights and sounds of Motorcycle Week fill the boardwalk at Weirs Beach every year. The rally draws people from all over the country.
Vermonter Chuck Vajda has been coming for the last two decades. “It’s just amazing how many things you can do with two wheels, a seat, and a set of handle bars,” Vajda said.
The annual event, showcasing those machines is known as a rally for those who like to ride with guided tours all over the region. “The windy roads, the scenery when you get up to the top of the mountains and the vista, it’s beautiful. You don’t get that anywhere else,” said Melissa DeLuca of Connecticut.
Laconia’s bike week is the oldest motorcycle rally in the country, and if you look around, it appears to be attracting an older crowd. “It’s aging with the people,’ DeLuca joked.
Matthew Welch, a 25-year-old, is likely one of the younger rally-goers this year. “Really, just to see all the cool bikes,” Welch said. He and his wife traveled from Maine. It’s their 3rd year. “I know at least where I live, there are a few young people who are riding a lot more sport bikes a lot less cruisers nowadays.”
These days, more three-wheeled, or “trike” style bikes, are seen on the streets of Laconia. Organizers say weekends are typically when the next generation of riders show up. “When you are in your 20s and 30s, it is hard to get a whole week off of work and it’s also a very expensive passion,” said Laconia Motorcycle Week director Charlie St. Clair. No matter the age, his message for everyone remains the same. “Watch out for each other on the roads and stay safe.”
According to the New Hampshire Department of Safety, fatal motorcycle accidents in the Granite State are already up 42% this year. A reminder for everyone about the dangers and the importance of sharing the road.