Minn. motorcycle ridership at record high
New numbers from the Department of Public Safety show more than 400,000 licensed motorcycle riders in Minnesota, a record high.
Officials attribute the growth to baby boomers going on two wheels, and high gas prices.
At the same time, motorcycle crashes and deaths have declined. Forty-one riders died last year, compared with a 24-year high of 72 motorcycle deaths in 2008.
Motorcycle safety administrator Bill Shaffer is urging riders to seek safety training.
"The sharper they stay, the less likely they are to crash," he said.
Motorcycle safety training is voluntary in Minnesota. Shaffer says roughly 60 percent of licensed riders get training. Registration can be found online at MotorcycleSafety.org.
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