Motorcycle Ridership at Record High Level in Minnesota

State officials say motorcycle ridership in Minnesota is at a record high level.

The Department of Public Safety says there are more than 404,000 licensed operators in the state and nearly 230,000 registered motorcycles.

One of the state’s core traffic safety initiatives is motorcycle safety. Biker deaths account for about 10 percent of Minnesota’s total traffic fatalities annually. Forty-one riders lost their lives last year. That compares with a 24-year high of 72 fatalities in 2008.

The Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center says a majority of fatal motorcycle crashes result from rider error. The center is promoting its training courses to improve a rider’s skill level. Registration can be found online at MotorcycleSafety.org.