Biker baby boomers taking over South Dakota

Baby boomers rumbling through South Dakota now outnumber their younger motorcycle comrades, shrugging off sports cars in search of motorized freedom.

[Tom]

"Nearly 39 percent of licensed bikers in South Dakota were 52 or older in 2008, and accounted for just more than 30 percent of the state's motorcycle accidents with 167 crashes, according to the state Department of Public Safety.

In comparison, riders between the ages of 42 and 51 made up nearly 28 percent of the licensed motorcyclists and were in one-fourth of the state's crashes last year. The numbers were smaller for age groups of younger bikers."

Liar, liar, pants on fire! lol

When I actually looked at those numbers, I saw a different story.

- 52 and older - so that means from what 52-72? or perhaps a 20 year age difference.
- 42-51 - they just reduced the age group to 9 years apart

That's possibly over 50% less riders to compare the number of accidents per rider with.

Regardless, the numbers show that the larger percentage of the riders had fewer percentage of the accidents. 39% with 30% vs. 28% with 25%. Notice how they used the "one-fourth" instead of 25%. They did that so that the reader wouldn't make the connection as easily

So, the 52 and over crowd comprised 39% of the riders with 30% of the accidents.
- 30% of the accidents - that's 167 out of the 557 total accidents
While the 42-51 crowd comprised 28% of the riders with 25% of the accidents.
- 25% of the accidents - that's 139 out of the 557 total accidents. Fewer accidents, but not per rider of that age group.

Here's an even better stat. This means that the remaining 33% of the licensed riders which are from 16-42 (an age span of 26 years) had 251 accidents or 45% of the total accidents.
- Hmmm, 33% had 45% of the accidents. Seems like the 16-42 group are the real dangerous riders out there.

The older largest group by percent of riders actually had less accidents per licensed rider of their persepctive group than any of the younger, smaller groups did.

It's an old trick to make numbers say whatever you want them to say instead of what they really say.

Tom

[Forum Poster]

YahBut Tommy, it is still scary! We have a ton of goofball bikers on pedal power and engine powered bikes here in Saint Paul. They hold up traffic in the morning. And they have their pansyass rallies to crowd the streets.

They all should be horsewhipped and their bikes taken and destroyed.

So anyway. It is sure is disturbing news. Where there's smoke, there's fire. By golly, I know!