As organizers and vendors put the final touches on Virginia Street, police are also preparing for the country's fourth largest motorcycle event. Organizers are expecting more than 30,000 motorcycle enthusiasts to visit Reno during the 5-day event.
"Everybody is usually in a real good mood. Everybody really likes to come out to see the bikes. They enjoy the city of Reno. Everybody usually has a good time and it's a great event," says Reno Sgt. Joe Robinson.
Police say the goal is to keep the peace -- especially between outlaw motorcycle clubs -- hoping to prevent problems like the shootout between two rival clubs at John Ascuaga's Nugget two years ago.
The brawl left two Vagos members wounded -- and a Hells Angels chapter president dead.
"Ever since the 2011 incident and other incidents that have occurred at motorcycle rallies across the nation, we definitely up our police presence, out here. We want the event to be safe for everybody that comes."
That means many officers are working overtime during the event.
But they're also getting other help.
"We have a lot of community partners that help us out. All the casino security make a bigger team with our police department team to make the event as safe as it possibly can be."
Motorcyclists come from all over the country for this event -- and many might not be familiar with riding in Nevada.
"A lot of times, other states have different laws than we do and they don't know about those laws until they make contact with the police in some sort of way and then we are able to educate them on some of the laws that we have that they may not be following," says Trooper David Gibson.
The large amount of motorcyclists coming into northern Nevada also means more traffic on our roads.
That's why law enforcement is asking drivers to pay attention.
"We should always be looking everywhere on the highways, surface streets, intersections, anywhere else because sometimes, whenever motorcycles are on the roadways, they're not easily seen."
Officials say it's important for drivers to check their blind spots and avoid distractions like cell phones and GPSs.
And they say if you see one motorcycle -- expect to see a few more traveling with them.
For a complete schedule of events at this year's Street Vibrations, click here.
Written by Paul Nelson
