By Alex Lane -

A typically serene morning was transformed by the raw power of scores of bikers making their way through central Amador County last week. Their destination: Street Vibrations in Reno, Nevada, a celebration of “music, metal, and motorcycles.” The annual event is an homage to the biker culture and its emblem, the Harley Davidson motorcycle. The “Biggest Little City in the World” was transformed last weekend by enthusiastic attendees celebrating a longstanding subculture. Amador County is no stranger to motorcyclists. A number of bars and restaurants stretching along Highways 88 and 49 have traditionally welcomed the bikers and their business. While some residents blame the bikers for traffic, increased crime and noise pollution, others welcome them with open arms. “Everyone should be welcome here if they have a dollar in their pocket and want to spend it,” said Martha Perez, Owner of Jose’s Restaurant in Jackson. “We should all welcome each other – that’s the American way.” One Jackson resident believes it is too easy to blame the decay of Jackson’s downtown businesses on transient motorcyclists. “I doubt that someone who can afford a 50,000 dollar bike is going to waste their time committing crimes that jeopardize their freedom to explore the open road,” he said. But local law enforcement still receives complaints of traffic and noise pollution whenever large biker groups pass through the county. According to sheriff’s reports, road blockage and traffic violations are the most common citations given to bikers.