Off the Road, Out of Line?

All terrain vehicles, the four-wheeled stallions of off-road riders, are again sparking arguments that rumble even louder than the wale coming from their tailpipes. As a Sunday New York Times feature reported, the rise in popularity of ATV use throughout the country continues to cause headaches for public land managers and public land users alike. As more and more ATV riders are turning their wheels onto trails and more and more land is listed as unaccessible to ATV use, the showdown between the two groups looms larger. It's a standoff Outside reported on five years ago in a feature on the loud luxury of a privatized four-wheel-drive preserve. As the federal government tries to create a compromised road map for ATV users on public land, don't be surprised to hear more dust getting kicked up.
--Jason Kerkmans

Comments

[Dane]

quads are safe when used properly
tread lightly and youll live longer
remember 96db is respectable

Dane Palmer
VP LCOR
lakecountyoffroad.org

[Jason W]

Just like with any sport or group of people, you will have obnoxious individuals that are incapable of respect for others or their surroundings. From skiier/snwbrdr's to boaters,mountainbikers, etc.,. It is the individuals responsibilty to have respect for others when out on public land. If there were more areas designated for ATV's, and more places that prohibited them, then maybe a common ground could be obtained.

[dreamwalkn]

off-road motorcycle, ATV, and snowmobile riders, as well as motorboat and jet ski drivers are all speed junkie, lazy, polluting people who, like most smokers, are inconsiderate, self promoting, unwilling to put effort into seeing the outdoors on their own terms, spoiling the environment at the same time. If they would slow down and appreciate the outdoors from their own two feet, two pedaled wheels, arm paddled boat, or a set of skis or snowshoes, they might actually see the little things that make being out in the wild a wonderful experience. I can't count the number of times I've had a backcountry ski or hike, or a day trip in the kayak where I wasn't disturbed, almost endangered, by the speed and exhaust of a snomobile or worrying if a wake of that too close too fast motor boat was going to capsize my wife's kayak.

The average person in this country knows not how to be in the outdoors. A couple of years ago my wife and I visited Arches Nat'l Park. We went on a number of hikes. All the parking areas were packed. Once we were over a half mile from the trailhead we were almost all alone, enjoying the experience.

We all need to be serious in the fight of global warming, one of the first things we can do is to outlaw all recreational gas-powered vehicles and learn to enjoy the outdoors in a more sustainable and earth friendly way...

see this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF_anaVcCXg

[Joe]

Like Chase, I appreciate a good trail run. I also like a good ride on a trail on a quad, snowmobile or in a 4X4.

The motorized vehicles allow you to cover ground much quicker than you can on foot. Many trails are a challenge for the vehicle and there is a bit of an adrenaline rush.

I believe parks should have areas set aside for both groups of users. It is public land and we all pay the taxes for it.

[chase]

My idea of off-roading is lacing up the trail shoes and running the trails, getting away from the noise of motorized vehicles. This isn't a flame or a nasty post, so please don't take it that way, but I'm wondering if someone can explain, what's the fun of driving on the trails? Heck, I HAVE to drive most of the time to shop or get to work. On weekends, especially in the woods, it's the LAST thing I want to do, and I'm even bummed I need to drive just to get to the trails. I don't read vehicular off-road magazines, so I'm not exposed to this other view, probably many of us are not. What is the attraction of driving in the woods vs. just driving to work? I can understand hunters who can't lug a 1,000 pound dead moose out of the woods, sure, you need an atv to haul it out ... but just to ride around? Is it fun?

[Greg]

I was part of the non-profit group Xtreme Habitat (we were mentioned in a NY Times article too!) trying to create park for bmx and mountain bikes, off road vehichles (quads), dirt bikes and a skate park in northern NJ. We worked hard for a couple years but couldn't get access to land to do it. We figured a safe, supervised and legal place was better than letting everyone loose in the woods. These individual sports keep growing and there's no place for these folks to participate. Our old site www.xtremehabitat.org may still be live.
So it goes.