Posted 8 months, 18 days ago in 
3 votes. Average 3.33/5
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In reply to Janis Thompson, the answer is, yes we care. That’s why public land is being closed to the use of motorized vehicles for access. I live close to public land and am appalled by the damage from ATVs, dirt bikers and mud boggers. Look in the mirror, Janis. It’s not liberals that are causing widespread closures to motorized users; it’s the motorized users themselves.
Your statement that, ”The more areas and roads that are closed off, the more congested and damaged the remainder becomes, which our liberal friends will use to justify more closures”, is excellent. The key word here is damaged. I’m sure you can see all the new roads being made up steep slopes, with resulting erosion and loss of vegetation and invasion by weeds.
Just because it’s public land does not give motorized users the right to physically destroy it. Can you honestly say you’ve never driven off road with your ATV? Have you ever reported people who do? Have you ever pushed for harsher penalties for those who do? Until you can answer yes to these questions, you have no right to complain.
At 69, with two bad knees, I am one of the seniors you refer to and feel qualified to reply to you. Yes it’s a lot easier to jump on an ATV and ride where you want to go. But other than the ride what did you gain? You’re so busy watching where you drive so you don’t wreck, you don’t see anything else on the way. Yes I can’t hike anywhere near what I used to be able to do. But I can see more on a short hike than you do on an all day ride.
BOB ELDERKIN
Silt, CO
10 Responses to “ATV problems”
Posted March 7th, 2008 at 9:08 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
So where exactly do you expect people to ride thier ATV’s? And before you as, NO I dont own one, but if not on public land, then where?
Posted March 8th, 2008 at 7:56 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
I would say that based on what you perceive as damage then most dirt and gravel roads anywhere in the mountains should be closed. Heve you ever gone to the mountains during hunting season? when its been raining and snowing? And every 4X4 truck up there is chained up digging ruts? ATV’s cause little to no damage compared to any other vehicle or mode of transportation. Maybe we should ban full size vehicles, horses, cows and bycycles.
To be claiming you do not see sights while on an ATV simply shows you ignorance of riding.
And Bob, just because you are content at 69 to walk a short ways does not mean others are capable. I personally know ATV riders with one leg, with Muscular Dystropy, paralized from the waist down and other didabilities that do not allow them to hike more than a couple hundred yards at best.
You should concentrate on working together and sharing public land for the benefit of future generations.
Posted March 8th, 2008 at 2:10 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
To claim that ATV’s “cause little to no damage compared to any other vehicle or mode of transportation” really weakens your argument. This is a ridiculous statement that serves to reinforce the FACT that ATVs do cause damage that can be avoided.
To try to make this a ‘ban all or nothing’ argument also is a ridiculous position. These are the sorts of positions that make ATV users look really bad and give support to those that want to ban ATVs completely.
It would be a lot better for all of us if you admitted that ATVs do cause damage and then we can work towards solutions that will minimize the damage while still allowing for responsible use.
(By the way, less than 5% of ATV riders in the US have a disability. This is another weak argument that make ATV riders look selfish. You aren’t really looking for solutions for the disabled. You are just looking out for yourself and grasping at any argument you can find.)
(And yes, I am an occasional ATV rider, especially when I have a lot of gear to get out to a remote site. I am never happier than when I can kill that noisy bugger and get off and walk and listen and look.)
Posted March 8th, 2008 at 2:37 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
I said little or no damage compared to full size vehicles or other modes of transportation and yes I stand by that because it is true. It may weaken your argument but the facts are on my side.
ATV users will look bad to some people no matter what they do or how they are used. You sir are not the kind of person that has any interest in finding solutins that will minimize the damage while still allowing for responsible use.
It is true that ATV’s “can” cause damage, that is if the operator directs it to ,which of course you probably beleive to be most of the time.
I could care less what the “pecentage” of disabled ATV riders may be. Pay attention Bruce, I said I know personally people in that condition and you have no right telling them they are not entitled to go somewhere because it may offend you. As for selfishness, not hardly, as almost all ATV users are willing to share routes with other users. That cannot be said by the Environmentalists and a large share of mountain bikers.
Posted March 9th, 2008 at 1:47 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
I can see points all of you have made, suck up your pride all of you. You all have good points. No one is completely right. Look there are people out there that abuse things. There are going to be atv riders that will abuse their riding areas, however banning them is not the answer either because I do believe in fun and freedom. Give riders quality riding areas, give hikers quality hiking areas, give mountain bikers quality riding areas. The point is we all have seperate things that each consider fun and enjoyable, that is the beauty of freedom and the uniqueness of each human, therefore we all have to SHARE, I know… sharing… that’s a hard concept for americans. We can’t have it just one persons way, just because you don’t like atv’s doesn’t give you the right to ban it, that is the beauty of freedom, we all like different things and have that right to. We all have to share this world. People quit pushing your private agendas, likes and dislikes, ideas and opnions on eachother. We have to respect eachother, were not all going to like the samethings but we do need to respect everyone and everything. Just because you thinks that’s how it should be doesn’t make it right or wrong. Humans need to be more open minded!!!!!!! Not being is our down fall………..
Posted March 9th, 2008 at 11:49 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
Rexall,
Please read what I actually wrote and don’t try to be an amateur psychoanalyst by trying to tell me what I believe. (I would suggest reading what cov27 wrote first)
As a reminder, you wrote that ATVs “cause little to no damage compared to any other vehicle or mode of transportation.” Given that walking, biking, x-country skiing, etc. are all “modes of transportation,” your comment is false. Facts are facts. They are not on anyone’s side. If you had restricted yourself to comparing ATVs to motorized modes of transportation, I would find it a lot easier to agree with you.
And I do have an interest in finding solutions. I think there are appropriate times and places for ATVs on our public lands. However, I had a soil scientist and a botanist point out evidence of damage that I was too unskilled to see on my own. The damage is undeniable. We must work TOGETHER to find solutions that work for all of us (at least most of the time!).
I wish you would have been more careful in reading my comments. I never said those with disabilities shouldn’t be allowed to go places on ATVs. I did say that this argument does not hold much sway. This argument does not support subsidizing any able-bodied person’s sense of ATV-entitlement. So, rather than getting defensive and pretending you can divine what others believe, we need to work together to make sure that those with disabilities are not shut out while also recognizing that even the most fit person is not allowed to enter some areas.
As for “sharing” routes: when I am walking, I know I am “sharing” with ATV riders even when they are over a half mile away since I can hear them. When I am riding an ATV, I am not aware of whether I am “sharing” unless I encounter someone on the trail. This is kind of an unbalanced concept of “sharing” don’t you agree? It does not make you appear noble at all and just highlights another weakness of your all or nothing arguments.
Respect.
Posted March 9th, 2008 at 4:21 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Hey Bruce, has anyone ever told you your a little bit different?
Soil scientist and botanist? Give me a break!!
Recognizing that even the most fit person is not allowed to enter some areas? Give me a break!!! Public land is for the public, if you want to make some private land closed to all beings knock yourself out!
Your concept of sharing is a bit odd too. Sharing begins at the public meetings when we go through the process to define routes. Those are the same meetings where the enviros say they don’t want to share and would rather see areas closed to walk in only or not at all.
Posted March 9th, 2008 at 5:33 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
“So where exactly do you expect people to ride thier ATV’s?” Why is that my problem? I don’t care if they don’t have a place to ride. They can go buy some land and tear it up.
Posted March 9th, 2008 at 8:09 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Sullivan, it is your problem because it is PUBLIC land, therefore owned by the PUBLIC. So if you have a problem with it, it is just that, YOUR PROBLEM. Deal with it.
Posted March 9th, 2008 at 8:47 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Hey Bruce86, Here is a perfect example for you with ol sullivan.
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