ATV vs. Dirtbike Impact

 I found this interesting: from another forum, while discussing the ATV
vs. Dirtbike damage issue.  Note: MOST of the trail networks in NH
have been designated "ATV Only" over the last couple of years (banning
dirtbikes) - landowners can give specific premission to ATVs,
dirtbikes, and/or snowmobiles when filling out the club forms, and
evidently a lot don't check the "dirtbike" box.

JayC

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For what it's worth;
I am and avid dirt bike rider and also don't like the idea of being
associated with ATV's but I have to comment on your statement about
atv's vs. dirt bikes and land damage. I was always of the belief that
dirt bikes did less damage to the earth than atv's until I rode the
NECC hare scramble in Ashford last fall. It was a virgin course on
which quads were raced on Saturday (in the pouring rain) and bikes
raced on Sunday - same course. My first thoughts as we were completing
or first lap on Sunday was "this place didn't get as torn up as I
would have expected by the quads". My thoughts on the last lap of the
bike race were "wow I can't believe how much we tore this place up".
As we completed the race I discussed my observations with one of the
organizers and his response to me was "I guess this answers the
question about whether bikes or atv's do more damage". If I hadn't
seen it with my own eyes I never would have believed it either.

 
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Contrary to what I've seen, but my sample size is 3 or 4
harescrambles

I know for casual trailriding (even at a spirited pace) bikes have
less impact than qwuads.

Every turn kwuuuads churn the dirt, bikes don't unless someone is
really rippen. But even then, its still less gouging on the terrain
I've seen in CT, MD and various places in NY.


Trails in NH are qwad only, bikes not allowed? That's an unacceptable
situation.

 Good thing I don't live there, I'd ride 'em anyway and get in
trouble. Assuming anyone on a kwaaaad could catch me.


DDave

 
I agree completely - this is my impression too.


It's a recent phenominon.  I recently heard of somewhat popular trails
in Maine that are on a power-company's land (never been there).  That
company doesn't want dirtbikes anymore, although in that case I think
it's for perceived liability.  Those trails turned ATV-only last
year.  All of the trails in the North Country of NH are on at least
partially on land owned by paper companies, and they have the same
position.

It's all about the landowner's wishes.  All trails in NH are 'owned'
by private clubs.The clubs obtain landowner permission to establish
trail networks and maintain the trails, and members can ride them w/o
having to get permission on their own.  The state recognises these
clubs, and provides trail maintanence funding to the clubs, etc.  The
clubs permission form that we landowners sign has 3 check boxes - ATV,
dirtbike, and snowmobile.  If a single landowner on a loop doesn't
check off the dirtbike box, that loop becomes a de-facto ATV-only
loop.  The state then puts this designation on the trail maps.

In the spirit of grand irony, the trail network that goes through my
land has recently been designated ATV only by the ATV club that runs
the area.  I'm riding my bikes anyway, and if anyone dares to give me
shit about it, I'm going to shut off my land to the club, which will
eliminate a substantial portion of the trail network.  Re-opening will
be contingent upon securing dirtbike permission from whomever didn't
check that damned box.


It's the same theory I use when riding here in town.  It's all totally
illegal, but the police ride utility ATVs.  Stupid bastards use the
same techniques as in a car - they hide in the bushes, then pull out
when you go by and chase you down from behind.  It's not that I'll
run, I'll simply never even know that they were behind me.  I've never
seen a police ATV out there, but for all I know, I've been chased a
hundred times already ;).

Mostly, you'll just run into some ATV club member volunteer wearing an
orange "Trail Patrol" vest.  He/she might give you a rash of shit
about not being allowed there and tell you to leave, at which point
the elequent response is "Fuck off, 4-wheeled scum!", then roost the
piss out of them.  Sure, that might be considered over-the-top polite,
but call me old-fashioned.

Many may start flaming with the old "attitudes like that give
dirtbikes a bad name" crap, but I'm all done trying to follow the
rules around here.  I stopped registering my family's OHRV back in the
'02-03 timeframe, when I stopped riding frequently.  'The Boy' rides
every weekend at least, and I plan to do a whole lot more starting
this coming season, hopefully with an occasional daughter and/or wife
coming along.  When I do go out, while I find it uncomfortable to ride
on illegal land, I do it anyway.  The fact is, even though I'm not a
fast rider, I'm plenty fast enough that it's impossible to catch me.
If I do run smack into a patrol vehicle and get bagged, I'll just pay
the $110 non-registered-OHRV ticket and the $60 trespassing ticket,
then show back up the next weekend anyway.  This year, I have 5 bikes
and an ATV that are ridden regularly enough for registration - at
registration costs of roughly $280/year.  I'm to the good about $1000
so far, plus another $280 for this coming season.  That covers a lot
of tickets before I even break even.  Pththththththth.

JayC

 
I'm a little ( a little, not much) less pissed-off that its a club
thing, vs. public-land trails.

Of course, it also means the penalty for getting caught is less.

DDave

 A++++

Good job blackmailing them into exercising common sense.

While fully admitting our bigotry, it only makes sense to have a
heirarchical usage system.  A network designed for a certain size vehicle,
should allow any smaller vehicle to use the trail.  Are they also banning
hikers and mountain bikes?

When you talk to them, I would be interested in hearing their reasons for
banning motorcycles.  Are they just bitter, jealous, or is the issue related
to speed differences?

-Jeff-



I agree completely - this is my impression too.


It's a recent phenominon.  I recently heard of somewhat popular trails
in Maine that are on a power-company's land (never been there).  That
company doesn't want dirtbikes anymore, although in that case I think
it's for perceived liability.  Those trails turned ATV-only last
year.  All of the trails in the North Country of NH are on at least
partially on land owned by paper companies, and they have the same
position.

It's all about the landowner's wishes.  All trails in NH are 'owned'
by private clubs.The clubs obtain landowner permission to establish
trail networks and maintain the trails, and members can ride them w/o
having to get permission on their own.  The state recognises these
clubs, and provides trail maintanence funding to the clubs, etc.  The
clubs permission form that we landowners sign has 3 check boxes - ATV,
dirtbike, and snowmobile.  If a single landowner on a loop doesn't
check off the dirtbike box, that loop becomes a de-facto ATV-only
loop.  The state then puts this designation on the trail maps.

In the spirit of grand irony, the trail network that goes through my
land has recently been designated ATV only by the ATV club that runs
the area.  I'm riding my bikes anyway, and if anyone dares to give me
shit about it, I'm going to shut off my land to the club, which will
eliminate a substantial portion of the trail network.  Re-opening will
be contingent upon securing dirtbike permission from whomever didn't
check that damned box.


It's the same theory I use when riding here in town.  It's all totally
illegal, but the police ride utility ATVs.  Stupid bastards use the
same techniques as in a car - they hide in the bushes, then pull out
when you go by and chase you down from behind.  It's not that I'll
run, I'll simply never even know that they were behind me.  I've never
seen a police ATV out there, but for all I know, I've been chased a
hundred times already ;).

Mostly, you'll just run into some ATV club member volunteer wearing an
orange "Trail Patrol" vest.  He/she might give you a rash of shit
about not being allowed there and tell you to leave, at which point
the elequent response is "Fuck off, 4-wheeled scum!", then roost the
piss out of them.  Sure, that might be considered over-the-top polite,
but call me old-fashioned.

Many may start flaming with the old "attitudes like that give
dirtbikes a bad name" crap, but I'm all done trying to follow the
rules around here.  I stopped registering my family's OHRV back in the
'02-03 timeframe, when I stopped riding frequently.  'The Boy' rides
every weekend at least, and I plan to do a whole lot more starting
this coming season, hopefully with an occasional daughter and/or wife
coming along.  When I do go out, while I find it uncomfortable to ride
on illegal land, I do it anyway.  The fact is, even though I'm not a
fast rider, I'm plenty fast enough that it's impossible to catch me.
If I do run smack into a patrol vehicle and get bagged, I'll just pay
the $110 non-registered-OHRV ticket and the $60 trespassing ticket,
then show back up the next weekend anyway.  This year, I have 5 bikes
and an ATV that are ridden regularly enough for registration - at
registration costs of roughly $280/year.  I'm to the good about $1000
so far, plus another $280 for this coming season.  That covers a lot
of tickets before I even break even.  Pththththththth.

JayC