Riding Common Sense and Courtousy. Thoughts?

[Louis Mielke]

Hey everyone. I just read a really disheartening article in 4 wheeling magazine (trucks & jeeps) about ATV and dirt bike riders being ignorant and discourteous to other trail users. The article also talked about how ATVs and bikes are getting banned from more and more places. I guess I wanted to start this thread to get a discusion about riding courteousy and sharing the trails/ riding areas with other outdoors enthusiasts. I hope this doesn't step on any toes but I really think we need to try and make people aware, and teach the younger generations the proper way to have fun without causing trouble.

If we don't do something now, there won't be anywhere to ride eventually. Worse yet, atvs and dirt bikes maybe become highly regulated. Insurance and licneses and stuff like that.


To get this thing started I want to list a few things I regularly practice. Please add anything you like in following posts.

1. Do not trespass. Getting permission to ride somewhere is always a good idea.

2. Stick to the trails and don't cause excessive destruction.

Be courteous this includes things like:

3.Shut off your machines when people on horses, or other animals pass by.

4.Don't follow too closely to other riders, this prevents wrecks and prevents painful injury from roost.

5.Don't roost in peoples faces on purpose because "its funny" this is very dangerous.

5. Wear helmets and protective gear.

6. Riders traveling up hill have the right of way. This is very important as its harder heading up hill than down hill.

7. Be aware and reduce your speed if your riding on a trail that regularly hosts ridders going both directions.

8. Stay off of public roads and highways. Not only is it very unsafe but its illegal in alot of states.

9. Be aware of noise levels. Running through areas very close to people and neighborhoods may seem fun and you may think your cool but it will only get more and more riding areas shut down.

10. Straight pipes and loud exhaust is not cool, and does not give you more horse power. It only makes people angry and more than often gets the police invloved in your riding. Worn out or wrong exhaust can actaully detract from performance. Think twice before cutting off that muffler or buying the loudest exhaust you can.

Everytime I read about or hear someone saying "I want the loudest exhaust I can get" makes me so freakin mad.


And in my oppinion number one thing to do to keep atving safe is to
DO NOT HAVE AN IGNORANT "I DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYONE BUT ME" ATTITUDE! This is ignorant and people with this attitude arn't cool, aren't 'extreme" or anything like that. THey are assholes who ruin things for other people.


I know alot of people live out in the country or have there own property but for us that don't have alot of our own area to ride in, we need to help keeps areas open for others. If being cool, or having so called "fun" is worth getting atvs outlawed then i don't wanna have "fun".

Sorry about the rant but i feel very strongly about this and want to create an awareness. Please post anything you'd like to add or constructive critisism. Thanks.

[Quickonstep]

around here, its hard to find a place to ride becuase of people throwin there trash and **** down on the ground... but one thing that you said, just doesnt make any sence

"2. Stick to the trails and don't cause excessive distruction."

you say dont cause excessive distruction.. that dont make sense, DONT CAUSE ANY DESTRUCTION!!!!!!!!!!!!! thats why all the good places are burned up.

Jesse

[Louis Mielke]

I guess it does need some clarification. Running off the trails, creating redunant trails. This is kinda a blanket statement. Its kinda like, don't tear *** through a section of woods where no trail exsists just because you feel like it. Don't run through the middle of the grassy field when theres already a nice trail around it. Destroying crops, wildlife habitat, flowers, running over trees for the hell of it. Unconstructive things. Alot of people would consider even creating a trail as destruction to nature. So I guess exsesive destruction is kinda like creating redunant trails and rutts and etc. Its open to interpretation and depends on where you are at the time, what the area is like. That kinda thing.

The litter comment is great! Definatly a biggie. Don't leave your trash in the trails!

Please anyone that wants join the threat. Thanks!

PS..Sorry about any spelling mistakes.

[AirDonk]

I would have to agree with everything you have written, except for 3 things. Where i live exploring and making new tracks if half the fun, so i disagree with sticking to the tracks causeing excessive distruction.

I also disagree with point 3, in a certain spot in which we ride it is basically an unofficial moto cross track and i am sick and tired of people riding their horses over it when there are about 20 moto bikes/ATV's on it, in that situation the onus of responsibility is on them. I mean i wouldn't ride my R at my local pony club on a busy day!!!

Any thirdly, when on the beach, we love to roost the crap out of each other, nothing bad can really come of that provided you have protective eye wear on (which we all do).

But i guess this dedate really comes down to the the terrain and the situation in which you are riding. I can only comment on my local riding spots and what i deem safe in it. But i can see how, for example, roosting someone on gravel could be very dangerous as flying rocks can really do some damage.

[CHAINSAW]

Ive been on the dunes around this area since I was a kid. Ive seen it change each year, and it keeps getting worse.

You guys all talked about the trails and stuff, but its the same way in the campgrounds. People camp a day or two, but leave behind a weeks worth of trash. It used to be people would try to pick up after themselves, but anymore, its like no one cares.
Also common courtesy at night. The dunes I go to, you can ride all night long. But there is always some A hole right next to me, that thinks he needs to work on his straight piped Raptor at 3:00 in the morning. After an hour of rapping it up every 2 seconds he decides he cant get it running, so he turns his stereo up in his truck and thinks everyone wants to hear it. And its not like the old days, where you could walk over and ask the guy to turn it down and he would. Anymore you walk over, and the guy is gonna start a fight with you, or vandalise your stuff during the day when your riding, and he is trying to sleep.

Offroading is bigger then it has ever been. If some of the sour apples out there don't straighten up, its gonna be where someday no one can ride anywhere.

[AirDonk]

Yes, litter is something that really annoys me to. I live about half an hour away from the best sand dunes in the southern hemisphere (some have said the world) and people come from all over the world just to see them (we have helped out many brits and americans who have lost there way) thats how extensive these dunes are. And it really s**ts me when i see locals leaving litter behind, i mean how hard is it to simply put it in your camel back and take it with you. If people like that want to do that, why not go roost up your local rubbish tip.

[Louis Mielke]

Airdonk, you are totally right about the horses on the MX track. They have no business being there if it's predominantly bikes & atvs. I more or less ment if for the situation where there are trails that are commonly shared with horses, hiking, bicyclists, camping, trucks, jeeps, etc.

As you said the situation is defined by the location.
Generally the key is courtesy to others.

Something else I thought of is that everyone needs to relise that everyone rides at different levels, from beginner to advanced. The veteran riders definatly need to strive to teach beginners and newbies the right way to ride instead of putting them down for being newbies. We need to be united instead of divided. ...Boy that sounds goofy.....lol

[Trikeaholic]

there are so many a-holes in this "sport" its not even enjoyable any more, really. The biggest thing that pees me off is the dirt-bags, and you know who you are.

[mwill15]

I remember riding at sandbars along the miss. river when I was younger. These great places to ride are all owned by the huge plants that line the river where I live. It used to be, that no one cared if you rode there; not anymore. Now that everyone is so quick to bring on lawsuits, the plants don't want you on their property anymore. I think it sucks that one or two people can completely ruin everyone else's ridding experience.

[Maine_Triker]

2. Stick to the trails and don't cause excessive destruction.

100% on. There are way to many trails being closed around here because landowners have damage to there land.

Also, most of those quidelines should also go for sleds.

[Billy Golightly]

No doubt there should be some rules of riding, however I think 99% of it is just common sense stuff. These people were not taught it when they were young and it is a very slim chance they will ever learn it. Pretty sad actually.

[CHAINSAW]

I agree with Billy.. 70% of the people in the sport now, went down to the dealer and bought a brand new machine and think they are instant pro's. Every person who I have met that has ridden since they were a kid, know the unspoken code of conduct for ATV/ATC riders. Its these yuppie douchbags hording in that are ruining it.

[TTribaLL]

Obviously none of you live in Alberta

[Mobular]

"3.Shut off your machines when people on horses, or other animals pass by."

Let's not forget about the hikers and bicyclists too! At least slow it down to a respectable speed. Show them some courtesy, and it may reflect back upon you!

[OldSchoolin86]

When I was younger(much younger) my friends and I cut a lot of new trails to connect all of our own trails together. Being that we lived miles from each other we had to go on a lot of other peoples land. We found out very quickly that if you could present yourself in a respectful manner and propose a good plan to the land owner they usualy wouldn't mind if we used the side of a field or an old logging road to get through.

The most important word I just used was respectful. If you can give people the respect they deserve, you can really do a lot more than you think. It takes a little courage to go up to a strangers house to introduce yourself and ask permission. This is something I just don't see kids doing anymore. Sure you'll get turned down from time to time but atleast when they see you or anyone else in the sport they will know that their is good people involved.