My husband and I finally were able to afford our 2nd very used Polaris Sportsman 500 ($2200). Come to find out it is not legal to double ride with our 2 young kids. We have hardly any babysitting help or mich family so no where they can go while we ride. Does anyone break this rule? How strict do they enforce it. We would be going very slow 10-15 mph on flat terrain/dirt roads/easy trails with helmets of course. Is it a horrible idea? It seems so harmless. I mean I suppose you could get hit...but so could you riding a bike. We are in Michigan.

 

You can't legislate common sense. I see lots of folks here in Maine get nailed for the 2 up passenger not wearing a helmet. It's ok on a motorcycle that goes on the highway. Heck, when I was a kid, grew up on a farm, I was driving big farm trucks, etc at 6 years old. I remember driving 15 miles with a giant load of hay on a 2 ton flat bed 1940 Chevy . Nobody thought a thing about it. Now, they can't wait to get the kids hooked on Ritalin. I digress. I'd put helmets on em, ride slow, teach em safety, deal with the law if they complain.

 

I've been riding with young kids on my machine for years, never been hassled so long as you're driving safely and they have their gear on. It's is very common around here (in NH). There is nothing wrong with brining kids for a ride....this country is out of control with morons making laws.

That said, I have a couple smaller/youth machines that I let the kids ride today. They are taught to ride safely well before I turn them loose, and they always have their gear on while riding.

Have fun and good luck!

 

I'm also in Michigan and can tell you a couple of things about this. First of all you aren't likely to see the DNR on the trails very often. Secondly if they do catch you riding double on a single-person ATV your chances of getting a ticket are very high. I don't know what the fine is but wouldn't be surprised if it cost you $100 each time you get caught. 2-person ATVs are safer to ride double on for a couple of reasons. They are more stable because of the long wheelbase. A lot of other riders will be going fast and if you meet them head-on you may have to make an emergency maneuver, and a 2-up ATV gives you more room to shift your weight around. If you have lots of money to pay fines with and aren't concerned with your child's safety go ahead and ride double. You might get away with it.

 

I've been thinking about it and I may have come off sounding like a dick but that wasn't my intention. A lot of people are injured or killed on ATVs every year and some of them are kids. I read about one accident where the ATV tipped over and the parent landed on the kid and squashed him. I don't remember if the kid was killed or paralyzed, I just know he was hurt. The point is you can do things the safer way or the less safe way but it's not just yourself you're putting at risk.

 

Cannot comment on where you live but it is a very common practice where I live. Grew up riding on the back of a three wheeler and have kids on multiple times. Actually my local ATV group will be working with the police to take less fortunate kids on an ATV run and have a BBQ for them on the trail.

If you have had one machine and road together it sounds like you may be experienced with riding two up. It can be different on hills, if it's steep have them walk up and no such thing as over cautious. Not sure how old your kids are but helmets are a must and if under 50 pounds I doubt you would notice a difference.

Ultimately you make your own choices and law enforcement is different by area. People have been hurt riding two up and the cause because of riding two up which some would argue carelessness or rider experience factored in.

Personally I think it is fantastic getting out with your kids and enjoying something together in the great outdoors.

 

Its one thing to ride on private property and another thing completely to ride on state land or in an atv park or trail system. You have to abide by their rules. That's just the way it is. You might get by with breaking them but it you get caught, expect to get fined.

 

We wouldn't be taking the kids on main ORV trails where there are lots of other riders. Mainly just dirt roads. I suppose a car passing COULD hit us but so could they hit a bicycle or someone walking.

 

I was not offended. Without knowing the details of the accident you cant really compare. How fast? What kind of trail? Helmets? And yes there can always be a freak accident but I really believe there are way worse things you can do legally like a child of ANY age can ride a dirt bike on the same ORV trails going any speed. Sometimes its better to just live a little. I think the risk of kids sitting on their asses playing video games is worse.

 

Unless you're in the UP there aren't going to be many roads you can legally ride on in most areas. In some counties you can legally ride on the shoulder of the road which I think most people only do to get to nearby trails. In most other places in the Lower Peninsula you can't legally ride any roads at all. In the UP you can ride state forest roads unless they're posted closed to ATVs. In the Lower Peninsula you can't ride any roads unless they're posted open to ATVs or are in one of the counties where you can ride on the shoulder of the road.