I moved to a small town in Colorado from a small town in Minnesota. ATVs were allowed on the town streets in my Minnesota town. The requirements were brake lights, turn signals, horn, headlights, helmet, special driver's license demonstrating competence with the quad, and a vehicle license. All very similar to a motorcycle. These are similar requirements as motorcycles have. All motor vehicle traffic laws apply. You could get a ticket on your quad. However, ATVs are not allowed on the streets here in Colorado.

I think a quad is no more dangerous than a bicycle, or motorcycle, or farm tractor on a public roadway. We call quads "bikes" from time to time as they are like a 4 wheel motorcycle. Tell me about the Polaris Slingshot or the Meyers Manx (a kit built on a VW beetle chassis). How about the Lotus 7? All of these are legal on roadways. A quad or side by side would be more useful if we could use them on public roadways. "Honey, we need milk and bread". No problem and fun to boot.

Can you legally ride your quad on public roadways in your area?

Anyone or anyone's club led an effort to legalize quads in their area?

David

 

The police don't even want me backing into the street to plow my driveway after my neighbor told them I was flying up and down the road at a high rate of speed. They saw that the tracks only went into the street from one side of my driveway to the other and instead of arresting him for a false police report they sat there waiting until I was done. I don't think quads will ever be street legal here.

 

I wish it was legal here in FL. The reasoning here is, from what I understood, that the certificate of origin classifies it as an off highway vehicle so that becomes an instant disqualifier. My argument was making a titled motorcycle in to a quad which is apparently allowed since all you need for a custom made motor cycle is the inspection for the lights/signals/horn/street tires. What really chaps me is in my area you can drive golf carts on almost any residential street. Every now and then we blast them up and down the street to make sure everything is good prior to loading up for a legal ride over an hour away and the worst thing that happens is it puts a huge smile on a kids face or some grumpy old fart gets annoyed. My guess is nobody wants to deal with the noise or the theft so they hide behind BS technicalities.

 

Hello David I agree with you all the way, I would love to be able drive my bike (ATV) to run errands or go to work. Unfortunately where I live it will never happen.


Can you legally ride your quad on public roadways in your area?
No bikes are allowed on the roads in the area I live but a 40 minute drive east and most of the community's are ATV friendly, but not all. It seems the further you are away from city's and the north shore of Lake Ontario the more ATV friendly community's are. Good source of tourists $.


Here are some of the Ontario ATV rules.
Ontario Rules - NDATV


The definition of ATV has been changed to include 2 up ATV's and UTV's (side by sides)
It is basically up to the municipality's whether they allow ATV's or UTV's on their roads.

Anyone or anyone's club led an effort to legalize quads in their area?
Yes the club I support has done a lot of work getting roads legal for ATV's. The directors have attended many municipal meetings to get road access. I think there are 3 municipality's in the clubs area. It's been a long process and there are groups trying to take what we have gained away, so it's an ongoing process.


This is a link to the club I belong to, its called Northumberland District ATV Riders Club.
Home - NDATV

 

Interesting responses so far. I should have mentioned golf carts in southern retirement cities as an example of a "non car" on public roadways. So there are several examples of various motor vehicles that can use the roads. It's just that in many places ATVs aren't one of them.

I read here in Colorado on the county sheriff website questions about kids motorized "skateboards" on the streets. The response was "not legal", but our deputies have more important things to do than chase off kids with motorized skateboards. It is a parents decision to allow this "dangerous fun". That same skateboard without the little motor is perfectly legal and just as dangerous. (The danger is not too great in my view.)

In many of these examples include vehicles that were never built with on highway intentions.

So maybe local clubs can begin "lobbying" the government powers to be to get some rules changed.

JumboFrank, it is too bad you live close to such a grumpy neighbor. It happens to many of us. Hopefully they will move away soon. Or maybe you can offer to plow his driveway for free just to be neighborly. Plowing snow where you encroach on the roadway to push the snow into the ditch is extremely common and harms no one.

David

PS I should mention that riding our ATVs aggressively (speeding, wheelies, recklessly) on public roadways only cements our neighbor's objections to allowing ATVs on the streets. And such behavior would be subject to police action. We all would expect that to be the case.

 

unfortunately it takes more than local clubs to lobby a government. All the local clubs need to create one voice between them that would be recognized by both government and citizens. Then you would be very lucky if you seen any type of change within the next 10-20 years.
The problem is the irresponsible people. suddenly you have people screaming up and down the road. Minors taking daddy's plated quad driving and being idiots on the street. How are the police to deal with that? They go to chase them they take the turn onto someones property and disappear and the police would have been lucky to get a plate number.
Their are far more politics involved than you can imagine

 

In the small town I live in, utvs are allowed secondary road access if registered with the township. It also requires them to fitted with turn signals and at least a rearview mirror. Atvs are not allowed this luxury though. And our local police is quick to point out the difference. If you live outside the city limits, as is in most locations, you can pretty much get by with riding on secondary roads. The lack of traffic means local police won't go out there unless called upon to do so. Certain towns nearby are more relaxed on enforcing the no atvs on secondary streets law. As long as you're not riding like an idiot at high speeds and doing wheelies or something else stupid, some towns will allow it. Its the the dumb kids acting like punks that Zrock referred to(sometimes some adults old enough to know better) that ruin it for the rest of us. Also ripping across private property and tearing up yards and fields is a good way to get everyone else banned too. The local trails I ride on are on property owned by a local oil company. They have wells and a pipeline. For years they have allowed local riders to ride on their property as long as they keep to the dirt roads and trails already established. If you see any employees out there working, you stay out of their way as well. Just display common courtesy and all is good.

 

Many towns in Maine are starting to allow ATV/UTV partial access to roads around trail ends. They figured out that folks with ATV'S, UTV's and snow sleds like to spend money in motels,hotels, restaurants, movie theaters, on and on... Once they figure out, they are missing out on lots of $$$'s you will see more access. Honestly, I'd way rather meet a bunch of ATV's on the road compared to bicyclists that like to ride in the middle of the road and make it hard to pass. On secondary roads with speed limits of 25-45 mph, I don't see a problem.

 

My idiot neighbor finally moved a couple of months ago but it's amazing the police showed up when they usually don't show for anything less than murder. Either it was a slow day or they really hate people riding ATVs. I think it's the latter. I still don't see why we can't ride on secondary roads where the speed limit is usually 25 MPH. People running stop signs are the biggest problem I see around here and I don't think they'd be more likely to do so on ATVs.

 

It seems to me an ATV is very much like a motorcycle. I should think it could be equipped with the necessary on highway equipment like a motorcycle. An ATV is not a vehicle that is appropriate for a 75 mph freeway, but neither is a 125cc scooter or small motorcycle.

There are idiots driving all the on highway vehicles types, from bicycles to semi trucks. That's why we citizens employee a police force to enforce the laws we wrote. But I believe 99% of us do not behave that way. I believe on highway ATV licenses would cause very little trouble.

I think on highway licensed ATVs is a real possibility. It has to start at the local level in our wonderful small towns as a test. As mentioned, sometimes these localities will elect "not to enforce" and see what happens. The police know us, know the idiots, and take appropriate action.

But wow, wouldn't our ATV machines be so much more enjoyable if we could drive them to the neighbor's house and plow their driveway, or help gather firewood, or spray for thistles, or run to the convenience store for fuel and a jug of milk. And a leisurely ride into the country with ATV buddies on Saturday afternoon would be fun, just like we do on our motorcycles. All the time following all traffic laws and respecting all property rights.

Gee, Colorado legalized recreational marijuana a few years ago. It has not been the catastrophe that some folks predicted. Now more states are doing the same thing. Besides, it is a great revenue generator for the state. ATV license fees would add to state revenue too. But only an idiot would operate their ATV under the influence.

David