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I agree that something needs to be done in WV but this isn't going to bode well for ATV'ers or the politicians.....

 

What, exactly, is it you're concerned about?And are you contacting the legislators so they hear from a riding resident?You may only plant a seed of negative attitude in the mind if you just generalize your fears/concerns.Come on, let's talk about it.I share some of your concerns,I know.

 

Hey,Tuckahoe again.I just went looking at your pic page and profile.HECK of a nice quad!And I'm at White Sulphur Springs,an hour away.I'm down there all the time - I've got a place there now to bring people to and to go riding.We should hook up for some letter writing and some riding.

 

Tuckahoe-

I'm a Clarksburg WV native living and working in the DC area. With your permission, I may drop you a line when I get around to getting an ATV. I rode ATCs and ATVs in the Harrisville and Clarksburg areas growing up and I really miss riding in the hills. Much as I love my Shadow, there's something about being out on a trail. I'm going to the family reunion over labor day and hope to get in some good trail and field riding then. (If not on a relative's ATV, then I'll just have to fire up the ol' Trail 90).

I haven't read the proposed laws yet, but I may be interested in joining the letter writing too. My family still lives in WV and whatever changes come will probably affect my Dad, uncles, and cousins (if not solely because Dad is a cop and will have to enforce whatever law there is). - Heather

 

Passed, that bill would kill more than ATVing in WV. All the business connected too. Like the fine restruants and gas stations located just a stones throw from the trails. Also people will not be able to utilize all the trails without traveling a little on the roads.
Sure nobody has been killed on that H-F system. Heck only about 1/10th of the riding in the state is on that system. And very few locals ride it any way.
Also YES I wrote letters last year and will again this year!! And I don't live in WV either. Well at least not full time! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]
For a place to help fight for ATVing in WV. check out the WVATVA

 

Hey Sourmash,thought I would holler at you.There are not just several issues involved with regulating motorized vehicles in a state, but many.Nowadays everybody and their kin is a safety thug.I didn't at all like safety belts shoved down my throat, back when.But it's called progress for a reason.I accept trade-offs when a proven,workable solution is doable in practice.Educate,don't legislate used to be our saying,but no longer.You have to go to the committee meetings,you have to write,e-mail,call and band together w/ other like-minded folks to effect changes.
As it stands now,things are indeed moving quiclky in committee.For now they want the safety issues dealt w/ first,and I'm guessing second would be the private property notions regarding whether or not the state can tell us what it is or ain't we can do on our own lands.Thorny issues, sometimes.I wonder if thery'll be an exemption to allow atv's to be in parades to pull floats, for landscapers to do snow removal,etc., for the military to patrol fence/property lines, the list could go on.They are making allowances for farmers,and so far they seem good for them.
Bigger issues are whether or not counties would be allowed to ban them altogether (don't look now-some are considering it), or impose overly-restrictive local laws;the threat of the big and well funded so called 'green' organizations and agencies, some federal and state included; the vehicle insurance companies lobbyists lining up to promote registration; medical doctors testifying about bloody children,etc.
There's not going to be much of a downtrend in atv use in the state and there won't be much of a economic impact either.Every state motorcycle rights organization (smro's) uses this tactic (in proper perspective against totalitarian offenses by the state or feds) usually to no or little avail.Motorcycle,atv,mountain bike,etc. sales are through the damn roof and nothing short of outright bans will stop the surge in popularity our sport now enjoys.
You're right about the H/MC trail co. - who's gonna pay somebody to ride on something they don't even own when we have so much wilderness to cruise around on?Makes no sense to me, except as an curiousity.But I'm darn sure glad they're there because it helps W.VA. in the image dept. Even our top senators and the Honourable Sen. Byrd see it as a very positive thing for our state and not just because of tourism dollars.They see the big picture, which is what you and I have to keep in our sights,too.
BTW, I've checked into the WVATA.They're no threat to the legislature,to be sure.No one there has heard of them;at least the ones I asked.It's more of a riding club,and I'd say a nice one,too.If they started it to effect changes in our state for the benefit of all,then they are failing.They should not have chosen such a name for their group.If, on the other hand,they're intention is to make stuff happen, then they've got to get it in gear.ABATE in America is chock full of feel-good chapters in love w/ runs,charity rides,and what-not that do almost nothing but get a simple few dollars into someone ELSE'S pocket within their circle,and almost never is there anything more than talk,talk,talk.Even money doesn't do much more than talk,right?Ya' gotta have lots of it so you can make it scream.
Anyway,holler back at me.

 

Yea hi, Heather, my e-mail add. is: cliffy2e@yahoo.com.Write to me there, I can give you my DC number so we could talk toll-free.Maybe we could ride out someday - my place is in Greenbrier Co.You can ride the 300atv and I'll ride the dirt bike.That's not an offer you 'll get every day, is it?I'll probably be down during the time you're in Clarksburg,but I have no idea w/o looking at the map how far apart we may be. To start your queries into the goings-on, go to this page: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/ Clik on stuff in the title bar on the left side of the page.You'll figure it out.The links in the first thread here are from the current reporting happening now.The easiest way to stay on top of the newspaper reports is to bookmark this excellent Google page: http://www.refdesk.com/paperus3.html#wv - It'll take you right to all the major dailys in W.VA.
PS - my first cousin there is a sherriff's depty. and I'm friends w/ the local DNR guys.I help them find trash dumpers.

 

Tuckahoe,
Thanks for the reply. You are up on the situation for sure. Our group, the WVATVA, is young. We only started last October I belive. We are going through the learning stages. Our members were at most of the legislative meetings during the last session. And we got our share of attention with the local reps.
It's going to be a long hard battle! The root cause for the stir-up is the ALMIGHTY DOLLAR! A few people in WV reconized the amount of money being spent and want a bigger share than they are getting. Watch the news reports, watch what names want things to be only on the trail system. Read the history of the system. You can see why things are being don the way they are!.
Looking foward to discussing this with you futher Tuckahoe!!

 

Drop me a line anytime for either. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] Where at in White Sulphur....up RT92 I'm guessing? I used to camp up near Lake Sherwood if you've ever been that far up the road....still hunt and fish in that area.....have been for about 20 years. Thanks for the compliments, I need to get some updated pics on there....

I have expressed my concerns (of how most of this law would be ignored) to my local representatives and have spoke with a local radio talk show host as well. I'm not against regulation per se but to go from what there is now (nothing) to what they are proposing is not only futile, it's totally ignorant of the problems of our sport AND the problems this law would create.

It appears that the politicos aren't even loking at surrounding state's regs for some guidance....you'd think state's would try to keep regs somewhat similar (Utopian thought)....the data is out there, the proof is out there....it's just a matter of paying attention to it.

 

They can pass all of the laws....but no-one is there too enforce them. Cruise your atv down the paved public road and 9 out of 10 police officers will pull you over NOW. Does anyone know the # of atv's too death ratio is? How does this compare nationwide? WV has the most atv's....so why is it surprising too have the most deaths?
Personally, I would rather have my lawmakers move on too something that will actually benefit WV.