Saw about 30 guys out with no helmets this weekend.
They were leaving a trail of empty beer cans wherever they went.
They obviously had nothing in their heads to protect.

I believe that government sponsored riding facilities need to create and enforce some basic rules.

Rule 1. Helmets should be required by all riders
Rule 2. Slow down and pull to the right when passing other riders on two way trails.
Rule 3. When faster riders come up behind you, pull over and let them pass as soon as you can safely do so.
Rule 4. No passing of slower riders when the trail is too narrow to safely do so.
Rule 5. Registered vehicles only.
Rule 6. Alcohol is absolutely prohibited.

I would also like to see them post signs to explain and promote the use of basic hand signals.
If you pass me from the opposite direction and I hold up 5 fingers, there are 5 more riders behind me.
That means slow your *** down until you pass 5 more bikes.
The last rider holds up a closed fist.
Now you can take off.
I hold up 5 fingers to a lot of peoole and they think I'm waving at them.
Figure it out boys and girls.

I personally like to haul *** but I slow down cresting blind hills and rounding blind curves.
I also slow down and make room for passing riders.
Once they pass, back to hauling *** again.
Remember that we're all out there to have a good time and get home alive.
There are a lot of kids and senior citizens out there on the trails.
Also a lot of less experienced riders.
Maybe you know what to do and maybe they don't.
How about showing a little consideration for your fellow ATV'ers?

Be careful out there brothers.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

And, if everybody has an orange flag, it is a lot easier to spot an oncoming rider.

 

I forgot to mention this.
Running your headlights day or night is not a bad idea either.
The easier you are to spot the better.

 

Great post, muddy (and recon).

I would suggest that you call the ATVA and ask why they refuse to fight for your common sense approach to helmet use in our largest recreational riding areas (Ie. Coal Creek/Windrock riding area in Tennessee).

I think you will be both surprised and dissapointed in their answer.

If these guys refuse to fight the idiots you described earlier...........who will? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

 

I personally always wear a helmet. But I feel that other people or the government shouldn't be telling people how to run their lives. Ya you may be right, but this is America and people do have individual rights(although they're dwindling every day). If you are riding on public/government lands then a helmet law could be enforced. But if I got my own private property then whoever wants to tell me what to do can go to ****!

 

Saftey should be enforced everywhere possible with some exceptions, your on public land, or your going at a SLOW speed all the time, for example when i pull my quad form my barn to wash it, there isnt a need for a helmet cuz i go 100ft at 5kph

 

We need to develope a "culture" of safety. Mountain biking did this in the early 80's. The magazines in particular stressed wearing a helmet, and would not publish pictures of unhelmeted riders. I don't know about the rest of the country, but it worked well out here. You rarely see a cyclist without a helmet. The helmet has just become part of the cycling culture (we do have a helmet law for kids).

On the other hand, those who choose not to wear safety gear, are simply leaving themselves open to being eliminated from the gene pool by "natural selection".

 

Natural selection is a good thing, has worked for MILLIONS of years. Why mess with a good thing? The exception would be children, they don't have a choice and some of them have some pretty stupid units for parents... Personally I never go riding without a helmet, I prefer to keep my skull intact. Natural selection will have to find some other way to weed me out. LOL[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

WARNING: The message you are about to read is in no way politically correct, and makes no claim to be.

This is an old post. Just saw it. Wanted to put in my 2 cents.

If helmets are made mandatory for all riders, I will either find a new sport or pay a lot of fines. I have been riding atv's for almost 20 years, and I'm only 23. I have never been hurt or seen anyone get hurt for ANY REASON other than the FACT that they(or myself on 1 ocassion) were doing something STUPID. The last accessory my new Eiger will ever get is a frickin orange flag. If everyone wore helmets in cars people would be much less likely to get hurt as well, but you don't see anyone trying to pull that crap. My wife and I ride double as well, and some people think this is some big sin. My point is:WE DONT DO ANYTHING TO RISK OURSELVES, SO WE DONT NEED A BUNCH OF CRAP LIKE FLAGS AND HELMETS. You put 5 idiots on a piece of land in full body armor and they might all be dead by the end of the day. You put 10 safe& considerate butt-naked riders doubled up on 5 atv's and they could ride from now on with no injuries.

SO WHAT IS MY SOLUTION:

HOW BOUT GIVING A TEST TO EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO RIDE AN ATV AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY CAPABLE OF RIDING BEFORE LETTING EM BUY.

MOST LIKELY THOSE SAME PEOPLE WHO FAIL THE TEST WOULD BE THE ONES TO CHUNK THIER BEER CANS ON THE TRAILS ANYWAY.

I FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT DRIVER'S LICENCES. DRIVING ANYTHING IN THIS COUNTRY SHOULD BE AN EARNED PRIVELEGE, NOT A RIGHT.

Not trying to step on anyones toes. But if you are telling me that for my wife and I to go out and enjoy nature together I have to fork over another $5400 for an atv and some helmets, and then risk getting run over by an idiot in a helmet who shouldn't be allowed to see the light of day, much less get totally inibreated(sp) and then jump on an atv he isn't capable of driving around while sober, you can kiss my butt.

 

As long as we're on the topic of rules, have a read of this, and NO, it's not something I dreamed up. It's an interim report consisting of 48 recommendations by an independent group asked by the government to assess the use of Off Highway Vehicles in Nova Scotia. There have been similar problems here as to what you in the US have been having, and this is the result. If I were you, I'd clean up your acts before the same kind of BS lands on your front steps.

The future??

Some of the ideas have merit, others are strictly out of the Twilight Zone.