the Elgin police are now concerned about those evil ATV riders. In a report in the daily herald they make atv riders sound like the anti-christ. If anyone rides in this area and wants to try and change what Elgin is doing let me know some ideas. Im sick of our sport getting shut down becasue some 80 year old man want to compalin so that he feels important.

 

Let's analyze this a bit... First off is this a designated (i.e. legal) riding area? Or are we talking about a place where people have been riding "for years" and all of a sudden you are getting shut down.

Chances are, if you did some digging, you probably will find a whole group of land owners who have multiple horror stories to tell about tresspassers tearing up their property, leaving garbage all over the place, and the riders thanking them for the experience by giving them the universal one finger salute.... Not that they don't have a right to protect what is theirs... or that they have probably called the police multiple times only to find out the locals are not equipped to follow a quad as they run away laughing while playing cat and mouse with the police... Hmmm... I really wonder what the rest of the story is... as Paul Harvey says...

I remember being told once that neither the world, nor the government owes you a thing... Nobody owes us a place to ride. We have to work hard to earn the trust of land owners to be allowed the priviledge to use their land... and we have to defend that trust against others who think they can just go out and tear things up because they see others riding there.. Poor thinking....

 

yeah that sounds like a great lecture but when your riding a machine miles away from any homes, have had the permission from the cops for the past 10 years, and have absolutlly nowhere to ride because we have a underabundence of shopping centers and need to keep tearing up land its not so easy. No the government doesnt owe us a riding spot but they also dont have to regulate every activity we enjoy out here. And yes, about 95% of the people in my area ride illegally, but when the closest place is 4 hours away i really dont care. One of my buddies who has been riding for just under 20 years has made a great point"its easy for people with riding spots to critisize others who ride illegally, they its bad for the sport, but this is the sport as we know it around here. Weve contacted the local dnr for years and they havent helped whatsoever in getting a spot. So it looks like were gonna do what weve been doing for years, ride illegally.

 

Before you throw stones... let me say this... I live in Northern, VA, the closest we have is several hours away too, so I feel your pain. But that doesn't mean I am going to throw away the rights of the PROPERTY OWNERS to justify my enjoyment. By the way, the COPS can't give you permission for anything. It is the owner's right to grant, not theirs. As long as they get no complaints, they will look the other way.. but once they get one, they are forced to do their "duty".

I know where Elgin is... you are about an hour and a half from Byron and some other place that just opened up near Freeport. With all the farm land out there, I can't believe you can't hook up with some farmer's kid that rides.... and is looking for a few new friends to ride with....

Sorry, but lectures aside, your argument is pretty transparent.... I doubt you will get any sympathy from the majority of us who do obey the laws and are trying to clean up the image of riders such as you describe.

Thank you for the opportunity to distance myself from your cause...

 

The closest place for me to ride LEGALLY is an hour up into the mountains south of Yosemite. I load up and drive. Yeah, it sucks, but I don't feel like getting fined $170 for tresspassing.

You have to work hard to get a place to ride. When you aren't riding your quad, you need to ride the DNR's butt so to speak. Find out what's required, and how you can get it.

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thing is the area was public property. Im not saying were right im saying it sucks. Illinois is a bulls*it state and i cant wait to move up north where they recognize it as a real sport. By the way, im studying to be a cop and im not saying im right, im saying the situation sucks, but oh well. Anyways, has anyone rode ki tracks in oregon ill.

 

Yeah it sucks.. I agree with you on that... but we, as leaders in this sport, and as adults, have to hold ourselves to a higher standad if we are ever going to have any credability. That is part of the growing up process... Right is right, and wrong is wrong.... just be willing to accept the consequences of your actions.... Which depending on the severety of the damage, could become a Felony real quick.. which would pretty much haunt you the rest of your life. think about it. Is a Felony evading conviction worth it?

You find these problems anywhere you go...and riders who put their personal wishes above the landowner's are always at the root of the complaints.

Wisconsin has it's issues too. Especially with regristration and riding permits.... so don't think a simple move up north will solve all the issues.

The sport is one that takes hard work. We need young people to get involved and be part of the solution, not the problem.

As for wanting to be a policeman, all I can say is good for you... keep yourself on the right side of the law at all times. You are not in a position to interpret the law... the courts do that.... all you can do is be empathetic to everyone's needs, and do the best job you can.

Good luck.

 

agreed man, looks like ill be going to the badlands a lot this summer[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

I rode there once but the Supercorss track was closed. I had to ride the intermediate one and that got kinda boring

 

rode where?