Dirt Bike Track
Is a Problem

I am writing to provide your readers with a more balanced picture of the article "Taking Flight" featured on the front page of the B-section of the Aug. 23 edition of The Herald.

Many years ago the dirt bike track was used as a neighborhood event that happened occasionally and often lasted less than an hour. Gradually more riders joined and then an official track was set up less than 100 feet from our property.

The noise and dust started to become a problem but quite frankly we just hoped that the participants would outgrow the sport and the issue would resolve itself. Instead, the riding increased dramatically when people from all over the Upper Valley came to use the track.

My husband, David, and I have been committed to working out our issues with the dirt bike track in a neighborly way. David has gone over to discuss the noise and dust problems. We have measured noise as high as 95.5 decibels and the dust sometimes billows over in great clouds. The fumes from the engines make it hard to breathe normally.

Any typical activities, such as picnic dinners, gardening, hanging out clothes, putting small children to bed or even having a simple conversation, are limited or impossible every Tuesday and Thursday evening from late March to November.

Following the assurance that others in the neighborhood didn’t mind the three-hour rides twice a week, we conducted our own survey of neighbors in the immediate area and found great support that someone was finally doing something about the situation. Based on this response, we obtained 17 neighbors’ signatures on an official letter of complaint.

When our efforts to reach a mutually acceptable agreement became fruitless, we decided it was time to submit this letter of complaint (reported erroneously as a survey in an earlier article) to the South Royalton Selectboard.

We will continue to look for mutually acceptable solutions, but there is a definite problem with riders coming from all over the Upper Valley to use a track which is located so close to a neighborhood of families!

While there is no doubt that the families who have riders at this track are dedicated to the fun and responsibilities that are inherent in operating and maintaining a motorized vehicle, the fact remains that they have the right to enjoy a quiet night at home whenever they choose not to come to the track! Our family and our neighbors’ families have had that right removed from us two nights a week for most of the year.

I would also suspect that if anyone had any type of noise reaching thresholds of 95 decibels at their property line, they would be outraged and demand immediate action by the town governing authorities. My husband and I are committed to continuing to work out our differences with respect to property rights in this situation, but we feel that a complete picture of the effect of the dirt bike track on all the families concerned is necessary.

Laura A. Timian

South Royalton