ATV Proposal Needs More Study

ATV Proposal Needs More Study

It is my understanding that there is no one agency in Vermont responsible for the oversight and regulation of ATVs. Before ATV use is extended to state land, there are some concerns I feel should be voiced.

Our state and federal highways do not allow use by pedestrians, bicyclists, or horses for good reason: it simply doesn’t make sense. They are unsafe for such use. Likewise, it would seem to me that public trails originally intended for hiking, birdwatching, horse back riding, or running are not suitable for use by ATVs. Currently there are 600 miles of trails on private land in Vermont for ATV usage.

ATVs can have speeds up to 50-60 mph., which are unsuitable on state land trails and paths, threatening the safety of hikers, horse riders, wildlife, as well as the ATV riders themselves. ATVs are loud, their engines add to the pollution that is causing our air to become more hazardous to our health.

Most of the vehicles or their components are not made in this country and so do not have to follow stricter safety standards set by the U.S. ATV use in Vermont really doesn’t add to our state’s economy; in fact they add to the burden of law enforcement, environmental concerns, and our fragile natural resources. Plus there’s the fact that ATVs are an uneconomical use of fossil fuels at a time when these fuels are diminishing rapidly, and the technology to replace this energy is not nearly enough.

What independent studies are available that assess the safety risks and what statistics are available to the public nationally and here in Vermont? What kind of research has gone into this proposal? What is the experience of other states? Why are state lands considered suitable for this use?

At a time when every state, including Vermont, is facing difficult choices in funding services, cutting back on already over-stretched departments like law enforcement and motor vehicles, natural resources, healthcare, education, and social welfare, this is not the time to expand the use of state lands for the recreational use by ATVs.

Use of ATVs on private land with permission of the owner is still the best solution. In this way, the owner has oversight and control of who uses his/her land and can personally evaluate how this arrangement works.

Perhaps a survey of those landowners who do allow their land to be used for ATV purposes would be of value to inform future decisions on ATV activity. Such a survey might be a good project for a senior group of forestry or land use students at one of the state colleges.

The decision to open state lands to ATV use should be taken with great care for the safety of all citizens of Vermont.

Patricia Goodrich

Randolph