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Posted by: blackballed
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?
Posted by: reconranger
And, if everybody has an orange flag, it is a lot easier to spot an oncoming rider.
Posted by: reconranger
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".
Posted by: memento
Back to the helmet issue again.
To those who refuse to wear one - you're making it harder and harder for ALL ATV riders in the country to find legal places to ride. Why? Because when you crash, you split your skull open and die. Freedom? Your refusal to wear an important piece of safety equipment is having an impact on MY freedom to be able to ride legally on public land. Darwin? sure - I welcome natural selection. Let the dumba$$es die.
I'm so sick of hearing about this. As soon as I can, I'm buying 100 acres. Screw you guys then. I won't care about getting access to public land. I won't be fighting for the group benefit anymore. Me and my friends will be having a blast while you're all running from the wackos with guns shooting at tresspassers.
Posted by: muddyashell
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 ass 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 ass 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 ass 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.
Posted by: muddyashell
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.
Posted by: muddyashell
I absolutely do not support any type of helmet law whatsoever!
I ride my street bike with no helmet and if nobody likes it that's tough caca.
The government has their nose in my business enough already.
I'm only referring to the rules at government sponsored trails.
You can ride naked on your own land and I could give a crap!
People getting hurt and killed at public ATV trails only gives the tree huggers
and bleeding hearts more ammo to try and close them down.
Here in Ohio and Pennsylvania there are about ten million trees to run into.
You tend to stop real fast when you hit one.
Me, I'm gonna wear my helmet in case that accidentally happens.
I have come close too may times to count.
I would just like to see folks start using some (un)common sense and (un)common courtesy.
When guys fly past me going the other way wound out in high gear I'm not impressed.
They think they're showing off their riding skill or their bad ass attitude.
To me they're just showing how inconsiderate and uncaring they are toward their fellow riders.
I'd like to be able take my seven year old out on the trail to ride without worrying about some a-hole crashing into him.
You guys can get down off your soap boxes now.
Posted by: Yardbird
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 ****!
Posted by: TheIntimidator
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
Posted by: IMPORTH8R
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
Posted by: Chilly
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.
Posted by: AlaskaBoy
This helmet issue has been hashed and rehashed so many times. It is up to you to decide what you want to do, wear one or not. Alaska voted down a helmet law a long time ago and it is only required for the passenger now. Personaly I like the option of either or, I wear one when I am recreational riding but when I am hunting I like to ride wioth out one. My kids wear helmets as they do not know what is best for them and I make the choice for them. When they get older then they can choose.
As for the people throwing beer cans on the trail it happens on the highways too, so do like I do pick them up and anything else that is left behind, they are pigs but I do not have to be one.
The last time I looked this was the United States and we did have a few rights left and this is still one of them. To wear or not to wear?
As for areas being closed it will not matter if you could get everybody to follow the rules they would close them anyways. Why you ask? Because somebody with alot of money wants them to do so.
Man, there has been some old ones popping up today. AlaskaBoy.
Posted by: EigerRider04
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.
Posted by: EigerRider04
How is it that the most ignorant people are always the ones who design and implement laws. It is very obvious none of these people have ever ridden an atv. Yet another form of INSURANCE!!!!!! I want to scream and throw up.
I think I will lobby for rules against anyone under the age of 16 playing football. Check out the stats on how many kids get hurt playing football. And, if you are seen playing a game of football without proper padding, helmet, shoes, and etc., or you are not following the rules to a tee(no spearing, etc.), you will be fined a gazillion dollars and be brutally beaten in public.
Secondly, we should tear down all major sports stadiums and doze in their parking lots. Trees should then be planted in those areas to give more area for the city wildlife(squirrels, pigeons, etc.) We should then take the salaries that were previously being paid to the athletes, and create a new governing body to carry out our rules and regulations on a sport they can no longer really enjoy.
Posted by: EigerRider04
I have some clarifications, especially for memento:
1. I have my own land.
2. I don't oppose requiring safety guidelines in public areas. I do, however, feel that limiting speed and stopping wreckless driving in public areas will achieve the goals of safety much better than imposing a helmet law and not allowing double riding. (The speed statement is referring to trails, open areas, etc., not tracks and such.) My whole point is I WOULD RATHER AVOID A WRECK ALTOGETHER RATHER THAN AVOID DEATH AFTER THE WRECK. (Safe Riding vs. Unnecessary Protection) Requiring everyone to wear helmets in a vehicle would make travelling much safer also, but it seems way too ridiculous.(Not trying to get into the whole"yeah but a car has more protection" issue, b/c then I would mention convertibles)
3. If someone starts telling me I HAVE to wear a helmet on my own land or get a ticket.....I'm moving because this is no longer the "land of the free"
4. The only thing I need a helmet when riding around at 10 miles an hour in a mud hole for is to protect me from meteors
5. I wouldn't let idiots with helmets on my 100 acres if I were you, because you'll be getting your butt sued off. Remember that on your big court day.
6. IF I DECIDED TO RIDE LIKE I USED TO (ON A BANSHEE AND ON A TRACK GOING WAY TOO FAST) I WOULD WEAR A HELMET ALSO
Oh, and by the way, you really should find ways to express yourself rather than resorting to foul language, even if it is encrypted.
PS
For all you evolutionists out there: Apes shouldn't be allowed on atv's.
JESUS LOVES YOU!!!!!!!
Posted by: EigerRider04
I agree with you 100% on the public trails thing, and I totally see your point. My only concern is the government tyring to pass laws governing what I do on my own land, and I get really fired up about that issue. Why not just write tickets to the idiots that are going too fast or driving dangerously on public lands. You can strap a helmet on everyone that is on an atv, and sure, they're safer. But what happens when, somewhere down the road, one of these idiots I referred to runs over one of the tree huggers while he/she is out on a nature walk without a helmet on? Talk about all heck breaking loose!!!!!!!!
