ATV Etiquette

When hopping on your ATV, it’s important to have respect for the trails and lands on which you ride. As in most areas of life, a few bad apples can affect the reputation of recreational ATV riders. There have been stories in the press about 4-wheelers tearing up the trails with poor riding etiquette, littering, and a general disregard for the land and environment. This makes it harder for all the respectful riders to be welcomed in utilizing trails.

The first and most important rule of riding is to get permission of you are going to ride on private property. And when you do have permission from land owners, use safe and proper driving techniques, clean up after yourself, and try to repair any damage you might do to the land or property (or at least let the owner know there is possible damage).

When riding your ATV, it’s important to know the terrain, and avoid areas like streams, soft grassy areas, and steep hills with a soft track.

Also take care when riding on dirt roads-it’s never appropriate to dig up land, trails, or roads. Always try to keep the trails in good condition for the next rider. Of course, in conjunction with etiquette-always use proper safety techniques, that should keep you in line as far as proper etiquette.

Be respectful of the plant and animal life surrounding riding trails also. If there are any areas roped off, comply with the wishes of the landowner and stay away-there are plenty of great trails to ride, and by respecting the rules off the road, we will continue to have ample areas to ride. By using simple common sense and safe riding techniques, riders should see trails in good condition, and perhaps even more trails opening in the future.

See you off the road.

ATV Safety – Don’t Leave Home Without It

It doesn’t matter if you have been riding for years, or you are a proud owner of a brand new 4 wheeler, common sense and attention to safety procedures should always be in the front of your mind. Many accidents happen every year because of people taking for granted their capabilities on the ATV trails.

The most common rule that is broken is you should always wear a helmet when riding, in fact in many places it is the law to wear a helmet. I know there is probably no one around for miles and miles, but keep in mind you are not wearing a helmet for other people, you are wearing it for yourself. We never know what might happen and it is best to err on the side of caution than to become a statistic. Always wear your helmet. This can’t be stressed enough.

Second rule that is most often broken is drinking and driving. Yeah I know it is fun to hang out with your buddies and ride some trails while downing some brewskis.

Although drinking and driving is just not smart no matter what type of vehicle your driving or where your driving at. One beer has the ability to slow your responses, and one wrong turn on a ATV trail could be your last. Save the beers till after you finish riding once your safe back home, celebrating the successful and fun days riding.

Third rule to be broken is going out riding by yourself. When riding ATV trails it is always best to go with a friend. I can’t count how many times friends of mine have headed out into the mountains by themselves. This is just not a good idea in my book. A simple fall off of your 4 wheeler in an environment that is harsh at night could turn into a life threatening situation.

It is a good idea to always carry a cell phone with you on rides.

Now I know that your phone might not always work off roading, although it is probably smarter to have it with you than not. Even having a phone for directions in case you get lost could help tremendously.

If it is possible keep maps with you of the areas that you will be riding in. It is even a good idea to have two with separate people carrying them. It could really come in handy when exploring new trails. Having a map of the area you will be riding in would sure be a lot better than shivering on a trail not knowing where you are and wondering how your going to get back.

Make sure that you get the weather forecast before going out on a ride. ATV’s are built for sloppy conditions, although it is helpful to know what type of elements you might encounter on your ride. By knowing the weather forecast you can dress appropriately or bring along gear that you might need if conditions become bad.

Last but not least make sure you and the people you will be with are healthy enough for the ride and trails you will be on. Having someone with you that is feeling ill or sporting a physical injury is probably not the best person to have riding with you. Riding can be postponed to another day when you are feeling better. A person that is feeling bad will probably end up not enjoying themselves anyways, why take the chance.

By following these tips you can almost be positive that your ride will end up a good one and most important of all a safe one.