There has always been great debate between motor sport activists
who want to enjoy riding their machines in the outdoors and other nature lovers
who claim that off-road motor vehicles harm the environment and ruin the area
for anyone who wants to enjoy the outdoors in other ways. The argument can be made that motorcycle and
ATV riders have as much right to use state lands as anyone else, but most other
outdoor activities don’t interfere with riding the way riding can interfere
with hiking, hunting, fishing, bird watching, or even the balance of nature and
maintaining consistent flood plains.
Although there may always be a conflict, understanding what other nature
lovers do and how your riding affects them will help keep ATV riding in current
areas, and possibly help it spread to even more areas.
The number one justification for banning ATV riding in
certain areas is the detrimental affect it can have on the environment. Although ATVs smoke, are noisy, and help
redistribute the mud on a piece of property, these factors have little affect
on the environment. However, ATV riding,
if done improperly or carelessly can damage waterways and have very noticeable
effects on the local environment. The
biggest and most likely risk is damage done to vegetation on the banks of
waterways and nearby areas. Because
those plants hold the riverbank together, if the plants are killed by riding
over them, the soil in that area can be easily washed away, changing the flow of
the river and oftentimes causing flooding.
This kind of flooding causes damage to bottomlands, which is usually
very fertile and a hotspot for deer, turkey, wild mushrooms, a plethora of wild
birds, and many other things that other nature lovers seek out. In addition, increased erosion along rivers
and streams cause fine sediment to fill the water, making it difficult for
creatures like tadpoles and crawdads to grow and develop, which hurts the
ecosystem, as well as the fish population and fishing opportunities. Most state laws do permit you to cross a
river or stream on an ATV, but the most damage comes from riding up and down
waterways because so much sediment is stirred up in the water.
Other than not damaging waterways and floodplains, there are
several other things you can do to ensure that your riding doesn’t interfere
with other activities that go on alongside the trail. For the most part, you should be fine as long
as you keep your riding on the trail. It
is when you stray from the trail that you will bump into people who don’t
appreciate motor sports as much as you, and you may, in some cases, ruin their
entire day. If you ride in areas that
permit hunting, you should take a minute or two to find out what animals are in
season so you know what else is going on in the woods. Many hunters complain of ATV riders driving
by their hunting spots to see if they’re having any luck. Although most hunters don’t mind chatting it
up, keep in mind that many hunters look forward to bagging a big deer or turkey
for months, and an ATV off the trail is often enough to disrupt an animal’s
normal patterns and keep hunters from seeing anything. It would be the same as if you were looking
forward to a riding an area, only to turn your back for a second and have a
hunter ruin your trip by slashing your tires.
Your day, as well as weeks or months of planning and anticipation, would
be destroyed in a few short seconds. The
same can be true of bird watchers, hikers, and people fishing in streams and
ponds where you ride. Although you may
not realize it, an ATV is a noticeable presence in the woods, and not one that
all creatures, including humans, appreciate.
Although there can be some conflict between motor sports
lovers and other outdoor enthusiasts, a little respect can go a long way. Also keep in mind that many people who hunt,
fish, hike, etc, also ride or have ridden ATV’s and vice versa. Many hunters will use ATV trails to cover ground
quickly and get into areas that are usually undisturbed and catch their prey
unsuspecting. Most hunters realize that
deer and turkey do get used to the sight and sound of ATVs on trails. However, when you leave the trail with your
ATV, you are disturbing the wildlife and possibly flood plains, which give
other nature lovers and lawmakers a solid reason to restrict ATV riding to
certain designated areas.
