Clickbait title aside, we need to get real serious about using trails responsibly and protecting our access to them.
When capability of machines exceed the responsibility of their drivers, trouble is bound to catch up.
UTVs are incredibly capable offroad machines with limitations far beyond what most of us are able to push. The problem that is becoming increasingly apparent is that people are abusing this capability and threatening everyone’s reputation as responsible users of land and recreation opportunities.
People going places they shouldn’t, ripping up land, bypassing gates and barricades, etc. is not a new problem—not even close. The problem is that these larger, more powerful machines are much more obvious when they forge new paths and damage is more apparent. One small crew of 3-4 Rzrs bulldozing around a gate one time is enough to leave that ripped up path for at least that entire season, and making it that much more convenient for the next group to follow as well.
Look, I’m not singling out people riding side-by-sides because I’m a dirt bike guy. Dirt bikers are just as guilty as anyone, our footprint just ain’t always as noticeable.
The pictures below were taken at White Sulfur OHV Trail two days after I got back from spending four days riding shotgun in side-by-sides all over southeastern Kentucky. Trail areas like White Sulfur, managed and closely monitored by federal entities, are much more susceptible to scrutinizing and closing because there are folks out there dedicated to keeping an eye out on this stuff. White Sulfur wasn’t opened by the Forestry Service until June 3rd, so people had just been making their own entrance.
I love side-by-sides and hope to own one in the next few years, but they can definitely be a nuisance in the wrong hands. We are very fortunate in Central and Southern Appalachia that counties and states are continuing to develop OHV trails. This puts us in a bubble and gives us the impression that it’s the same everywhere, but it’s well documented throughout nationwide offroad advocacy groups that we continue to lose trails and tracks at an alarming rate. Bypassing gates and veering off trail are easy targets for those looking to shut us down. Just keep that in mind the next time, and every time you’re out on the trail.
With great power comes great responsibility… or something like that?