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ATV riders discriminated against in Nevada?
For me, riding an ATV is an outlet to get out there and see the great outdoors. One problem about riding an ATV is that you are limited to riding BLM land or Recreation area land. Certain National or State Park or Forest, or a National Wildlife Refuge such as the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, which is located right in my backyard, you have to have a license plate on the vehicle you are riding.
Riding out near Nelson, NV for instance, you can ride around the area near the gold mines but there is a boundary line around the river that you cannot enter. Why is it that dirtbikes and baja trucks can go racing through the Aztec Wash down to the water, but since I am on an ATV I can't? I want to go dip my feet and splash off in the water after a day of riding in the heat too!
The Desert National Wildlife Refuge is another amazing place to go and explore the back country, and again since it is a wildlife refuge you cannot take an ATV back there. Many of the roads back there,such as Gas Peak road are over grown so when you take a truck through them they get all scratched up. Many of the roads are also washed out, bumper and get off camber. This type of road is perfect for an ATV, and yet we are not allowed in these areas!
I have considered purchasing an enduro dirtbike that is street legal in order to go riding in these areas. I am a little hesitant on this idea because I have three screws in my left shoulder from going over the handlebars on a dirtbike. Also, I don't know anyone else with an enduro dirtbike so I would have to go ride by myself if I want to go to these areas.
I think it is important to look at areas like the Cold Creek trail system which connects up with Wheeler Pass where there is frequent ATV travel. Most ATV riders are very responsible about packing out what they pack in and you don't really find any trash out on the trails. You don't see too much irresponsible riding out there either, and from my experience everyone on ATV is friendly and wants everyone else to be responsible so they keep these trails open.
What to do with the UTVs? If an ATV is to a street legal dirtbike, as a RZR is to a street legal jeep then can we keep UTVs off these trails too? The fact is these UTVs were meant to handle the grueling terrain offered in the Nevada back country. I say give us all a chance to ride these trails. Give us the chance to show we can be just as responsible as dirtbike riders and jeepers. After all it is our love for being outdoors that drives us all out here anyway, isn't it?
Lets work with the Nevada OHV commission, Tread Lightly, the Blue Ribbon Coalition and the DNWR and show that we can be responsible riders, just like dirtbike riders, so we can get some of these lands opened up for ATV use. You have my word that if these areas get opened up, I will be out there every weekend picking up trash and keeping other people accountable.
