Column: One 'user' problem that threatens all

John Harrigan

This letter ran in Colebrook's weekly News and Sentinel last week, and yes, I helped my wife write it. It concerns a farm she owns just up the river in Beecher Falls, Vt., but it could well have been written about just about any open lands near populated areas anywhere.

Several readers thought that the letter touched on so many core issues that it deserved wider publication. (Caveat: We own an ATV for farm use, and I have written often about my many friends and readers who are responsible riders and about ATV clubs and the many good community deeds they do.)

"To the editor:

"I own what is known as the Hadwen Place, the farm on the Slant Road (the back road from Beecher Falls north to the steel bridge on Route 3) settled by the original Beecher family. None of the land is posted and we carry on the proud local tradition of keeping it open for all non-motorized recreation. In addition, we allow a key snowmobile trail to be maintained and regulated by our snowmobile club friends, who have been excellent neighbors.

"Unauthorized ATV riding on our land has been a mounting problem, and has now gotten to the point of outright damage and disrespect. People have been riding their ATVs right cross our best hay field and around a gate -- obviously put there precisely to send a message -- and up onto what is known as the Slate Pitt Road.

"We want to continue keeping our land open. It is not up to the landowner to have to "post" against this or that. The law is explicit. It is up to people who think they have a right to motorized use to ask permission, which in this case is absolutely not granted for ATVs.

"Parents need to show some responsibility here and ATV riders need to show some respect. It is a small and close neighborhood there by the farm, and everyone knows who is riding where.

"People who are on our land, on foot or on mountain bike or on horseback, are our guests, and we welcome them. Unauthorized and unwanted motorized intrusion is no way to treat a host. Parents and neighbors know full well who is abusing our hospitality -- come on.

"Nancee Harrigan, Beecher Falls and Colebrook"

Back to me. A couple of notable points here:

-- Both snowmobiling and ATV riding require specific landowner permission. Like most landowners we know, we check the box on the Landowner Permission Agreement allowing snowmobiling, largely because the snowmobile club is so respectful and aggressive about enforcing trail rules and policing problems, but do not check off the ATV box.

-- Snowmobile clubs all over the state are extremely concerned about rogue ATVers because they threaten all other recreational users' access to private property.

-- Responsible ATV riders -- and I firmly believe they are in the majority -- are scrambling like mad to organize and address problems.

--

Source: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=John+Harrigan%3A+One+%27user%27+problem+that+threatens+all&articleId=4476a646-9da9-49b0-bec3-fa5ab0425087

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