Editorial: Not on this terrain

World-class cities striving to attract tourists, jobs, and families don't tolerate gangs whizzing illegally along Center City streets on all-terrain vehicles like those spotted near Independence Mall recently.

Two other high-profile ATV incidents in Philadelphia - one involving a Kensington motorist seriously injured by bikers - further underscore the dangers posed by these hoodlums.

On Tuesday, a 22-year-old man riding without a helmet died when he crashed his ATV on a West Philadelphia street. In mid-September, a 29-year-old father of seven was confronted by eight to 10 riders on East Ontario Street. They blocked his way, attacked his car, and then ran him down with their ATVs when he fled on foot.

Police are bringing charges against three riders for the Kensington attack, but that hardly brings an end to the troubles caused by illegal and reckless ATV use around the city.

Residents in Kensington and other river wards say too many riders buzz through neighborhoods looking for thrills with little regard for others. The fear, noise, and fumes diminish the quality of life in these already downtrodden communities.

Enforcement is a problem, the Police Department reports, because patrol officers are limited by sensible police-pursuit safety rules when ATV hooligans flee.

The police may want to rethink their approach before this trend mushrooms into a bigger problem. One idea: Perhaps the police should get their own ATVs to chase after riders.

It's unlikely that tougher fines will make much difference to the city's Wild Bunch. But impounding ATVs driven on public roads - as provided by state law - could help change behavior.

With no parkland designated for legal ATV use in Philadelphia - and few spots available in more distant suburbs - riders cruise illegally through city streets, vacant lots, and park trails.

News of the city's recent ATV woes caught the attention of trail-safety advocates, who note that reckless off-roading is damaging wildlife on parkland and private property alike across much of Pennsylvania and in more rural areas of New Jersey, such as the Pine Barrens.

Both states are among 39 that have considered legislation to better manage off-road riding and bolster enforcement.

New Jersey lawmakers have talked of hiking ATV registration fees and fines for illegal riding, in exchange for designating several areas around the state for legal ATV use.

In Pennsylvania, state policy already calls for opening up more public lands to ATV riders. But the process has been slow.

On the enforcement side, a measure stalled in the state Senate would get tougher with ATV riders who repeatedly damage private property. A House measure would give enforcement officers of the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources the authority to pursue off-roaders outside state parks and forests.

Clearly, neither state has done enough to rein in illegal ATV use statewide. Nor has the city.

Given the recent death and other incidents, the time is right for legislative and enforcement efforts to be revived.

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Source: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20091003_Editorial__Not_on_this_terrain.html

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