Butte MT

Written by Mark B., Butte, MT

"My wife and I are avid ATV riders. We try to get out as much as we can to enjoy the trails and the great outdoors. During our rides (almost 3,000 miles) we have encountered many responsible riders. They pull over for others, keep it slow, enjoy the wildlife, and practice good safe ethics. We have also encountered the renegades. A large amount of them are riding high performance race machines. These machines belong on controlled tracks and trails where competition is allowed - not in the mountains. Many blame the youth for tearing up our country. I blame the adults who are just as bad as their kids. They drive under the influence and fail to teach their children courtesy and trail ethics. I have seen ponds, marshes and hills torn up by these riders. I agree with those who want to make it a law that a ATV rider should have a license along with a certificate of completion in a "Tread Lightly" course. I also strongly believe that good ethical riders should police their riding areas and take a strong active position on turning riders in to the authorities. We have to take action or suffer the plight of the dinosaur: "EXTINCTION."

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Community Voices

“As a rancher who leases public lands for cattle, I’ve seen my share of cut fences and rangeland damaged by ORV use. I’ve also experienced ORV trespass onto my private lands. But I’ve had no way to identify the culprits when reporting trespass or illegal ORV use to local law enforcement. Congress should require that ORVs used on public lands have visible identification plates or decals. Doing so would remove the anonymity enjoyed by ORV riders who are bent on breaking the rules.”

- Ambers Thornburgh, second-generation rancher from Oregon who grazes cattle on his private land and adjacent lands leased from the Bureau of Land Management