Thwarting ATVs

[CTMBRer]

I just got my trail approved however there seems to be new ATV activity in the local state forest where I am going to build this trail and I was wondering whether anyone had any good ideas on how to make their life as difficult as possible.

One of the ideas I have is lashing 2 inch saplings between trees in places, about two feet off the ground, where the ATVer might try and make his own go around a particular obstacle, in effect corralling or redirecting there movement.

From what I have seen so far they will just about plow through anything barring it's not a physical obstruction.

What else works?

[btf95]

Nothing works, ATV's are like roaches.

[C.P.]

Nothing works, ATV's are like roaches.

If you at least accept this as a possibility, at the very least, it wont be a surprise should the trail(s) get poached.

Some things to consider:
-Pay close attention to careful routing at your entry points, including all the surrounding woods that an ATV would "plow through" to get to your trail, and (if possible) utilize/incorporate as many large/unmove-able natural features, strung out through the woods to make it extremely difficult (for an ATV) to get on the trail in the first place. An example would be some bar squeezing pass throughs between trees (if available), and maybe some very carefully positioned LARGE boulders, always be mindful of an ATV riders POV, and how they might access said trail by poaching through the woods at the entry/exit. You might have to even give up "trail flow" at these points to deal with ATV access. Edit, I wouldn't "lash" or construct man made looking obstacles that are very obviously blocking trail, that's an invite for problems. If the blockage(s) are natural, and well executed, the trail shouldn't even be considered as a passable trail and might even be left alone...

-Also, build the trail from the middle and work toward the exit/entry. If it's a mutli weekend effort from start to finish, It can give you some time to get things right BEFORE everyone knows about the trail's existence.

Basically, there's no standard solution for this problem, b/c there are too many variables...

Oh, and one last suggestion: if you can, take an ATV out for a ride, just to get a better feel for what you might be dealing with. It's an eye opener (especially if you ride an AWD one)

[Slappy]

Keep your trails as tight and twisty as possible. Lots of tight squeezes and aimless meandering as well as narrow benching on off camber stuff helps deter them also. Design the trail to be competely useless for them. Maybe check out the FOMBA trails or some of the newer stuff in Lowell Dracut or HP for examples.

ATVs suck. :mad:

[btf95]

If you at least accept this as a possibility, at the very least, it wont be a surprise should the trail(s) get poached.


Nothing surprises me anymore. I've been run over and left for dead by an ATV, my wife was hit on her horse by an ATV, people have been chased down and harassed by ATV's. Not to mention the destruction they leave behind. All of which happens in my back yard. Between myself and all the neighboring land owners we are totally dumbfounded. Law Enforcement agencies...useless. Posting signs...useless. Restricting access (boulders, trees, etc)...useless. I have tried, face to face, begging, and pleading my case to try and make them understand...useless. I have gone so far as to enact a special program with ATV'ers, special discounts on Sinister frames, an incentive to get them of the quads and on bikes. Although I hear they're out there, I have yet to find in Ma a respectable ATV owner/operator. They ALL have have expressed the same..."try and stop me" or "I don't care, **** off". Nice huh. And more often than not I'm dealing with adults in there 30's or older. It's asinine.

Good luck. And yes, don't be surprised to see all your hard work getting destroyed by the legion of ignorant ATV users. Tears will be shed. Keep up the fight. I know I will. And dear God be careful, they are a dangerous bunch..lol.

[MissJean]

Pretty much what everyone else has said. :mad:
If ATVs are already riding around in there, the odds of them going away are zilch.

I have found perseverance is the key to diminishing their damage.
For the most part ATV users are yahoos and like to do things as easy as possible. Do all the things the other posters have suggested rocks, choke points etc. As soon as you see that they have gotten in, you need to get right out there and block it all off again. Keep putting the signs back up they rip down. Keep dragging the logs back across. Keep calling the town officials or cops.

After a while some ATVers seem to get tired of dealing with finding a new way around the obstacles and things drop off for a while. But then a new batch finds the area and the dance starts all over again.

[fishbum]

All you can hope is that most of them turn 16, get their licenses, and then spend most of their time on our roads and highways. :eek:

[CTMBRer]

Here is in CT, ATVs are illegal on all state land and only permissable on Private Land. Granted, that doesn't stop kids from riding where ever they want.

Unfortunately, the "kid" I think I am dealing with has no regard for any signs or laws that he is breaking. I have an idea on where he lives and going to try and deal with his family first to see if I can get him to stop, otherwise, go for a more legal approach. In order for him to get to the forest, he has to ride on the road and in that he is breaking the law.

[BG]

Beware of legal issues yourself also. some people will try to sue you for harrassment. Your local and state authorities won't be of much help to you, as if they are already, but they will just as soon turn against you if their asses get even warmed due to anything to do on your own...yes even if you are the one in the right. Don't believe me...it's happening in my home town right now.
The only ones who are winning in this issue are the illegals...hmmm where have i heard this before.

BG

[leebo]

How is your relationship with your local state park ranger? I assume he/she is on your side on this matter. Would it help to involve other land use groups to provide a united front? I'm thinking horseriders, AMC, hiking or birdwatching groups. IMBA national may be of help. State environmental police? Just some thoughts.

[JBH]

I rode Nickerson State Park this morning, and the first trail I rode had been torn up my the Motorcross guys over the weekend. Doughnuts around trees, obvious rooster tails everywhere etc. It seems that they stopped at a mini rock garden. I guess the small obstruction stopped them for now. Not sure if it would work for ATV's though.

[Mntbiker13]

Ya the moto freaks make those damn big ruts in the middle of the trails i love to ride. Not much can be done im afraid. they are a disease

[bdee]

The only thing I know of that works is really hiding your new trails - walk in and out. NEVER ride over your hidden entrances/exits. If they spot a trailhead it's over. This isn't always feasible, but it has worked well in a certain spot that I can't really mention - but everyone in RI knows where I'm talking about. That, and make the trail tight as hell, lots of natural rock pinch points, and use a lot of steep off camber sections. It may not be a beginner friendly trail when you're done, but it should offer no ATV flow. Of course, the thing about some ATV riders is often times they don't feel the need to stick to a trail, in those cases you can kind of throw everything out the window and just give up...

I'm dreading getting back into the woods in a few places (Foxboro, Wrentham). This mud season is already shaping up to be a mess. I really don't want to see the crap that's probably being done in there right now..

[CTMBRer]

Yeah, I will take that into consideration - only I am building a multi-use trail so I have keep our four legged, road apple producing friends in mind. I am going to stick to the mantra of making it as difficult as hell to get in and through out the trail have lots of obstacles and build corals at likely go around points.

[TheHare]

Off camber is the number one ATV deterent (IMO). If enough can be incorporated in the trail, the entrance won't need to be hidden. Tight, twisty and 'pinchy' help too, but are not enough on their own. (JMO)

[Mr_Cheeze]

Find the phone number to your nearest Environmental Police annex and save it in your cell phone. Call them each and every time you see illegal forest usage. They get enough calls and you can be sure they will set up a sting. That's really the best thing you can do. You start playing games and all you'll manage to do is make matters worse. They'll find ways to get past obstructions. You need to involve the State Police.

[CTMBRer]

Actually, I met the kid who I think was riding there the other day and asked him to stop and so far there have been no fresh tracks. I am keeping my fingers crossed but if that doesn't work, I will continue to report the incursions.

[Tinshield]

I can vouch for the Environmental Police, they are fairly responsive but they can't be everywhere. When I used to do bicycle patrol on my department I actually caught quite a few of these people. They didn't make the police connection until it was too late. One guy drove me off the trail and I flushed him out of the woods where he stalled his motor as a cruiser blocked him off. He was arrested for reckless operation. I've even handed $100 citations for kids to bring home to their parents. One woman told me I should be ashamed of myself. I guess letting her kid ride a dirt bike on a public way and operating on public land, all illegal mind you, is nothing to be ashamed of? Pfft, people..... We also got a dual purpose motor cycle which we take out occasionally and that works well at the beginning of the season. So, not all LE agancies are useless.