ATVs don't belong
on public land
The front page of the Enterprise of April 18 carried a photo of an ATV mired in the Straight River. The caption reads, "ATV Drivers Arrested on Straight River." The photo should make all Minnesotans angry. The two individuals involved were arrested and were expected to be charged. That is good, but there are some not so good aspects of this event to be considered.
First, the damage is already done to a trout stream that is one of Hubbard County's prides. Second, this punches some holes in the image the ATV riders' groups present of ATV riders as self-educating, self-policing individuals, consisting largely of arthritic old folks like myself who only ride ATVs on sedate nature appreciation outings.
I am grateful for the addition of a new law enforcement person who will have responsibility for Off-Highway Vehicle traffic in Hubbard County. Nevertheless, I look for more photos like this to be taken in the Paul Bunyan State Forest where new DNR/County trails are now to be officially designated.
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Despite the best intentions of the ATV riders' groups, they can't educate rogue non-members, and it only takes a few like the Straight River pair to get off the trails, "go off the rails" and cause enormous damage. ATVs do not belong on public land.
Sheryl Barta
Nevis
