Monday, January 3, 2011

Can 50” Wide Make Our Trails Better:

I love riding the Paiute Trail. I love that you can ride for miles and miles – even days and days on some of the most beautiful backcountry trails anywhere in the U.S. I love that there are some difficult trails and some very easy trails. I love it all – well almost anyway….

Over the last few years I have seen a remarkable change in the usage of the Paiute Trail. The change is an influx of more and more high-speed riders. While some are sport ATVers here to just ride the trails (that’s as opposed to riding the trails to see the scenery), the most harmful group is the high performance UTVs that seem to be proliferating rapidly. In addition to being ridden (driven) far faster than the scenic riders the trail was designed for, these new machines also are typically larger - wider, and heavier than ATVs. This new class of UTVs actually fit much closer into the size category of Jeeps (OHVs) rather than ATVs.

This change in usage is a result of two major things. One, the industry is going through a big change in manufacturing more of these of high performance UTVs. This means that there are more of these users looking for places to ride. And two, the businesses that prosper from the tourist riders on the Paiute Trail in an effort to keep their pockets full, are marketing the trail to everybody and anybody they can.

Both of these are happening without any obvious regard to the consequences. Oddly enough, while the 50” RZR remains the best-selling UTV (or Side by Side), the manufactures seem to be marketing their new models to the faster, high-performance crowd rather than the 50” crowd. One reason for this is the very real possibility that the government ‘power’s that be,’ the CSPC is more than likely to be coming out very soon with standards for the UTV/SxS market. And rumor has it that the CSPC thinks that 50” width is too narrow and therefore too dangerous for a side by side machine. And thus they will be banned. I learned long ago not to try to figure out the actions of the bureaucracy.

But I get off course. My point was to talk about the consequences of this burgeoning new market. Wait a minute! Let me digress just to say that I really do love these machines – it’s just that they have their place, and the Paiute Trail is not the place.

Why is that? The damage they do. They harm our image due to their high-speed riding which results in more dust on the trails and perhaps more importantly, around the residents near the trails. They also damage our image due to the fact that they are more often modified with loud exhaust systems – something that is pointed to as the single most likely method to irritate non-off-roaders and close access to our trails. And, they damage the trails because of their higher speed and more aggressive driving. Then on a more particular note, they damage the trails because they have a wider track than ATVs and therefore create a trail not just wider than needed for a ATV, but wide enough for many full-sized off road vehicles.

So the manufactures make more large, high-speed vehicles and the businesses that cater to the area trails need every rider they can get to make ends meet. What are we to do?

It might just be that by marketing to the higher speed, larger vehicle crowd, we are actually chasing away the ATV riders that made the Paiute Trail what it is. My guess is that fewer scenic ATV riders are willing to risk riding the same trails that the bigger and faster machines use.

My answer? (And you thought I’d never get here;-) Make the Paiute Trail for 50” machines only. Market the trail to 50” users. Market the trail for its scenic value. Leave the big, fast and loud crowd out of the brochures and videos promoting the area. And on a rather separate note, use the money spent to overly groom the trails to install 50” gates.

And for those of you saying you need this new crowd and new machines to pay your bills, I say, “How long do you want to have your business?” The answer is ‘sustainability’. The Paiute Trail is not immune to the same forces that have closed so many other areas to back country travel.






26 comments:

  1. Amen Doug, agree 100 percent!!!

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  2. I think that you see the problem but are not pointing it out correctly for some reason. Its people that drive like crazy on the trails and ruin them thats the problem and you have clearly noted. I cant see that a UTV that is 4 inches wider and a little more heavy to be the main problem. I have a UTV and love to go to trails and enjoy the scenery. One day I hope to be able to travel the paiute trail and enjoy the views the area has to offer. I hope this does not ruin the oppertunity for me but maybe we can limit how people ride on the trail by posting speed limits rather than not letting others on the trail.

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  3. I certainly didn't mean to imply that all people that ride/drive UTVs are crazy - I love to explore the trails in a UTV as well - many times with other friends with UTVs. I just see more and more modified UTV (or Side by Sides) hitting the trails that should be in the dunes or the desert or Moab. It's the loud and fast crowd that are ruining the Paiute Trail and where we used to see sport ATVs in greater numbers as the problem, now the increasing number of performance UTVs is the bigger problem.

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  4. Doug,

    With all due respect, your position sounds a little like the argument that people of any given ethnic background or religion are” the ones causing the problems,” so let’s just segregate them out of certain areas. After all they “Belong.” somewhere else anyway… Right?

    No, what we have here is an issue of personal responsibility, respect, and educating people, so they will know what is expected of them.

    I agree with what was stated in an above comment. The width of the machine is NOT the problem. It’s the idiot behind the wheel. We all know of plenty of 50” wide or less vehicles that have the capability of going ridiculously fast, making all kinds of noise, and causing all kinds of havoc.

    Many 48” atvs can go well over 50 miles per hour, and can be fitted with loud aftermarket exhausts, and big knobby tires. If you were to have your way, and simply close off the area based on a vehicles width, what do you propose to do about those people who choose to act recklessly using one of those narrow machines?

    In my opinion, if this problem is going to be solved, it will ultimately come down to setting reasonable limits and enforcing them.

    If the goal is to have a quieter, safer trail with less dust, and risk of injury to all, you are not going to do it using the vehicles width as the method. Set reasonable speed limits and enforce them. If people are found breaking them, they should receive a ticket and a fine.
    Set reasonable limits for the exhaust levels, and enforce them.

    Even better yet, educate people on trail etiquette, so they begin to see how obnoxious they are when they take their loud machines out here, and tear up the trails. I believe the vast majority of people would be embarrassed to be seen acting that way if the grater public consciousness is shifted toward being better neighbors, and stewards of the land.

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  5. My main point was that I see more 'idiots' behind the wheels of the modified high-performance UTVs than I do on ATVs. There always seems to be a trend of what the 'idiots' on the trails use and now it seems to be that the highest percentage of 'idiots' are using high-performance UTVs.

    Of course education would be a huge success if only the irresponsible trail users were responsible enough to educate themselves. And enforcement, even passive enforcement would certainly help but would be a huge cost.

    I just don't want 'the solution' to be closing the trails.

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  6. The most dangerous section on the Paiute has to be the 01 trail North of Big John Flat / Delano. Every year, there are Ranger's, RZR and Mules flying (40+mph) around some of those corners with the stereo blasting, 4-6 people hanging off the machines and not caring what is coming at them (usually me on my Kawi BF 750).

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  7. I agree with the others, think the main prob is not the per say "UTV" spec people but the people behing the wheel of them, and just because the UTV market is making a big jump and we are seeing alot more of them then the high performance or even the the big bore atvs it seems no matter what is driven the person behind the controls is the one we need to control and not shut down the trails to the others who want to enjoy the beauty of trails. Other states are doing just fine with a 62" limit on the trails that many are enjoying and respecting the trail sys. but are also being patrolled and watched by armed DNR officials who when i have run into and been stopped for just random checks in my RZR S, have been very nice and freindly and enjoyed talking to. ON the other hand I do not ride with a beer in the cup holder and wide open as fast as I can, me and my wife are there for the fun, scenery and the relaxtion of a strees free day in the beautiful outdoors. I am one that has been to Moab in my 4x4 ATV and hope soon to look foward to visiting the beauty of the Piaute Trail sys in my RZR S on the approved trails and having a good time while doing it...if im still able.

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  8. Again, my point was that it seems that we see more of the 'bad examples' not in regular UTVs, but in the 'modified' high-performance UTVs. It seems (to me) that the folks that modify their UTVs with 'performance' items are far more likely to be the problems on the trails than those folks with more stock machines.

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  9. Doug, I live off of the Piute trail and I think if anyone get's a ticket for excessive speed or noise, (UTV or ATV) among there fines they should have to complete a 8 hour tread lightly class and paid by the offender.

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  10. I'd like to actually "SEE" someone on or near the Paiute Trail actually get a ticket for excessive noise or speeding ! ! !

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  11. True the Forest Service is pretty laxed, but us here in Utah are constantly fighting SUWA (sucks) and if all of us are'nt willing to self police, Then we'll loose it all!!!!

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  12. Too bad we can't give out tickets eh?

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  13. Never been to the Paiute and like said want to so bad but where I do ride in WI the Department of Natural Resources (DNR)has a few on machines patroling. Do not see them all the time but you know they are out there, but yes still do have them ones that don't care drive where want and as fast as they want without reguard to the speed limits and its ashame because like always they are the ones that get places closed for the ones who respect the trails and enjoy them.

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  14. The problem is De that you are lumping everyone with a machine like you are describing together. The industry is building machines like you describe stock from the factories these days. I have never ridden the Paiute trail system but hope to some day. I am 62 years old and enjoy riding the trails with my family, I own a Rzr4 it is capable of all that you are saying except it doesn't have the loud exhaust. I bought it because I could take my wife and kids or Grand kids for rides and I do not ride in the fashion you are describing but you want to keep me away and not allow me on the Paiute because of what I ride?

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  15. Profiling may be a bad word nowadays but many times it's the best way to stop a problem that you can find no other viable link to solve!

    I am the same as you - oftentimes using a RZR4 to haul my family (including grandkids) and friends to explore the area's trails. But, while you and I (and others) may very well use this type of machine in a responsible manner to safely explore the scenic trails, I contend that it is that 'type' of machine that is most often bought by the 'type' of user that is less responsible in the use of the machine - more often modifying them for increased speed and more often using them in a less responsible manner on the trails (and that means faster and less likely to stay on the existing trails).

    It's the same as saying that although there are some sport quad users that may ride slowly around on the trails, most sport quads are bought to ride fast, and most are modified to go faster and be louder as they do!

    And no, it's not fair that all of us suffer! Not all Porsche owners are the same as porcupines either.

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  16. hi, owning my first ever side by side, a ranger crew, i look forward to long rides in a few weeks, scenary, not speed, on trails, not flip up sod, trash in the bag, not the ground, the only digging will be the scenary/ i had to have this machine so my family of 4 can be together and enjoy the trips. im not even sure where to start and ride, staying in richfield, have experience riding, have a map...want beauty scenary and fun. i feel what your saying, i also own jet skis, and we to ride them for the views and enjoyment, but never fails to see idiots making a bad example there to...glad they are the few, not the majority.

    so you have any suggestions for me, and i assume there is trails to narrow not to be on? 60 inch wide

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  17. You'll find the vast majority of the trails around the Paiute area are plenty big and smooth enough for the Ranger Crew. A great one is the loop up through the Monroe Mtns - with a stop on the peak (if there's not still too much snow;-), and along several nice, small lakes! And there's still quite a bit of snow at the upper elevations!

    It's good to have your type of people here exploring the area....Come back in the fall for aa whole new adventure when the trees turn color!

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  18. Thank you DE. I appreciate the tips and look forward to it. I also plan to go on to wyoming and montana and colordao after this ride. so looking forward to it. just got to find where to ride that is great rides in the other areas.

    maps are one thing, advise from those who know is better.. appreciate it!

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  19. Ah, Colorado! You'd better spend some time checking out Moab on your way - incredibly scenic trails, and although it gets the extreme trails write-up all the time, there are some incredible trails there that are scenic yet not extreme.

    Then Colorado and the Southwest corner, Silverton, Engineer's Pass, Black Bear - there's some great high country trails there as well.

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  20. one more question DE.

    with 4 people, a ranger crew, and 2 cans of bear spray.. i should be ok??? i mean i prefer not to get a gun for a multi state trip and the hassles. your thoughts, ever hear of any issues in any of them states. i would think with all that i should be good, but im asking to make sure, lol..thanks

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  21. You will be fine! In all my travels on the Paiute Trails I've NEVER seen a bear. And from what I've heard, they are rare to sight while ATVing. The same for Mountain LIons. What you will see is lots of deer, and if you've lucky herds of elk in the Monroes. Make a late trip home in the evening for the best sights.

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  22. thanks so much DE. guess i should put a name on me...lol... David is it.

    not sure where im at, what forum,etc. found this on a search and saw your postings and that is how i started on here. glad i found you...lol.. will return for sure, appreciated all the time and advise greatly! so where am i at??? lol

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  23. Well, our main info site is atvtv.com and from there you can see our videos, latest news and link to our You Tube stuff and the ATV Television Blog. Those links are on the left above.

    We also have the Utah Trail Guides site that links to this blog, but we've kinda let it sit with the economy like it is a just stay up on the regular ATV TV stuff.

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  24. Thanks DE much appreciated. david

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  25. ya i tryed getting in there 3 times now, but each time it says detected threats and wont allow me in, nortons wont and windows wont, malicous or something like that. just so you know so u can see if its a issue or not.. but i cant get in

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  26. Thanks David. I just got an email from another guy saying the same thing....when does it ever end?

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