I have now had two days of trail riding here in Colorado. The trails are rough, and the dropoffs steep in places. The scenery, wildlife, wild flowers, mountain streams are wonderful. We fully respect the land and follow all "Stay the Trail" requirements. I love trail riding. And I love riding my ATV. Great hobby.
In both trail rides, we had to pull our machines on trailers up rough gravel "county roads" to get to the trail head. These roads are much more suited to an ATV or a Jeep. Much to our chagrin, the rough, narrow, rock filled country road was posted "no ATVs" this year after over 25 years of using it. There is inadequate parking on the "cul de sac" at the trail head. What's a guy to do? The Georgia Pass area is popular off highway vehicle driving area in the million acre Pike National Forest. The Jeeps, the dirt bikes and even a mini bike can legally ride up the road with a license plate. But not a ATV. We rode up the road anyway. Lawbreakers! And I hate that.
We don't know why this was marked "licensed vehicles only". Maybe a dispute between county officials and federal Forest Service officials. Many forest service roads are marked as on highway vehicles, and off highway vehicles combined. We share the road when riding. We passed several Jeeps and SUVs on Tuesday's ride. Not so much on county roads. They are mostly "on highway vehicles only". Maybe the dispute is who pays for what? I'd license my ATV but there is no street legal law in Colorado for me to do so. My machine is insured, and I'm a licensed driver, and my machine has "street legal" equipment mounted on it. If I lived in Utah, I could license it and ride on this county road.
Frustrating situations like this is why Colorado must pass a street legal law. There are so many "county" and forest service roads in Colorado that would be perfect for more sedate, and safer ATV riding. Colorado could collect the annual license fees and the trail riding registration fees to help maintain these roads.
Gripe, gripe, gripe....
David
PS: I saw a young lady riding her Honda ATV down our neighborhood street this afternoon. I gave her a big thumbs up! Love seeing folks riding their ATVs on our roads.
In both trail rides, we had to pull our machines on trailers up rough gravel "county roads" to get to the trail head. These roads are much more suited to an ATV or a Jeep. Much to our chagrin, the rough, narrow, rock filled country road was posted "no ATVs" this year after over 25 years of using it. There is inadequate parking on the "cul de sac" at the trail head. What's a guy to do? The Georgia Pass area is popular off highway vehicle driving area in the million acre Pike National Forest. The Jeeps, the dirt bikes and even a mini bike can legally ride up the road with a license plate. But not a ATV. We rode up the road anyway. Lawbreakers! And I hate that.
We don't know why this was marked "licensed vehicles only". Maybe a dispute between county officials and federal Forest Service officials. Many forest service roads are marked as on highway vehicles, and off highway vehicles combined. We share the road when riding. We passed several Jeeps and SUVs on Tuesday's ride. Not so much on county roads. They are mostly "on highway vehicles only". Maybe the dispute is who pays for what? I'd license my ATV but there is no street legal law in Colorado for me to do so. My machine is insured, and I'm a licensed driver, and my machine has "street legal" equipment mounted on it. If I lived in Utah, I could license it and ride on this county road.
Frustrating situations like this is why Colorado must pass a street legal law. There are so many "county" and forest service roads in Colorado that would be perfect for more sedate, and safer ATV riding. Colorado could collect the annual license fees and the trail riding registration fees to help maintain these roads.
Gripe, gripe, gripe....
David
PS: I saw a young lady riding her Honda ATV down our neighborhood street this afternoon. I gave her a big thumbs up! Love seeing folks riding their ATVs on our roads.
