Discover Minneapolis


Tread Lightly! What You Should Know About 4 Wheelers

My husband and I live in a recreational areaEverything seemed to be going well, until one
in central Minnesota. As with most recreationparticular day. Recently our path system was
areas throughout the country this means manydiscovered by a group of 4 wheelers that are
frequently use 4 wheelers around us. We havenow using it as a connection from one racing
4 wheelers ourselves that we use to plow snowarea to another. The racing causes an
from our driveway, haul wood from the woodexcessive amount of noise and some serious
pile to the house and to travel thedamage to the wooded area, which prompted the
recreation trails of the area. We also useinterference of the department of natural
our 4 wheelers during the deer hunting seasonresources which stepped in and banned the use
to get back to our deer stands and toof  ATV's  in  this  wooded  area.
transport the deer out of the woods. I think
they are a useful and fun vehicle; howeverThis has been a great disappointment to those
there are so many people who use their 4of us who were using our 4 wheelers
wheelers to destroy the natural beauty of ourresponsibly. When I mentioned this to some of
State  unknowingly  or  purposefully.my co-workers I was surprised to find out a
majority of them thought that all ATV trails
It all starts from the fortunate fact thatshould be closed. Many people see these
there are several paths in the acreage behindtrails as dangerous and harmful to the
our home for 4 wheelers. We normally useenvironment. I was amazed that they saw the 4
these paths to go from one neighbor's home towheelers as a bad thing per se. A close look
another and to simply walk in the beautifulat the situation should reveal that the real
woods. The wooded area where the paths areculprits are those irresponsible people
located has quite dense vegetation filleddriving  them.
with very old beautiful hardwood maples and
ash trees. This wooded area is classifiedThe woods behind our house are much quieter
under tax forfeited land, so it isnow. People still use the paths for walking
collectively owned by the State of Minnesota.and nature-gazing. The thing that still bugs
There is an agreement among the neighborsme is that others are getting the message
that we will all do our best to keep thethat 4 wheelers are bad for nature, when the
paths clear of brush and fallen debris.true message should be irresponsible people
However, there are no rules or guidelinesare really what are bad for nature. It is
whatsoever about the use of 4 wheelers on theunfair that thoughtless behavior by some
paths. Everyone used common sense and waspeople is over - generalized and affects the
courteous to each other as well as to Motherentire community. I love Nature. I love my 4
Nature.wheelers, too. They can co-exist.



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