so you guys have never heard of backcountry camping? Some of us prefer to walk 5 miles into our campsites.
As for the cameras, quit being stupid. You're proposing to run power and video cable way out into the middle of nowhere. Or you're proposing to find a wireless camera system capable of transmitting a good video signal 5 or more miles away to a ranger station while never running out of batteries. And what do you do once you have the ATV rider on videotape? They're covered in mud and wearing a helmet so how do you propose to identify them? How do you propose to apprehend him? Or does your plan include hoverjets so you can fly out there and capture him right away? Be realistic.
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You seem to think that hikers have more right to them than ATVers. Where do Mountain bikers fit in? How about bird watchers?
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Funny you should mention that. Mountain bikes aren't allowed out there in MN. ATVs are, but not the bikes. Stupid, isn't it. Bird watchers hike in, if you didn't know. And as I said, you are NOT restricting one group from the public land. The ATVers are not banned from the land, only their ATVs are. They can walk in like everyone else and enjoy the park. You're using a smarmy, underhanded tactic here to try and paint ATV riders as a separate group of people who are inseparable from their ATV's. You want people to forget that you can climb off of your ATV and use your legs so that they will rally behind you in support.
Your reasoning is that any group of people that share a common interest in an activity should be allowed to take that activity out onto the trails in state and national parks. People who like to ride ATVs should be allowed to take their ATVs on the trails. If you follow your reasoning to its logical conclusion, then people who like to drive 4x4 trucks offroad should be allowed to take their jeeps on the trails as well. People who enjoy chainsaw competitions should be allowed to hold them out in the forest where they can cut down some real trees.
It's obvious that that logic is stupid, and it stems from a fatal flaw in your premise. You're trying to use the diversity bandwagon to claim that you are in a separate group of people who should be given equal rights to everyone else, and are then claiming that your ATVs are an inseparable part of you. Therefore, if we ban ATVs from anywhere, we're discriminating against you and denying you access. Get off the 4wheeler and walk, and you won't have a problem.
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As far as your assertion about your race car, as you are well aware there are countless motor vehicle rules that your race car would have to abide by. Not the least of which are safety features, emissions, lights, etc. Your example is completely without merit.
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Well actually even if I made it emissions legal I wouldnt' be allowed to drive it on the roads because it's never been certified. In other words, my special interest group of diverse people who share a common interest in racing are not allowed to take racing onto the public highways. It's the same logic as your proposition. If that logic is without merit (and it is) then so is yours.
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As far as enforcement, again, we're talking about limited areas of abuse not the whole 90,000 acres.
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No, we're not. Trails extend far away from the nearest ranger station. It can take an entire day to get places even on an ATV. We'd have to establish a full-fledged army of rangers to police people if we followed your plan.
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I would do one of two things. I'd either get pissed and make a point of tearing up the trail so the hikers would go elsewhere or I would simply get off and kick his sally ass.
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And it's idiotic statements like that that highlights the irresponsible side of ATVing that wrecks it for the rest of the ATVers. Congratulations, you're one of the primary reasons ATVs are getting banned.