ATV Florida Forum

First off, this is not a bash each other, or bash the government thread. Please respond though. Your thoughts are very important & perhaps even critical to our riding choices in the future.

I am going to be taking the responses to our State and Federal Agencies and trying to plead our case, so please bear that in mind. There are no wrong or right answers here, the only wrong thing is to ignore this thread, or not bother to respond with your viewpoint & then complain later.

Let me start by saying, either I am completely wrong or they (our government agencies) are totally misguided in what they think an ATV rider is.

I have talked to a number of representatives from most of the agencies involved in OHV use in the State, personally, on the phone or by e-mail.  They seem like the are very committed to opening up trails for us throughout the State, there are new areas in various stages all over Florida that will be opening in the future, the ultimate goal is for any resident of the State to be able to drive for less than 2 hours & enjoy a great trail system.

This all sounds good, so what is the problem?

I refer you back to my original statement regarding the type of riders they think own ATVs. If any of you have watched the training video's or manufacturers commercials etc., you see a nice family enjoying a nice day on their correctly sized ATVs waving at the oncoming family riding their horses down the same trail. That is who they think makes up the majority of ATV riders.

I don't doubt this class of riders exist, I just don't know any. The guys I ride with (which equal hundreds of riders) are all very different from this group.

My feelings are, they are the minority. If that is true, the government agencies are going to sink millions of dollars, thousands of acres & untold man hours into building miles and miles of trail systems that are just going to be totally incompatible with the vast majority of participants of our sport.

I hate to generalize, but for the purpose of this thread, let's try and see exactly what we looking for in a trail system. In my opinion, there are three main groups of ATV riders;

1: The Sport Rider, ride at a fast pace, jump over any little obstacle, fly round corners. Happiest riding on one way trails.

2: Utility Riders, enjoy challenges, like mud or water.  Most happy with their quad buried up to the snorkel in a mud pit or stream.  Consider the trail as a means to get from one challenge to the next. Like to create own trails.

3: Slow trail rider. Enjoy driving around our forests and rural areas. Slower pace. Stick to the pre made trails.

What are you?

Please post, there are no right and wrong answers.  If I am right and the numbers 1 & 2 of the above are the majority, perhaps it is not to late to get some riding areas that WE can use.

I am number 1&2, I have a utility and love challenging rides, but also like to ride fast on the trails(one-way) I think you are right that the trails will not be compatible with most users and they do have the wrong image of ATV'ers.

Pretty much a #3 with the tiniest bit of #2 thrown in.

Normally 1&2 but 3 at times ;)

I would be in number 2 or 3. I like the trails especially as a family but love challenges along the way also. Trailways would be a great start to show that we can be responsible. Maybe then they will give us other challenges along the way. Right now I would take anything.

PS. I also think that they could limerock a stretch beside the trailways that are made on old railroad tracks that are made for walking and let us ride on them with laws and speed limits. Write tickets to anyone not abiding by the laws.

1 when we don't have the kids with us &

3 when its the family. 

my family is a #2 with some #3 thrown in every now and then

Almost exclusively #1...

for me number 1 cause i have a sports quad but i also put my self in number 2 cause i like getting dirty in mud and like a challange

mostly 1, but there are plenty of times with the family #3.  different levels of #1 would be great...novice to expert/technical. 

My family personally fits all categories. What is at issue for us is that there are MX tracks within the 2 hours and we can always go to the mud bog events at various locations but there are not many good trail systems within this state. If you look at other states such as Tennessee, West Virginia and others there are extensive trail systems. Such Trail systems should include viewing nature and our states beauty and include some challenges along the way such as water or mud crossings, hills (where they can be found) and turns.

Mostly the family is #2. But I have been known to be a "snail" while riding in a nice scenic area, ONF, RR, ....

I ride a 2 but don't prefer riding like the 2's listed.  I'm generally  riding my 2 like the 1's or as close as I can. 

My family is a #1 & #2 11 1/2 months out of the year. I love 1 way trails for my safety and other riders. Give us a place to do what we like and we will be there ;)

Oh #2 ATW.  We like to trail ride too, but like a trail ride w/some challenge, to ride down some man made trail system wouldn't be all that great, unless it lead to something a bit challeging. 

We are #2 and #3

We are all the above one, two and three for me.

hmm my name is mud.junkie i wonder which # i should pick lol.





 #2

#1 here. I can live without one way trails.

1 & 2 HERE ALSO

I love the trails (#1). It would be awesome to have a trail system where we can open it up and not worry about any head on collisions. ONE WAY trails are definately a must. They have several lanes on highway systems(Fast lane/passing lane/slow lane)all headed in the same direction.
Not saying we need 3 and 4 lane trails but pointing out the theory. Our trail system needs to cater to our needs and not what someone sitting in an office who has never ridden decides whats best for us......Perform a survey of the 180,ooo registered bikes in florida and then move forward with the popular concensus. Imagine if all 180,000 registeries were on the same page come voting time for or State officials, you think they would see things our way for a change. ;)

Hey just a suggestion, but how about a poll.....

I was going to submit the comments to the state, it would mean more than just numbers anyone could have made up. I was hoping that we would have some constructive comments too.

What they should do is have that question on the form when you go to register it and then see what each community has the most of and consider atv parks to each areas riding type. More people would probably register their quads also just to have their vote counted.

There are 6007 members on this forumn, not all active but I bet at least half are. No reason why this thread should not yield 40+ pages of lagitament comments for Paul to submit to these people.

Well, When the fam was into sport quads we were 100% #1
Now that we all have Utes, we are mostly #2's. Every once in a while we are number 3's but only until we get to the mudhole and then we are right back to 100% #2's again.

#1 most of the time 3 occasionally when there is something to look at besides palmettos and pine trees.

manly #1   sport rider   hopefully some long streches with whoops   3 and 4 gear motoring  in croom  its 1st hit 2nd  back to first  unless in the pit

I am # 2 without the family, # 3 with family.

#1 for me.  It was mentioned here already that the trails should be one way; that is a great idea.  One way trails in 8-12 mile harescrable style loops for the sport quads that want to air it out.  Prominate signage too warning of fast rides on those type trails.  That's not to say utilities can't ride on those trails- just a warning

#1 all the way!!!!

Definitely 1 and a little bit of 2 and 3.   I like riding at a fast past but sometimes I like to ride slower and cruise the trails or try and make it through water with a sport quad.  Most 1 though.

#1 most of the time, but I enjoy cruisin' in the scenery too so a little bit of #3
One way trails would be so much better and SAFER!

I am a #1 for sure. But i also enjoy challenges at slower speeds like rocks, hills, and the occasional mud pit(#2). After a long day of riding i do like to just putt around at slow speeds and enjoy the scenary (#3). But 90% of the time im on my bike im wide open! bwwaaaaaab! (4-stroke noise? haha)

Paul # 1 for me, I really dont care for the mud that much.

#1 mostly with a little of #3 in the Rhino

#2 and some #3 ...naa Im # 2.5

#2 mostly but sometimes #3 when the wife is snapping pictures

Riding solo I'm a 3, riding with a group then it depends but a 2 or 3.

   I will say all of the above.I mostly ride fast on my sport quad when I go alone.When I take my Daughter,I like to cruise and just have fun.I like playing in water- not as much mud- on utility quads also.
   There are options with this sport, that's why it's so popular and so much fun!!

#1!!!

Number 2 and 3 for my crew

Mostly #3 here with some 2 mixed in.  The family rides together, and the kinds of trails I would like ideally are ones that actually go somewhere.  When we lived back in PA, you could jump on a trail and ride for 20 miles, into another town for a couple of road sodis and jump back on the trail and down to the river...it was an all day trip you had an actual desitination where you could stop for lunch, and it was totally safe.  You didn't have to worry about someone coming flying acrosss the trail from another direction at 40mph.

#1 when I'm w/ friends, we try to ride as fast as we can.(& have a blast too)
#2/3 when I'm w the kid's.

#1 with the bro's

#3 with the ho's

haha nice one

#1 for me I'd say 85% of the time and 15% #3

Hey Scramdaddy, they call you that cause your from Scrambletown ?

2.5 in the rhino  ;D. It's time for a place to ride. Several other states have areas to ride, with all the land in this state it escapes me that we can't have a few safe "legal" places to ride.

2 and 3 mainly, sometimes I ride like a 1 but thats only when its out in the open with no one coming the oppisite ways and stuff.

Hey Paul, you need to add a #4, all of the above.

I am probably an 8.5-9

why do I have to choose a category?  we just ride   these politicians need to go piss up a rope  ,I aint gonna suck up to these weazels.

Because they are the guys with the control of the land??

I used to be mostly #3, and with the family it still would be.  I had to switch to #1 when I got older  ;), a ute without Elka just kills my back, besides the faster you go the less you notice  ;D.

so 95% #1,  5% #3.

#1 with the big kids
#3 when the hole gang is riding.

                 Yes Sir..... Nah I'm j/k

2 and 3

 1-60%,2-30% and 3-10%

1 when the big kids ride, and a 3 when the little ones ride.. I like some nice trails with a mix of everything,
flat area, whoops, lite mud so my bike don't get stuck, climbs if possible, etc....

We are a #3.  We ride as a family on the trails and rarely go over 15 mph.

#3 for me, my daughter is a #2.