Riding Areas Dwindling

On 22 Sep 2005 20:09:54 -0700, jarrells.TakeThisOut@jarrells.cjb.net wrote:

>I have been riding for years. When I was a boy I rode the private
>lands near my house. Everyone did. There were abandoned logging and
>mining roads everywhere. It was a blast. We could ride for miles and
>connect cities using only dirt roads.
>
>I have since moved and become a more responsible rider. I try to do
>the right thing when able, but I find more and more land inaccessible.
>More fences, gates, and "No Trespassing" signs are being installed.
>
>My current local area doesn't have much dirt riding available so I
>decided to start looking at topographical maps for undeveloped land
>that might have some good riding. I found a spot, but it was gated.
>There were no "No Trespassing" signs or locks so I went in and rode
>around. The area has potential. I plan to look for more areas after I
>explore this area further.
>
>I'm starting to feel like society at large is against dirt riders.
>More and more land is being closed. I feel like going out and buying a
>pair of bolt cutters.
>
>What are your thoughts on riding on private land?

Great if the owner doesn't mind.

> Will you stop at a gate?

Well........yes, you got to open it to get in don't you.


> Will you stop at a wire fence?

See above.

> Will you stop at a "No Trespassing" sign?

Usually.

> Do you carry bolt cutters or a torch?

That'd be RadRicks department. I hope your not planing to weld the
gate back up after you cut it down. Torches aren't for welding don't
ya know.

Talk to other riders, find out where it's *legal* to ride.
A private land owner may let you ride on their property if you were
to contact him/her and ask in advance, but trespassing on private
property isn't going to be the answer to finding a good place to ride.

As far as bolt cutters and torch go, they may get you a ride in the
back seat of the local PD cruiser by proving your intentions to break
in, and convict you of vandalism if you actually used them.

You riding a Quad by any chance?
>
>Ride Safe!
>
>Mike Jarrells
 >> Stay informed about: Riding Areas Dwindling 

"One last consideration YOU as a rider need to keep in mind about is,
Why
private land is soo hard to get on! : Problem for land owner is who is

liable for your (THe general public's) dumb ass? If I let public on my

land, people get hurt, it has been so typical for that people to file
lawsuit against landowner, and win large sums of money"

Fear and ignorance. It is a shame that so many landowners actually
believe this sort of thing. You still have to prove negligence to win
a law suit - end of story, regardless of what you see on "60 Minutes".

I am a large-parcel owner, and I allow unrestricted OHRV use. For
undeveloped land, there is no liability - how can there be negligence
when you haven't done anything on the land. Even the insurance
companies recognize this, as large additional owned parcels are covered
in homeowners' liability policies w/o additional premiums. You do
still need coverage to stand off any frivoulous law suits, of course,
but even the insurance companies recognize that these suits are
fundamentally unwinnable, so you really only need coverage for fees.

On the other hand, however, if you forbid use and gate or block trails,
and someone tresspasses anyway, you incur significant additional
liability due to the structures. So, many landowners who restrict
access to reduce their liability are actually significantly increasing
it. Pretty funny, eh?

JayC
 >> Stay informed about: Riding Areas Dwindling 

On Fri, 23 Sep 2005 10:10:45 -0500, "PlowBoy" <DoNotreply RemoveThis @nowhere.com>
wrote:

>(saddleback park California is one of thousands that stick out in my mind,
>and many more private grounds revoked).


>> Ride Safe!
>>
>> Mike Jarrells
>
Mike,
Where do you live? I remember Saddleback very well. Every time it
seemed like, that I rode there, I got hurt. That ground I swear was
harder than any other ground around. And the flat track they had was
a blast to ride on.
Bill & Debbie Smith
"The Slow Group"
04 -- XR400 (Grandpa)
04 -- TTR125E (Debbie)
04 -- CRF150 (Family)
04 -- CRF50 (David)
05 -- CRF50 (Anthony)
 >> Stay informed about: Riding Areas Dwindling 

"JayC" <jwc.DeleteThis@sysmatrix.net> wrote in message
news:1127489134.426068.85590@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
> "One last consideration YOU as a rider need to keep in mind about is,
> Why
> private land is soo hard to get on! : Problem for land owner is who is
>
> liable for your (THe general public's) dumb ass? If I let public on my
>
> land, people get hurt, it has been so typical for that people to file
> lawsuit against landowner, and win large sums of money"


There was a guy running for the AMA board about 2 years ago that stated
this was the #1 threat facing dirtbiking. Land owners being liability
scared.

Rex McKinney
 >> Stay informed about: Riding Areas Dwindling 

><snip> On the other hand, however, if you forbid use and gate or block
>trails,
> and someone tresspasses anyway, you incur significant additional
> liability due to the structures. So, many landowners who restrict
> access to reduce their liability are actually significantly increasing
> it. Pretty funny, eh?
>
> JayC


Irony cracks me up.
 >> Stay informed about: Riding Areas Dwindling 

I belong to a local club that leases 1600 acres of private land. We
cannot allow public or guest riding, and our members have to sign annual
waivers protecting the land owners from legal issues and law suits, we
pay a lot money each year for the insurance to protect them. We have had
a few races open to AMA members over the years, If it wasn't for the AMA
selling insurance for events, we wouldn't be able to afford public
events.
 >> Stay informed about: Riding Areas Dwindling 

So, can I come up and ride or should I bring bolt cutters for the
gate?

John
 >> Stay informed about: Riding Areas Dwindling 

I think riding these days in the US isn't about quantity but quality.
Having a good bike, a clear weekend and finding a great place to go is
where its at.
If you want to ride 1000's of miles get a great D/P bike and go south
of the border. Everything off of the major highways is great riding
one way or the other and you will get you fill of loooong rides.
 >> Stay informed about: Riding Areas Dwindling 

Careful there Mike, you're in Texas now. This is a state where private
property rights reign supreme and "He needed akillin" is a valid defense.
Why don't you join TSCEC and that South Texas hare scramble series whatever
it's called and you can ride almost every weekend. Also there's some good
riding in the Sam Houston NF near Houston. There was supposed to be an
enduro there this weekend but it got postponed to Oct 2 due to the
hurricane. Not sure what row Keith and I will be on but if there's an open
slot you're welcome to join us.

--
Everett
'04 KTM 300 EXC (the new Treefinder)
'00 CR 250 (for sale)
'75 Kawasaki S3 400 (2-stroke triple)
'74 BMW R90/6 (Gentleman's Express)

<jarrells.TakeThisOut@jarrells.cjb.net> wrote in message
news:1127444994.488094.245020@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> I have been riding for years. When I was a boy I rode the private
> lands near my house. Everyone did. There were abandoned logging and
> mining roads everywhere. It was a blast. We could ride for miles and
> connect cities using only dirt roads.
>
> I have since moved and become a more responsible rider. I try to do
> the right thing when able, but I find more and more land inaccessible.
> More fences, gates, and "No Trespassing" signs are being installed.
>
> My current local area doesn't have much dirt riding available so I
> decided to start looking at topographical maps for undeveloped land
> that might have some good riding. I found a spot, but it was gated.
> There were no "No Trespassing" signs or locks so I went in and rode
> around. The area has potential. I plan to look for more areas after I
> explore this area further.
>
> I'm starting to feel like society at large is against dirt riders.
> More and more land is being closed. I feel like going out and buying a
> pair of bolt cutters.
>
> What are your thoughts on riding on private land? Will you stop at a
> gate? Will you stop at a wire fence? Will you stop at a "No
> Trespassing" sign? Do you carry bolt cutters or a torch?
>
> Ride Safe!
>
> Mike Jarrells
>
 >> Stay informed about: Riding Areas Dwindling 

>On Fri, 23 Sep 2005 20:27:41 -0500, "txmxrider" <txmxrider.DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote:

>Carefvl there Mike, yov're in Texas now. This is a state where private
>property rights reign svpreme and "He needed akillin" is a valid defense.
>Why don't yov join TSCEC and that Sovth Texas hare scramble series whatever
>it's called and yov can ride almost every weekend. Also there's some good
>riding in the Sam Hovston NF near Hovston. There was svpposed to be an
>endvro there this weekend bvt it got postponed to Oct 2 dve to the
>hvrricane. Not svre what row Keith and I will be on bvt if there's an open
>slot yov're welcome to join vs.


Reggie, Chris Blanco, Darren McGvffey, and I were svpposed to be on
one of the rows right behind the AA riders,
If we have the rain that is svpposed to accompany the Hvrricane, they
may not rvn the endvro next weekend.
If they do rvn the endvro next weekend, I won't be able to make it. It
is Deb's 30 year high school revnion, and I was told that my presence
was mandatory. She told me this several months ago, with a steely
glint in her eye, that covld not be ignored. (Danger Will Robinson!)

The weather forecast for here is for vp to 20 inches of rain in the
next 4 days. (We get Hovston's weather, secondhand, abovt a day
later.)


Jim Cook
'04 Gas Gas DE300 Woods Pilot
Team LAGNAF
SMACKOVER RACING
BJEC/SERA/TSCEC/AHSCS
www.smackovermotorsports.com
 >> Stay informed about: Riding Areas Dwindling 

"Wvdsracer" <dirtbike52RemovE.RemoveThis@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:jgi9j1doq8ad1c8ia6vennli4kd03c0nrb@4ax.com...
> >On Fri, 23 Sep 2005 20:27:41 -0500, "txmxrider" <txmxrider.RemoveThis@yahoo.com>
> >wrote:
>
>>Carefvl there Mike, yov're in Texas now. This is a state where private
>>property rights reign svpreme and "He needed akillin" is a valid defense.
>>Why don't yov join TSCEC and that Sovth Texas hare scramble series
>>whatever
>>it's called and yov can ride almost every weekend. Also there's some good
>>riding in the Sam Hovston NF near Hovston. There was svpposed to be an
>>endvro there this weekend bvt it got postponed to Oct 2 dve to the
>>hvrricane. Not svre what row Keith and I will be on bvt if there's an open
>>slot yov're welcome to join vs.
>
>
> Reggie, Chris Blanco, Darren McGvffey, and I were svpposed to be on
> one of the rows right behind the AA riders,
> If we have the rain that is svpposed to accompany the Hvrricane, they
> may not rvn the endvro next weekend.
> If they do rvn the endvro next weekend, I won't be able to make it. It
> is Deb's 30 year high school revnion, and I was told that my presence
> was mandatory. She told me this several months ago, with a steely
> glint in her eye, that covld not be ignored. (Danger Will Robinson!)
>
> The weather forecast for here is for vp to 20 inches of rain in the
> next 4 days. (We get Hovston's weather, secondhand, abovt a day
> later.)

Two pieces of advice I offer withovt hesitation to any married person who
cares to listen:

1) never threaten to leave yovr spovse, vnless yov jvst don't care.

2) never send yovr spovse to a high school revnion alone, vnless yov jvst
don't care.

jvst my $0.02.

sorry the damned cell phone towers are so sparse arovnd here Jim. I kept
losing yov today.

-dean
riding at ace motocross (acemotocross.com) with the wizard lvrker and Sean
tomorrow. Ride day provided by some website that I shovldn't mention.
 >> Stay informed about: Riding Areas Dwindling 

Everett,

Thanks for the tip. I might try some of the races closer to San
Antonio.

Mike
 >> Stay informed about: Riding Areas Dwindling 

Well, I have been riding for 36 years, and I am amazed that there are still
"legal" places to ride. The shrinkage of riding ares you are experiencing
is due to a number of factors:

Development expansion
Reaction to trail destruction due to Quads
Stupid riders who won't quiet their bikes

My approach is to just ride while you can,, wher you can. It will all go
away soon.

PP
<jarrells.RemoveThis@jarrells.cjb.net> wrote in message
news:1127444994.488094.245020@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> I have been riding for years. When I was a boy I rode the private
> lands near my house. Everyone did. There were abandoned logging and
> mining roads everywhere. It was a blast. We could ride for miles and
> connect cities using only dirt roads.
>
> I have since moved and become a more responsible rider. I try to do
> the right thing when able, but I find more and more land inaccessible.
> More fences, gates, and "No Trespassing" signs are being installed.
>
> My current local area doesn't have much dirt riding available so I
> decided to start looking at topographical maps for undeveloped land
> that might have some good riding. I found a spot, but it was gated.
> There were no "No Trespassing" signs or locks so I went in and rode
> around. The area has potential. I plan to look for more areas after I
> explore this area further.
>
> I'm starting to feel like society at large is against dirt riders.
> More and more land is being closed. I feel like going out and buying a
> pair of bolt cutters.
>
> What are your thoughts on riding on private land? Will you stop at a
> gate? Will you stop at a wire fence? Will you stop at a "No
> Trespassing" sign? Do you carry bolt cutters or a torch?
>
> Ride Safe!
>
> Mike Jarrells
>
 >> Stay informed about: Riding Areas Dwindling