Promoting quiet recreation in Wisconsin.
Opposing the coming attempts to sell off Wisconsin's natural heritage.
Fighting denial about climate change. When are we hitting the streets?


Tuesday, June 28, 2005

From Joel Patenaude: Call In, Speak Out!

Dear nonmotorized trail supporters,
Wisconsin ATV Association President Randy Harden will be the guest for
an hour-long call-in program on Wisconsin Public Radio tomorrow morning
(Wednesday, Jan. 29) starting at 6 a.m.
Yes, that's early. But I would encourage you and any like-minded people
you know to set the alarm and call in to register your concern for the
increasing presence of ATVs on public lands in Wisconsin.
The statewide broadcast is prompted by a front-page story in the
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Sunday titled "ATVs lead the pack: For
better or worse, all-terrain vehicles are quickly passing the
snowmobile
in popularity."
You can read the story here:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/jun05/336591.asp
The story discusses the prospect of an ATV trail in the Northern
Highland American Legion State Forest in Vilas County -- where, in
early
2004, local residents voted 2-1 against allowing ATVs on county land.
Nevertheless NHAL superintendent Dennis Leith is quoted saying, "Let's
give them (ATV riders in the state forest) a chance."
The JS story also focuses on run-away ATV riding and subsequent trail
damage in Jackson County. But there's plenty of evidence of ATV damage
throughout the state.
Let's ask Harden why there should be more trails -- on public lands in
particular -- when the majority of state park and trail users are
trying
to get away from motorized traffic and the attendent noise and exhaust?
Let's ask Harden why the majority of recreationalists seeking peace,
quiet and a safe and unspoiled natual environment, should have to put
up
with a destructive sport enjoyed by a small minority?
Let's ask Harden why he thinks so-called "multi-use trails" -- where
ATV'ers, bicyclists and hikers are theoretically all allowed -- are a
good idea and not nonsensical and dangerous? Why does he think anyone
on
foot or on a bicycle who encounters an ATV on a trail would ever return
to that trail again? Multi-use trails become defacto ATV trails, do
they
not?
Let's ask Harden if he supports the buy-out of nonmotorized state
trails
-- returning federal funds to release trails from restrictions against
motorized use?
And while we're at it, let's ask Harden why Wisconsin taxpayers should
be supporting his family financially by paying the National Off-Highway
Vehicle Insurance & Services Group Inc. $1 million since 2001?
"The payments to the national group are unprecedented - there is no
similar program for snowmobiles, mountain bikes or personal
watercraft,"
The Journal-Sentinel reports.
He claims ATV'ers pay their way through registrations and gas taxes. I
doubt that that alone is what's paying the salaries of Harden, his wife
and son.
So tune in and please consider calling with these and other questions.
Harden has already notified his constituency to do the same, you can be
sure of that. Let's not let the loud pro-ATV crowd monopolize the hour.
Sincerely,
Joel Patenaude, Editor
Silent Sports magazine
P.S. For a more sympathetic take (for the silent sports perspective) on
the threat posed by ATVs in Wisconsin, read "Here come the ATVs," the
recent cover story in Madison's alt-weekly, Isthmus. You could glean
some questions from that story as well. The copy is attached to this
email.

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