Unfortunately, the Stakeholder's group never clearly spelled out how a negative impact to other user group would be measured. ATV supporters act like the schoolyard bully who punches you on the arm-"Why are you crying? I can't feel anything!" Since they don't see noise as a problem, they don't see why anyone else should see it as a problem. But if the following isn't an adverse impact to a user group, what would be?
The money for the immensely popular bicycle trails come from Highway funds, so often, they run along Country Roads. Much of the time, even along those stretches, a rider can enjoy breaks from the road noise. Traffic comes and goes. But the really great moments happen when the trail, for one reason or another, goes OFF of the County highways. Then, a biker can experience the true quiet of the northwoods.
There is only one significant stretch on the bike trail between St. Germain and Sayner where this happens-just south of Sayner to Highway C. Coincidentally, that is exactly where the bike trail will intersect with an ATV trail. In other words, if the ATV trail is developed, there will be NO section free of motorized vehicle noise on this significant stretch of trail.
So why doesn't that constitute adverse impact to a user group?
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