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Our north country counties deserve an all-terrain trail system. There should be little debate on the issue. In fact, New York should have in place an all-terrain trail system similar to those found north of the border in Ontario and Quebec.
Unfortunately, millions of dollars of revenues generated by ATV use is being diverted to Canada and beyond due to the lack of trails.
ATVs are ideal for weekend and longer excursions. Outdoors enthusiasts can carry equipment and provisions they need to stay out for a few hours, a few days or a week at a time. ATV riders are now carrying spotting scopes for birding and GPS units for navigation and GPS "treasure hunting." Elderly and disabled people, for the first time, can venture into the back country on ATVs and enjoy nature.
It is the wide and variety of uses of all-terrain vehicles that has spurred the rapid growth in sales over the past few years. These days, ATVs are used in farming, forestry, law enforcement, peacekeeping, by federal and state agencies, utility companies as well as trail riding.
The total number of ATVs currently operating in New York is estimated at nearly 350,000. This number has continued to rise for the past decade and all indications from projected growth forecasts, ATV use will continue to climb — especially among the baby boomer generation.
There currently exists a New York proposal that directs the DEC to develop and implement a program of state assistance payments for municipalities and not-for-profit ATV associations for ATV safety, education and training; for the lease and purchase of land and facilities for the development of ATV roads and trails to be open to the general public; and the development and maintenance of ATV roads and trails which are open to the general public.
According to the NYS Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle Association, these are all positive steps toward the ultimate goal of establishing a formal and legitimate statewide trail system based on user registration fees. New York has the third largest ATV sales in the United States. Historically there have been very few legal places in the state where the general public can ride ATVs and trail bikes. Finding such places is problematic. In the north country, trails are few and far between. Moreover, the vast majority of state lands, publicly owned, are off limits to ATV use, thereby creating a contentious issue between protectionists and recreationalists. |
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The association, however, objects to a provision to restrict DEC's power to authorize public ATV access on state-owned lands (as opposed to conservation easements) only in the pursuit of "traditional recreational programs" provided to the public by the department, such as hunting, fishing, trapping, camping or wildlife observation.
ATV use equates to big dollars
The economic impact of recreational vehicle trails is astounding. For example, just across our border, the economic impact generated by Ontario's 43,000-plus kilometer snowmobile trail network operated by over 260 community-based member clubs is more than $1 billion annually.
In 2004, the total annual spending in Wisconsin by out-of-state ATVers was $34.7 million, whereas, the total annual spending of all resident ATVers was $295 million.
According to a Tug Hill Region ATV Economic Impact Study commissioned by the Cooperative Tug Hill Council, the total direct economic impacts of ATV use on sales in the Tug Hill Region is $23,067,119. Combine the direct impact with indirect and induced impact; the grand total is $35.2 million a year.
Additionally, resident ATV spending, which represents economic activity rather than a genuine economic impact, totals a whopping $37.7 million.
Since ATVs can be used year round, they have the potential to have a greater economic impact than snowmobiles. A statewide trail system should be created in order to have a safe, well-managed place to ride so that irresponsible and illegal riding is reduced.
Currently, there are several small, local, legal trail systems scattered around the state. Greater riding opportunities are needed in more areas of the state — especially in the north country — than are currently available. These trails must have enough diversity and length (preferably between communities) to provide an interesting and varied riding experience. |
