All-terrain vehicles are not allowed on Cayuga County-owned lands, but that could soon change in certain areas.
County officials are considering a proposal to open a small stretch of county-owned trails to be used by ATVs. The move would be at the request of area ATV clubs, who are promising to help maintain the trails at their own expense.
However, not everyone is revved up by the idea. Some local officials and outdoor enthusiasts are expressing concerns over how the vehicles will affect safety, trail conditions and the overall trail experience.
“This is a controversial issue,” said county Parks and Trails Director Gary Duckett.
Duckett said he has been contacted for years by ATV enthusiast groups interested in using the county's trail system. The county parks commission had also considered and rejected the idea in the past, he said.
However, Oswego County forged an agreement last year with its local ATV clubs to allow the vehicles on some county trails. In return, the clubs keep the trails even and prevent erosion through maintenance, Duckett said.
He recently went to Oswego County to look at the areas that permit ATV use to see how it affects the trails.
“I was looking if they were maintaining these trails as they said they would, and I have to say the answer is yes,” Duckett said.
Last month, the county Parks and Trails Commission voted 5-3 to move forward on a proposal to allow ATVs on a five-mile stretch of trail within Sterling for a one-year trial. The final say, however, rests with the county Legislature.
The area in question would stretch west along the Hojack Trail from Oswego County to the Cato-Fair Haven Trail, then north along the Cato-Fair Haven Trail into Fair Haven. Only hikers, pets on leashes, bikers and horses are allowed on county's 30 miles of trails. Snowmobiles and cross-country skiers are allowed in the winter.
The measure still needs to be passed by the county Public Works Committee before reaching the Legislature, which must approve the proposal by a majority vote.
Jim Marra, president of the Oswego Valley ATV Club, said the policy has had a very good reception in Oswego County. The club handles all of the maintenance on the trails from April to October, leveling the trails, adding gravel and building bridges, he said.
“But we've got a long way to go to get this thing open in Cayuga County,” Marra said.
The reason the clubs would like to see this stretch of trail open to ATVs is it will connect their trails to the village of Fair Haven, where the vehicles are allowed, he said. The club currently maintains approximately 14 miles of trails in Oswego County.
The Oswego Valley club has a very specific code of ethics for its members who ride on trails, and they work to enforce such ethics among themselves, Marra said. If a walking person, a horse rider or a biker is on the trail, the rider must stop and let them go by.
“They have the right of way,” Marra said. “We've had a lot of people stop and have conversations with us while they go by.”
But Marjorie Palmatier isn't convinced. The Montezuma resident hikes on the Cato-Fair Haven trail a few times a year with her nieces and nephews. She likes the stretch of trail because it is safe and quiet.
But Palmatier said she thinks ATVs could change all that. It is a winding trail, she said, with trees obscuring the view.
“The vehicles are very noisy, and sometimes their visors are covered in mud and their vision is impaired,” she said. “I'm scared to death that one of the kids is going to get hurt.”
Palmatier added that she has nothing against ATV enthusiasts. In fact, the riders she has met on trails have always been very courteous, she said. However, there are places for them to ride, and they should not be county trails, she said.
“I respect their right to ride,” Palmatier said. “I also respect our right as hikers and bikers to use a trail in peace and quiet.”
However, some ATV enthusiasts are not dissuaded by the current trail rules. On a recent weekday afternoon, a stretch of trail near Sterling Station Road was empty. But two parallel stretches of worn earth and tire treads in the dirt showed that ATV activity was not uncommon.
County legislator Christopher Palermo said if they are already using the trail, why not let them maintain it?
“I certainly can appreciate the folks on horseback, but you have to look at which use is going to benefit the most people,” Palermo said. “I don't see horses on the trail every day, but I do see ATVs.”
Feelings are mixed in the Legislature, he said. Some feel that if the door is opened, it could never be shut. But with a year trial, lawmakers can decide to go back to the original regulations if things do not work out, Palermo said.
Jim Young, a member of the county Parks and Trails Commission, was one of the three members to vote against the proposal at the meeting in May. One of his concerns is enforcing the traffic laws and rules on the trail.
Young said most ATV enthusiasts are very courteous and follow the rules. But the few who are irresponsible could cause a lot of problems for the other people who want to use the space, he said.
If the proposal passes, the commission will keep its eye on that stretch of trail during the trial period, Young said.
“We'll monitor the situation and talk to those who use them and those who don't,” he said.
Duckett said all of these concerns are legitimate and need to be considered.
But one of the biggest issues for him is making sure the trails stay even. If the vehicles do not stagger across the whole surface, they can wear ruts into the ground, which can be a problem for bikers or others, he said.
But Duckett also said his goal is to have as many people as possible enjoying county parks and trails. And if some folks can come from Oswego County, ride a trail through Sterling and spend some money in Fair Haven, it can be good for the economy, he added.
“If (the villages) want it, and the Legislature wants it, and they are willing to do it on a trial basis, that makes a strong case to me,” Duckett said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
However, not everyone is revved up by the idea. Some local officials and outdoor enthusiasts are expressing concerns over how the vehicles will affect safety, trail conditions and the overall trail experience.
“This is a controversial issue,” said county Parks and Trails Director Gary Duckett.
Duckett said he has been contacted for years by ATV enthusiast groups interested in using the county's trail system. The county parks commission had also considered and rejected the idea in the past, he said.
However, Oswego County forged an agreement last year with its local ATV clubs to allow the vehicles on some county trails. In return, the clubs keep the trails even and prevent erosion through maintenance, Duckett said.
He recently went to Oswego County to look at the areas that permit ATV use to see how it affects the trails.
“I was looking if they were maintaining these trails as they said they would, and I have to say the answer is yes,” Duckett said.
Last month, the county Parks and Trails Commission voted 5-3 to move forward on a proposal to allow ATVs on a five-mile stretch of trail within Sterling for a one-year trial. The final say, however, rests with the county Legislature.
The area in question would stretch west along the Hojack Trail from Oswego County to the Cato-Fair Haven Trail, then north along the Cato-Fair Haven Trail into Fair Haven. Only hikers, pets on leashes, bikers and horses are allowed on county's 30 miles of trails. Snowmobiles and cross-country skiers are allowed in the winter.
The measure still needs to be passed by the county Public Works Committee before reaching the Legislature, which must approve the proposal by a majority vote.
Jim Marra, president of the Oswego Valley ATV Club, said the policy has had a very good reception in Oswego County. The club handles all of the maintenance on the trails from April to October, leveling the trails, adding gravel and building bridges, he said.
“But we've got a long way to go to get this thing open in Cayuga County,” Marra said.
The reason the clubs would like to see this stretch of trail open to ATVs is it will connect their trails to the village of Fair Haven, where the vehicles are allowed, he said. The club currently maintains approximately 14 miles of trails in Oswego County.
The Oswego Valley club has a very specific code of ethics for its members who ride on trails, and they work to enforce such ethics among themselves, Marra said. If a walking person, a horse rider or a biker is on the trail, the rider must stop and let them go by.
“They have the right of way,” Marra said. “We've had a lot of people stop and have conversations with us while they go by.”
But Marjorie Palmatier isn't convinced. The Montezuma resident hikes on the Cato-Fair Haven trail a few times a year with her nieces and nephews. She likes the stretch of trail because it is safe and quiet.
But Palmatier said she thinks ATVs could change all that. It is a winding trail, she said, with trees obscuring the view.
“The vehicles are very noisy, and sometimes their visors are covered in mud and their vision is impaired,” she said. “I'm scared to death that one of the kids is going to get hurt.”
Palmatier added that she has nothing against ATV enthusiasts. In fact, the riders she has met on trails have always been very courteous, she said. However, there are places for them to ride, and they should not be county trails, she said.
“I respect their right to ride,” Palmatier said. “I also respect our right as hikers and bikers to use a trail in peace and quiet.”
However, some ATV enthusiasts are not dissuaded by the current trail rules. On a recent weekday afternoon, a stretch of trail near Sterling Station Road was empty. But two parallel stretches of worn earth and tire treads in the dirt showed that ATV activity was not uncommon.
County legislator Christopher Palermo said if they are already using the trail, why not let them maintain it?
“I certainly can appreciate the folks on horseback, but you have to look at which use is going to benefit the most people,” Palermo said. “I don't see horses on the trail every day, but I do see ATVs.”
Feelings are mixed in the Legislature, he said. Some feel that if the door is opened, it could never be shut. But with a year trial, lawmakers can decide to go back to the original regulations if things do not work out, Palermo said.
Jim Young, a member of the county Parks and Trails Commission, was one of the three members to vote against the proposal at the meeting in May. One of his concerns is enforcing the traffic laws and rules on the trail.
Young said most ATV enthusiasts are very courteous and follow the rules. But the few who are irresponsible could cause a lot of problems for the other people who want to use the space, he said.
If the proposal passes, the commission will keep its eye on that stretch of trail during the trial period, Young said.
“We'll monitor the situation and talk to those who use them and those who don't,” he said.
Duckett said all of these concerns are legitimate and need to be considered.
But one of the biggest issues for him is making sure the trails stay even. If the vehicles do not stagger across the whole surface, they can wear ruts into the ground, which can be a problem for bikers or others, he said.
But Duckett also said his goal is to have as many people as possible enjoying county parks and trails. And if some folks can come from Oswego County, ride a trail through Sterling and spend some money in Fair Haven, it can be good for the economy, he added.
“If (the villages) want it, and the Legislature wants it, and they are willing to do it on a trial basis, that makes a strong case to me,” Duckett said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
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bizzaro-world wrote on Jun 22, 2008 12:55 PM:
karl wrote on Jun 22, 2008 11:35 AM:
karl wrote on Jun 22, 2008 11:33 AM:
This issue is a REAL thorn in the side for me!
For YEARS, ATV and offroad motorcyclists have had to pay, required-by-law registrations for their vehicles. And for years--ever since Gov Pataki stole the registration funds money--which was SUPPOSED to pay for a NY State-sponsored trail system--we have been paying registration fees and getting absolutely NOTHING in return for our money!
In fact, our monies have been going to pay for street maintenance, parks, etc--ALLL PLACES WHERE WE ARE FORBIDDEN TO RIDE!
NY State has the 4th LARGEST offroad economy in the nation--and NO state-sponsored trails, or public land on which to ride! This is a crime in itself!
Damnit!--if somebody's worried about kids on bicycles getting hurt on the trails where ATV's are have access, then KEEP THE DAMNED KIDS OFF THE ONLY TRAILS WHERE ATV'S CAN RIDE!
Same thing for the hikers and environmentalists! You people can walk just about ANYWHERE you want--GIVE A LITTLE GROUND ALREADY! YOU DON'T "OWN" THE WHOLE FOREST!!!!! "
hilltop wrote on Jun 22, 2008 5:14 AM:
brew1234 wrote on Jun 22, 2008 3:10 AM: