U.S. Forest Service officials seek ATVA expertise on Utility Terrain Vehicles

   There has been an explosion in the popularity of side-by-side vehicles, or UTVs (Utility Terrain Vehicles), in the United States. The AMA/ATVA Government Relations Department is at the forefront of advising federal officials on how best to manage these new OHVs on the trails.
   UTVs, when fitted with most aftermarket tires, are wider than ATVs, which are less than 50 inches in width. Because most national forest ATV trails are 50 inches wide, this situation makes for a tight squeeze for UTVs.
What’s more, when riders riding these wide UTVs reach a bridge to cross a stream, they find that their UTVs are too wide for the bridge. Them they go off of the trail and ride through the stream, which is environmentally unsound.
Foresters at Ohio's Wayne National Forest recently sought the advice of AMA/ATVA Government Affairs Manager Royce Wood as they put together their plan for managing UTVs in the forest. The AMA/ATVA have also discussed the issue with federal officials in Washington, D.C.
   There are a lot of things that all OHV riders, not just UTV users, need to remember when riding. They include:
+ Stay on the trails. Riding off the trails can destroy animal burrows and spread noxious weeds.
+ Don’t cut across switchbacks and take short cuts, because that damages trails and causes erosion. 
+ Avoid wet areas and waterways. They are a vital resource for plants and animals.
+ If you must cross water, ride carefully and only at designated spots.
+ Respect closed areas and private property.
+ ATV and other off-road riders also must remember to know the sound limits where they ride and respect them.
   Also, riders must maintain their exhaust systems. Noise doesn’t equal horsepower. In fact, too little exhaust back-pressure can actually cause less power and even engine damage.
   These tips and more can be found in a brochure called “Right Rider,” produced by the Motorcycle Industry Council in partnership with the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America the AMA, Americans for Responsible Recreational Access, the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the American Horse Council, and Family Campers and RVers.
   For a copy of the brochure, or quantities for distribution, contact Marie Esselstein in the AMA/ATVA Government Relations Department by phone at (614) 856-1900, ext. 1224; e-mail at messelstein@atvaonline.com, or by mail at ATVA, 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, OH 43147.