Wild Texas Forums: Parks, Travel & Recreation - View Single Post

schef · 07-17-2003, 01:14 AM

I respect your opinion (WT) on the ATV issue on beaches but I think differently on this subject. I believe people will act as good or bad as they are allowed. Post rules, enforce them and there will be few problems. There will be accidents (as there are vehicular accidents on the beach) but we should not limit ourselves for fear of something happening.

As for the idea of destabilizing the conservation, we must ask ourselves what we are conserving and should recreation be the cost of such a practice. It is easy to ban recreational activities and chalk it up to environmental issues but I believe this is a shot in the dark at a larger issue. Why have so many areas resorted to banning ATVs in areas? The answer is because there is little land left for "environmental" concerns to have a safe haven. ATVs should not be the scape goat when a general attitude of destroying nature to build subdivisions throughout the land. There would be no need for parks without suburban sprawl.

Nor do I believe ATVs harm the land if used properly. Texas has taken steps to make sure that only responsible drivers are able to ride on public lands. For example, a rider safety course if required in addition to having the ATV registered and stickered from the DPS. It is very possible to ride on land without harming it. That is if you do not consider moving dirt a couple feet harm. I ride on the same land that my family farms. I ride it often and we produce crops every year. Animals are disturbed you say? Tell that to the birds that land 3 feet away from me when I stop for a break on the ATV. It all boils down to what destruction of land really is. Take a look at the grand canyon. Now that is destruction. That is one of the largest ecological catastrophes to ever take place, correct? Some may say it was the most amazing things to see, regardless of the fact that billions of tons of Earth were moved to create it. I realize that is a rather exaggerated example, but you get where I am coming from. Land cannot be destroyed by displacing it and neither can vegetation. A 4 foot wide trail hurts little. Pollution some may say? Take a look at the cars that drive near it. Noise? There are regulations in place for noise as well as spark arresters to limit the chance of fires.

Sorry to get so long winded and possibly off subject but this is a subject I am pretty passionate about and will use every opportunity I can to share my ideas and possibly share new thoughts with others.

07-17-2003, 01:14 AM	#7
schef Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Near San Antonio Posts: 18	I respect your opinion (WT) on the ATV issue on beaches but I think differently on this subject. I believe people will act as good or bad as they are allowed. Post rules, enforce them and there will be few problems. There will be accidents (as there are vehicular accidents on the beach) but we should not limit ourselves for fear of something happening. As for the idea of destabilizing the conservation, we must ask ourselves what we are conserving and should recreation be the cost of such a practice. It is easy to ban recreational activities and chalk it up to environmental issues but I believe this is a shot in the dark at a larger issue. Why have so many areas resorted to banning ATVs in areas? The answer is because there is little land left for "environmental" concerns to have a safe haven. ATVs should not be the scape goat when a general attitude of destroying nature to build subdivisions throughout the land. There would be no need for parks without suburban sprawl. Nor do I believe ATVs harm the land if used properly. Texas has taken steps to make sure that only responsible drivers are able to ride on public lands. For example, a rider safety course if required in addition to having the ATV registered and stickered from the DPS. It is very possible to ride on land without harming it. That is if you do not consider moving dirt a couple feet harm. I ride on the same land that my family farms. I ride it often and we produce crops every year. Animals are disturbed you say? Tell that to the birds that land 3 feet away from me when I stop for a break on the ATV. It all boils down to what destruction of land really is. Take a look at the grand canyon. Now that is destruction. That is one of the largest ecological catastrophes to ever take place, correct? Some may say it was the most amazing things to see, regardless of the fact that billions of tons of Earth were moved to create it. I realize that is a rather exaggerated example, but you get where I am coming from. Land cannot be destroyed by displacing it and neither can vegetation. A 4 foot wide trail hurts little. Pollution some may say? Take a look at the cars that drive near it. Noise? There are regulations in place for noise as well as spark arresters to limit the chance of fires. Sorry to get so long winded and possibly off subject but this is a subject I am pretty passionate about and will use every opportunity I can to share my ideas and possibly share new thoughts with others. Last edited by schef; 07-17-2003 at 08:18 AM.