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I had the opportunity to ride Eastern Wabaunsee county this weekend. I was saddened to come across Road Closed barricades on Dawson Creek Road (Box Turtle).
https://picasaweb.google.com/MacWildcat ... nseeCounty

It started me thinking of the increasing tourism potential of motorcycle, ATV, and UTV touring in Kansas. We are seeing more and more of this type of activity in Kansas and other states. It is not uncommon to come across other like-minded groups when I ride in Wabaunsee county.

I plan to contact the county engineer and tourism bureaus to raise awareness of land use for tourism potential. I plan to stress that we address barriers when we ride roads, perform erosion control in critical spots, and emphasize that routine travel down these roads can help curb suspicious activity. I also plan to discuss the closure of Soloschied Rd. (anyone that had the opportunity to ride this section knows what we lost when it was closed).

If you know of local ATV, UTV, or motorcycle organizations that could help the cause please let me know.

That's a shame...I have yet to ride box turtle! I share your same feelings about doing anything we can to raise awareness about keeping these roads open. Now that I am settled in up here in Manhattan and am home every night for the first time in my career I would like to be more involved with the local adventure riding community. I would be interested in starting a local riders meeting similar to what the guys in KC are doing with TARKC. (see their post in the Lounge) What do you think, MacWildcat??

I think we could generate some interest here in the Manhattan area. Seems like there is always interest in a broad area... from J.C over to Topeka. We might have to plan weekends, maybe post some rides to get a rider base built up.

I am in for whatever you guys come up with! It sure will be nice to get to regularly see like minded individuals...

It was sad to see the "Road Closed" gate at Box Turtle Rd. That is one of my favorite spots to ride.
I'll bet you will find that the reason for closing it was from guys taking their trucks "4-wheeling" back in there, and getting stuck. Every time I have ridden back in there, and other MMR in the area I have seen the tracks of Knobby truck tires, that were not Ag Equipment, leaving massive ruts. You can see where the guys were spinning their tires....getting stuck, bottoming out...
The sheriff/tow company, might have been involved in a vehicle recovery and led to a decision to close the roads.

They still are public roads, and I think going around the gate might be okay. You are not trespassing.

electrician wrote: They still are public roads, and I think going around the gate might be okay. You are not trespassing.

Not necessarily. The land owner could have petition to have it closed or the county officially closed the road. In ether case the land reverts to the land owners and you would be trespassing.

For example: Check out this map, http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Kansas+7+ ... 1&t=m&z=16It looks like 175th Street goes west of KS Highway 7. It does not. That was a county road that my family petitioned the county to close in the '70s yet still shows up on maps. There is a gate and if someone goes around my gate you can bet I'll prosecute.

Electrician,

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