There are 60+ acres of wooded, undeveloped land around my neighborhood that is riddled with trails and stream crossings. Despite the fact that NO TRESPASSING signs and purple paint are everywhere out there, on nice weekends and some evenings, I can hear ATV's and dirt bikes tearing it up out there.
It's land just waiting to be destroyed for new home subdivisions, and I've checked--its all owned by real-estate investment trust groups. So personally, I think nobody is being harmed, and the land is better used now as off-road recreation than doing nothing at all.
However, I wonder how many of my neighbors are disturbed by the noise? The worst offense is that on most weeks, you'll see a couple ATV's come tearing up and down the main street through the neighborhood. Last weekend, while the streets were covered in snow & ice, I saw a couple guys dressed up for warmth having a blast down the street and spinning donuts in the cul-de-sac. I have no problem with this personally as long as they are being reasonably careful---watching out for little kids, etc. However, I'm sure I'm a minority with that opinion. I suspect most people see that and experience some level of anger and/or disgust.
So how long before the Northland bans ATV's and dirtbikes? I don't know, but a ban proposal would not surprise me.
Communities need to recognize the need/desire for legal, safe riding areas. If there was someplace to ride near most populated areas, there would be less illegal riding.
I think trash dumping is the same way---it pisses me off to no end when I see a pile of tires or old appliances and construction trash just dumped off the side of a back road. BUT, I understand people's frustration--the city makes it VERY difficult to simply dispose of these items. It's a fact--people are going to need to dump a tire or an old refrigerator every now and then. Don't make it so that there is a 4 hour window every other month and it will cost $50 to legally dump these things.
