| Bank erosion started by four wheeler | | | | include such engines starting with model |
| All-terrain vehicles, Yauhanna, South | | | | year 2006. |
| CarolinaSince the early 1990s, ATV use | | | | Fuel Economy |
| has tripled across the United States. | | | | The EPA estimates that each ATV consumes |
| This has led to greater conflict between | | | | less than 59 gallons of fuel per year |
| ATV users and child-safety advocates, | | | | and obtains between 40 and 50 mpg, |
| rural landowners, fellow outdoor | | | | making them not likely to fall under |
| recreationalists and environmentalists. | | | | future fuel economy regulations. (Ibid. |
| Safety Issues | | | | EPA 1) |
| Since the expiration of the consent | | | | Land Usage |
| decrees between the major manufacturers | | | | Some ATV riders knowingly cross |
| and CPSC in April of 1998, the | | | | privately owned property in rural areas |
| manufacturers have entered into | | | | and travel over public/private |
| "voluntary action plans" that mimic the | | | | properties where their use is explicitly |
| previously mandatory consent decrees. | | | | limited to trails. Subsequently, |
| However, despite the move from 3-wheel | | | | environmentalists criticize ATV riding |
| to 4-wheel models and the action plans, | | | | as a sport for excessive use in areas |
| some deaths and injuries still occur. | | | | environmental movement-friendly |
| Statistics released by CPSC show that in | | | | biologists consider to be sensitive, |
| 2004, there were an estimated 136,100 | | | | especially wetlands and sand dunes. |
| injuries associated with ATVs treated in | | | | While the deep treads on some ATV tires |
| US hospital emergency rooms -- more than | | | | are effective for navigating rocky, |
| double the number of injuries treated in | | | | muddy, and root covered terrain, these |
| the last year of the consent decrees. In | | | | treads also dig channels that may drain |
| 2003, the latest year for which | | | | boggy areas, increase sedimentation in |
| estimates are available, 740 people died | | | | streams at crossings and damage groomed |
| in ATV-associated incidents. | | | | snowmobile trails. Studies have also |
| The action plans in place with CPSC | | | | shown that ATVs may help in the spread |
| cover only certain manufacturers of | | | | of invasive species such as knapweed. |
| ATVs. Other manufacturers that have | | | | Despite some limited studies showing the |
| entered the market since the expiration | | | | impacts of unregulated ORV use, the vast |
| of the consent decrees are not covered | | | | majority of ORV use on public lands is |
| by the action plans and so are not bound | | | | regulated. Moreover, running counter to |
| by the rules governing things such as | | | | the popular misconception that ATV and |
| labelling and safe marketing practices, | | | | ORV use is a leading cause of damage to |
| and what ages a distributor may | | | | the landscape and sensitive habitats in |
| recommend a particular sized ATV for. | | | | general, the overwhelming evidence of |
| These manufacturers and distributors, | | | | human growth patterns upon the landscape |
| most of whom originate from Asia and | | | | indicates damage to the sensitive |
| Italy, are completely exempt of | | | | habitats are caused by unmitigated |
| government oversight.[4] | | | | growth of single-family housing planning |
| Focus has shifted since the consent | | | | and extractive industries. |
| decrees ended to attention to machine | | | | To address these land usage concerns, |
| size balanced with rider age. Many | | | | ATV advocacy groups have been organized |
| states have enacted legislation | | | | to purchase property and/or obtain |
| specifically governing the usage of ATVs | | | | permission of landowners, build and |
| on state run land categorized by age | | | | maintain trails suitable for ATV riding |
| ranges and engine displacements - in | | | | and educate ATV riders about responsible |
| line with the consent decrees. ATVs are | | | | riding. Many states have also formed |
| mandated to be labelled from the | | | | separate governing bodies that license |
| manufacturer that the use of machines | | | | ATVs separately than other ORVs. The |
| greater than 90cc by riders under the | | | | monies from these registrations are used |
| age of 16 is prohibited. Critics point | | | | to secure trails to ride and perform |
| out that blanket policies concerning age | | | | grooming and maintenance. |
| are not sufficient and often use as | | | | Unfortunately, the image of the great |
| example that early teen male children | | | | majority of responsible riders is often |
| are physically larger and stronger than | | | | tainted by the actions of some who ride |
| many adult women riders. Some localities | | | | off designated trails, on private land |
| have either banned minors (typically | | | | without permission, and under the |
| those under 16 years of age) from using | | | | influence of alcohol or drugs. |
| ATVs or are considering such | | | | Additionally, self-regulation has proven |
| legislation. Advocates of ATVs argue | | | | particularly difficult considering that |
| that starting younger improves safety. | | | | the main public complaint against ATVs |
| They recommend that children can develop | | | | is excessive noise. Although the |
| the necessary expertise by starting as | | | | majority of ATVs comply with noise |
| young as 6 years of age instead of | | | | regulations, there are those whose |
| waiting until age 16. The U.S. Consumer | | | | intentional violation can disturb the |
| Product Safety Commission approved the | | | | activities of other recreational users |
| sale of sub-50cc ATVs for use by | | | | for miles across open landscapes. |
| youngsters as young as age 6. | | | | Tampering with an ATVs exhaust silencer |
| In 1988, the All-terrain Vehicle Safety | | | | and spark arrestor is illegal on all |
| Institute (ASI) was formed to provide | | | | federal lands and most state lands, |
| training and education for ATV riders. | | | | however enforcement is spotty. It is |
| The cost of attending the training is | | | | also possible to install aftermarket |
| minimal and is free for purchasers of | | | | exhaust systems that do not have spark |
| new machines. Successful completion of | | | | arrestors. |
| training such as provided here is in | | | | Fellow outdoor recreationists who have |
| many states a minimum requirement for | | | | expressed concern about irresponsible |
| minor-age children to be granted | | | | ATV use include snowmobile users who |
| permission to ride on state lands. | | | | resent improper use of exclusive |
| EPA Concerns | | | | snowmobile trails, ATV trail riders |
| Emissions | | | | whose trails have been damaged by |
| Due to the lack of emission controlling | | | | improper use and hunters whose game has |
| hardware and software, for year 2000 all | | | | been driven off by those riding during |
| recreational spark ignited (SI) non-road | | | | prime hunting times. |
| vehicles (of which ATVs are a subset) | | | | Nationally, the US Forest Service |
| contributed 8% of HC, .16% of NOx, 5% of | | | | considers managed ATV use to be a |
| CO and .8% of PM emissions for the | | | | legitmate activity in national forests, |
| entire non-road EPA family. The entire | | | | yet it also lists their unregulated use |
| range of non-road emissions accounted | | | | as one of the four greatest threats to |
| for 49% of engine produced emissions of | | | | long term forest management. The US |
| all types. [5] While recreational SI | | | | Forest Service recently released a |
| vehicles (of which ATVs are a subset) | | | | national travel management plan designed |
| produce an aggregate of <4% of all HC | | | | to minimize the negative environmental |
| emissions in the US, based on the | | | | impacts of ATVs while providing a safe, |
| relatively small population of ATVs | | | | sustainable and enjoyable opportunity |
| (<1.2M) and small annual usage (<350 | | | | for ATV users. |
| hrs), EPA emission regulations now | | | | |