If you love the outdoors, and love to experience it with an exciting ATV riding, follow our tips below to ensure you have a great trip. Whatever the road, area or trail you choose to travel, be prepared to ride responsibly so that all who come after you will never know you were there.
- Begin your journey by traveling in areas that are passable for ATVs.
- Wheel spin should be minimized. During switchbacks especially when break sliding or climbing, refrain from roosting on top of your turn. To avoid broadening the trail, you need to drive over and avoid turning around the obstacles.
- You need to drive slowly when sight lines are hardly visible. It is crucial that you need to cross streams at assigned fording points.
- Do not cross over barriers and follow all signs.
- It is important to go with two to three peers when riding to reduce the risk of vulnerability when breakdown or accident occurs. In case of separation, choose a meeting location.
- During winching, avoid five wraps or lesser wire rope roughly the drum. It is also important to select the right winch for the situation and check your equipment carefully.
- When you decide to anchor on a tree, choose one with a much wider strap to avoid the trunk from damaging.
- Refrain from covering your ears with headphones or ear buds. It is not easy to communicate with fellow recreationist with ears covered in which in some areas, it is even restricted.
- Never drive or ride an ATV riding under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Know the Rights of Others and Respect Them
- It is a high consideration to know and respect the rights of others such as campers, recreational trail users or private property owners so that everyone can enjoy their activities as well without interruption.
- While on the trail try to be considerate.
- You should stay away from gates when there is any. It is also necessary to ask permission from landowners if you are to cross a private property.
- Give way to fellow riders who are traveling uphill or passing you as well as to horses, hikers and mountain bikers.
- Be cautious while proceeding around pack animals or horses. Impulsive or unpredicted activities might hurt animals as well as other recreationist on the trail.
- If there any situation wherein you encounter a horse while on the trail, you need to stop, turn off the engine likewise remove your helmet and say something. This will let the horse recognize that you are human.
- Remember to slow down when you are near the camping areas or crowds.
- Minimize noise and dust.
Equip Yourself with the Right Knowledge
- Before going out for a real ride, you must instruct or equip yourself with the proper learning including plans for the trip, travel maps, regulations and policies from public agencies, undergoing classes on recreational skills as well as knowing how to maneuver your vehicle.
- Bring along a map which could help you determine the destination or route that is open for ATV riding.
- Formulate a plan that is realistic and it is important to stick with it. Always remember to tell someone that you are going out for a travel.
- It is also a great consideration to keep in touch with manager or owner of the land you are about to visit so that you may know the restrictions, requirements and closures.
- Always know the weather forecast before you set out for a trip. Likewise, take along a backpack with emergency kits.
- Often wear safety gears such as helmet, eye protection and the like.
- Determine your limitations. Always observe your fuel level, energy and time.
- Undergo trainings and classes on ATV riding where you can acquire instant or quick knowledge on the said recreational activity.
- Always ensure that your ATV riding is mechanically sound. Be organized with spill kits, spares, supplies and tools in case of trailside repair.
Keep Away from Risky Areas
- Keep on designated routes and evade locations such as streams, wetlands, lakeshores and meadows.
- Stay away from habitats and other receptive areas such as desert, cryptobiotic, breeding areas or seasonal nesting.
- Never disrupt archeological, paleontological or historical areas.
- Keep distance from wild animals or livestock and never spook them.
- Always remember that mechanized or motorized vehicles are not permitted in Wilderness Areas.
Carry Out your Share
- Be a role model of proper conduct such as the proper waste disposal, preventing the spread of insidious species, re-establishing areas that have been degraded making sure that you left the place much better when you first found it.
- Carry along with you a rubbish bag and pick up the trashes that were left by others.
- Ensure to pack everything in what you have packed out. Observe the camping rules in ascertained areas likewise a 200 meter feet camping from trails and water resources.
- Avoid noise that is generated from your badly tuned vehicle or defective engine. It is a good idea to utilize silencers that passed the regulations of decibel levels on exhaust.
- To avoid the spread of enveloping species, wash your vehicle before and after using.
- Join a trail society. It is a nice idea to get along with other recreationist to share with them your interests and ideas.
And that’s it, understandably it’s quite a list, but most of them are common sense and what considerate, normal people would do. If we can all work together to keep riding ATV riding safely, then the trails we would all like to ride on will be open for years to come.