Annoyed by dirt bikers?

[dave1949]

He should open a Toll booth and charge 5 bucks to ride.

Without knowing the details of the power line easement, but assuming it is just that with no recreational access involved, I don't think people have the right to use the easement across his land at will for any purpose.

I understand having fun but the landowner owes that to no one. What joy is the landowner supposed to get out of dirt bikes disturbing his land and creating a nuisance? If he wanted to hear dirt bikes all day he could open a for-pay dirt bike area. Maybe that business would not be allowed on his property--but it is happening anyway as if it were.

Dirt bikers could form a club and buy and maintain their own area if it is that important to them. I'm going to guess not many neighborhoods would welcome that land use into their area. Given the typical noise pollution created by dirt bikes there is no reason they should.

 

[murphy1244]

Without knowing the details of the power line easement, but assuming it is just that with no recreational access involved, I don't think people have the right to use the easement across his land at will for any purpose.

I understand having fun but the landowner owes that to no one. What joy is the landowner supposed to get out of dirt bikes disturbing his land and creating a nuisance? If he wanted to hear dirt bikes all day he could open a for-pay dirt bike area. Maybe that business would not be allowed on his property--but it is happening anyway as if it were.

Dirt bikers could form a club and buy and maintain their own area if it is that important to them. I'm going to guess not many neighborhoods would welcome that land use into their area. Given the typical noise pollution created by dirt bikes there is no reason they should.

I was poking fun Dave. Take 5 bucks and buy some Humor.

 

[dave1949]

I was poking fun Dave. Take 5 bucks and buy some Humor.

I know you were poking fun, but the "business" aspect of it is another way to look at it too which is why I quoted your post.

If it were a business, and it well could be, it's fair to ask where and under what conditions would it be welcome? And, why wouldn't those same considerations be applied to the indiscriminate use of someone else's land?

 

[Yamaha2112]

A high percentage of comments read like this cartoon.
Sad, really.

 

[Obed]

Our 30 acres of woods had existing 4 wheeler paths when we bought it. I have not stopped the 4 wheelers and dirt bikes from riding. My primary concern is liability. But for the sake of youngsters, I have not closed access.

If we buy up all the land and close it off, what options do the young people have? Sit at home and play video games? Yes, we own the property. Yes, nobody has the legal or moral right to be on it if we don't want them on it. Yes, the 4 wheelers and dirt bikes tear up our property some.

I'll close access if I am forced to do so or fear for my family's safety. But there is something to be said about those with means sharing with those who have less. I want the youth to be outdoors; it's good for them and it's good for everyone for the next generation to want to be outside. Yes, in some areas there are public outdoor places that parents can transport their kids to. But realistically, how frequently is that going to happen? Parents are busy. I have a small child - I'm too busy to take her to a public park multiple times a week.

I think it is healthy for every kid to have an outdoor area they can access without a car so they can go there multiple days a week if desired. It's better than video games, watching TV, or playing soccer 7 days a week. Wouldn't it be great if those of us with property would be willing to be good neighbors? Sometimes sharing your things means your things get torn up or even destroyed. That makes sharing even more noble. Yes we risk some no-goods taking advantage - but those are the exceptions, not the rule. "Hard cases make bad policy."

Please I'm not passing judgement on anyone here who has taken a different approach. I fully sympathize with those who have others tearing up their property. I even sympathize with the guy in the article referenced by the OP. People ought to be allowed to protect their property even if doing so involves a firearm. Everybody's case is unique. This is just the approach we have taken.

Obed

 

[RobertBrown]

Of road vehicles would not be anywhere near as offensive if they were not so loud, Not That it matters, if you don't want someone riding anything across your land, you have every right, and even an obligation to prosecute.
Few people who ride off road have not had there engines jetted and piped for performance ...that means extreme noise.
Anyone who pursues a hobby that causes that kind of noise, is asking for trouble when they chose to execute their hobby on someone's else's property.
If you think someone should allow you to do that on their property without compensation...you're an idiot.
That's a given. There is no room for argument.
As a side note.....
I live in a state that allows air boats in public waterways. Have you ever heard an air boat? It's stupid loud....permanent hearing loss loud. PTSD loud. You can hear an air boat from 5 miles away. Why this is legal....I have no idea.
I have ridden my share of dirt bikes (on public land) and I have come to realize that there is a commonality to those who pursue this long term. They have no regard for anyone's sensibilities other than their own. They just like to p"s people off.

 

[newbury]

Our 30 acres of woods had existing 4 wheeler paths when we bought it. I have not stopped the 4 wheelers and dirt bikes from riding. My primary concern is liability. But for the sake of youngsters, I have not closed access.

If we buy up all the land and close it off, what options do the young people have? Sit at home and play video games? Yes, we own the property. Yes, nobody has the legal or moral right to be on it if we don't want them on it. Yes, the 4 wheelers and dirt bikes tear up our property some.

We've got about 300 acres. They had existing logging roads and power ROW. How about the young people learn to WALK or BICYCLE through the woods and not litter?

I've one parcel that had a nice little logging road running about the length of the property, right down the middle. About 100 yards in it is now impassable due to 4 wheel drive trucks "hogging out" slight mud holes. The woods are dense enough on either side that they can't get an ATV between the trees, so access to the rest of the acreage is denied. I've another parcel where they must have had competition because the logging road is eroded so deep it's above my head. I find occasional "party camps" with discarded mattresses and cases of beer cans (it's a dry county) plus evidence of lightly attended bonfires. I'm dreading the day when I get the call that 100 acres just burned because "for the sake of the youngsters" I didn't scare them away.

I'll close access if I am forced to do so or fear for my family's safety. But there is something to be said about those with means sharing with those who have less. I want the youth to be outdoors; it's good for them and it's good for everyone for the next generation to want to be outside. Yes, in some areas there are public outdoor places that parents can transport their kids to. But realistically, how frequently is that going to happen? Parents are busy. I have a small child - I'm too busy to take her to a public park multiple times a week.

I share through my tax support to state and federal parks. If someone wants to "recreate" on my land without motorized transport or litter I don't mind. It's when they cut timber, leave mattresses, tires, refrigerators, garbage, cause significant erosion that I get aggravated.

I think it is healthy for every kid to have an outdoor area they can access without a car so they can go there multiple days a week if desired. It's better than video games, watching TV, or playing soccer 7 days a week. Wouldn't it be great if those of us with property would be willing to be good neighbors? Sometimes sharing your things means your things get torn up or even destroyed. That makes sharing even more noble. Yes we risk some no-goods taking advantage - but those are the exceptions, not the rule. "Hard cases make bad policy."

"Access without a car" how about WALK? I fail to see the "need" to drive ATV's and MOTORIZED dirt bikes around for "fun". And what's wrong with soccer 7 days a week?

Please I'm not passing judgement on anyone here who has taken a different approach. I fully sympathize with those who have others tearing up their property. I even sympathize with the guy in the article referenced by the OP. People ought to be allowed to protect their property even if doing so involves a firearm. Everybody's case is unique. This is just the approach we have taken.

Obed

I hope those who trespass on your land are all little angels. They aren't on mine. And I dare say few of them are "youngsters" (child, teenager, adolescent, youth, juvenile, minor, junior}.

 

[Obed]

Newbury,
I feel your pain. Fortunately I have not had issues as significant as yours. I would be less forgiving in your circumstances.

Since my place is smaller than yours and our our house in the middle, I think that some people are a little more careful about going crazy here. But I have had incidences. Using my tractor, I pulled a 4WD pickup out of my pond in the woods when the teenage driver got stuck while "mudding". Some 4 wheelers purposely covered a friend's deer stand with mud by spinning their wheels. I've seen tracks of dirt bikes where the drivers were purposely spinning the back tires for fun and causing erosion. Someone made a hunting blind on the hill overlooking our house. The most likely spot to see a deer would be between the blind and our house - a little scary. I tore down that blind when I found it.

But many of the people have been responsible persons who have respected the property. I make a point to talk to many of the riders when I hear them. I give them a few rules and let them go on their way.

Obed

 

[Sodo]

Obed you're a good man.

View attachment 435187

A high percentage of comments read like this cartoon.
Sad, really.

Yes that's the new USA. When everybodys mad they're easily confused. I'm not looking forward to when I'm that dude and the kids got older and even grumpier than their parents.

However if I had trouble like Newbury I'd be grumpy too. Gotta watch out those kids may be mixing guns & alcohol (and have grumpy parents that do the same). I'd block those roads with stumps & stuff.

 

[ultrarunner]

My biggest peeve is people that use private and public land as dumping grounds... I don't differentiate between beer bottles or dumping appliances/furniture.

It is really pervasive out here and the right of ways show it...

Once I and a neighbor had had enough and used poor judgement... but it sure felt good.

We took all the trash... some of which I saw being dumped and put it back inside the car... and I mean everything...

Turns out the teens that were dumping had a grow operation hidden on city land and were parking on private property to tend to their farm...

Should be a special place for those that think the world is their trash can...

Next would be drivers that intentionally speed through stop signs and pass with oncoming traffic at high rates of speed on city streets... it happens everyday... I will be at a 4 way stop and someone comes blasting through... and I don't mean a Hollywood stop...

Dirt bikes have become an endangered species... seldom see hear one and almost never see one... they are almost mythical...