Update: Reaction to the DEC’s Closing 40 Roads to ATV Access
Print This Page
The Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) decision to close 40 roads between Jefferson, Lewis and Oswego counties is drawing harsh criticism from ATV enthusiasts and trail coordinators alike.
Bob Diehl, a trail coordinator, said that the move is a solid hit against ATV operators since some of the trails that are being closed are important connecting routes for other trails and roads.
“Snowmobile clubs use them and groom them. ATVs, trucks and cars have been using (the roads) for 30 years.”
Communities that depend on ATV riders for business, it is a disappointing turn of events.
Some ATV users have already called the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce to cancel planned trips to the area.
“Everybody that rides into the community stops somewhere along the way for food, beverages and gas and hotel rooms, so I think it will have a huge impact on both counties,” said Scott Burto, the Jefferson County Trails Coordinator.
The DEC says it is simply a matter of following the state Vehicle and Traffic Law.
“You can’t use motor vehicles…on the same roads as ATVs because of the safety concerns. It’s written right into the law,” said Judy Drabicki, the DEC Region Six Director.
Alexandra Field reports:
cforms contact form by delicious:days
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has decided to close 40 roads under its jurisdiction in Region 6 (which includes Jefferson, Lewis and Oswego counties) to ATV access.
After several court cases and investigations, the DEC found that it had illegally opened up roads to ATV traffic on DEC administered lands, violating the state’s vehicle and traffic law.
According to DEC Forest Ranger Drew Cavanagh, because the vehicle activity was illegal, the DEC had no other recourse than to close the roads to ATVs.
“As an agency, we felt that we had to really look hard at what we were doing…what we need to do is shut down all the roads and trails we have open and on a limited basis, a case by case basis, we may be able to open some of those (roads) that connect riding areas.”
Ranger Cavanagh agreed that ATVing has grown immensely popular as a sport and recreation and many North Country groups are asking for access to different roads and trails.
However, despite its popularity, roads and trails are not likely to be opened again any time soon.
“The timeframe I’m not certain on, but probably not anytime this year. It’s going to take some time and some legislation will have to be drafted,” Cavanagh said.
The DEC has to work with the state’s Vehicle and Traffic Law, which would have to be amended to allow for access to the closed roads.
About 80 miles of roads and trails total will be closed.
Ranger Cavanagh said there are still about 400 miles of town and county roads open in Jefferson County.
The DEC will begin removing signs from posted areas of the 40 roads today.
A list of the closed roads follows:
In Lewis County:
- West Turin, Martinsburg
- Alice Coffey, Diana
- Aspen Hollow, Croghan
- Blanchard Creek, Croghan
- Briar Hill, Croghan
- Bucks Corners, Lyonsdale
- Corbine, Diana
- Cotton, Croghan
- Dolsee, West Turin
- Dunes, New Bremen
- East Gasline, Croghan
- Fall Brook, Lyonsdale
- Montague, Worth
- Henry, Diana
- Hiawatha Ext,Greig
- Huck Berry, Montague
- Judy Cole, Diana
- Loop,Croghan, Diana
- Mile Strip Road (in both Jefferson and Lewis)
- McGoldrick ,West Turin
- Mountain Swamp, Croghan
- Mud Pond , Diana
- Nelson, Diana
- Nob , Martinsburg
- Old Croghan Road, Croghan
- Otter Creek, Greig
- Patchin, Diana
- Q-Road, Croghan
- Seelman, West Turin
- Smith, West Turin
- Wahalula, Croghan
- Waterhole, Lyonsdale
- West Gasline,Croghan
- Wisner, Diana
- Y, Lyonsdale
In Jefferson and Oswego Counties:
- Bargy (Main),(both Jefferson and Oswego counties) Lorraine, Boylston
- Forward (in both Jefferson and Lewis counties) Montague, Worth
- Hawley, Boylston (Oswego County)
- Hessel, (both Jefferson and Oswego) Lorraine, Boylston
- Tucker (in Oswego County) , Boylston
- Wart, (both Jefferson and Oswego counties) Lorraine, Boylston
Jeff Cole has the latest on the ATV situation and an interview with Ranger Drew Cavanagh:
Comments
20 Responses to “Update: Reaction to the DEC’s Closing 40 Roads to ATV Access”
The 5 Day Forecast
World & National Video
Office For Rent
7News/Fox 28 has office space for rent in our Arcade St. facility.
More information here.
Archives
WWNYTV Links
Seen it Coming! 3% ATV owners (if we are lucky )belong to a ATV club who has fought for the past 9 years with little to no support from the riders, business owners and politicians. We asked during a special election to support someone who has at least gone on record of helping, so much for that, sorry Will we could of of used you. So join a Active Club and get on the phone and call your legislators. Your Free ride is over now Thanks. Michael Bellinger pres of the New York Trail Riders of Northern NY.
It’s just the beginning. They take away everythingthat helps out area bussiness. The more roads the less gas and atv’s that will be bought. It’s just like snowmobileing they are limiting trails for that also. One good thing is if we can’t ride then they will be able to Cut down on Law inforcement and save tax payers money.I think we all need to come together and fight for our rights.
The DEC is doing what is right. I am glad they are closing those roads and hope they will keep the ATVs off those roads for good. Look on the bright side; you still have roads open for ATVs.
Let me test my understanding….I cannot ride an ATV on these gravel roads but I can drive my car/suv/truck? I need to know because I have a camp up there.
Who is going to stop the loggers from tearing up the state land?
what a joke why doesn”t the nys dec take our atvs away from us and tell us we can’t ride them soon there will be more atv than snowbomiles but the nys dec gives them more trails and us atvers nothing what a joke nys dec what a joke
DEC has a hidden agenda, this isn’t about illeaglly posted roads. Welcome to NY unbelievable…..
The DEC is doing what is right by closing those 40 roads. Look on the bright side, there are other roads open for ATVs.
I don’t want other roads, just the roads and land we’ve all ridden on for what the last 35 yrs….
As long as ATVers have to pay vehicle registration to the state and insure our vehicles as required by law, we should have free ride on the trails. Where does our registration money go each year? Snowmobilers should not have any more rights than ATVers. If a road is not a primary road and motorized vehicles are permitted, then that should cover both ATVs and Snowmobiles.
Perhaps I will purposely NOT renew my ATV registration this year…let’s see how THAT impacts the state’s finances.
How disappointing this decision, my husband has been disabled for the past 5 years. He can not go for a walk like many people can. Riding our ATV was a way for him to get outside and enjoy the summer time. Now he can’t do that. It’s a shame that the legislators don’t see that ATVing is the summertime sport here in the north country. Just like snowmobiling in the winter, it brings much tourism and supports many local businesses. I can’t think why anyone would turn that away!!!! I feel that snowmobiling has gotten many more opportunities than any ATV. Why can’t ATV’s use the same trails? Why can’t there be checks done with the ATVs like the snowmobiles? What has our Trail Manager done to support the ATVs? I think this is an injustice!!!
It’s really nice to see that NYSDEC kept the trails and roads open long enough to hand out as many tickets as possible on the snirt run.
Where is Darrel Aubertine? I received a flyer from him saying that he would take care of ATV riders and sportsmen if he was elected.
Those same roads are open to snowmobiles????? Why???? They are sport machines also so how are they are allowed on the same roads as cars/trucks.
More political power !!
Perhaps we shouldn’t register for a year. Without that money the State may open their eyes.
I will ride these trails. ticket me…..
Why dont you ask some of us atv riders to donate some time to manage trail systems and monitor the asswipes that ruin it for us. I’d gladly do it. I dont mind staying on the designated road and not tearing shit up. Its sad the a few [Name calling eliminated here] with no respect can ruin it for the rest of the tax paying community. Talk to the business owners and see what they think of this idea…….
I vote to have a protest at tuggers, montague inn and flat rock with live music, atv’s, and atv clubs to raise money to help these businesses that will hurt the most from this……lets see them stop and ticket thousands of riders….
join the fight for your atv right and if we cant win here, ride I 81 at 10mph and see what happens there
i agree with most people on here we just spent 11,000 dollars on 2 atvs plus registered and insured them i do live in st.law. county and some trails around here have also been down since last year same with snowmobiles maybe we shouldnt spend money on registrations for one year see what happenes besides more money spent on a ticket. this sucks
Here we go again, another reason to not let ATV riders use the roads.
Darrell Aubertine’s words were I’ll help the ATVers, FAMOUS last word, it’s another example of saying something to get the pepole to vote for them and then do what you want once elected into office. Just like all the rest.
We buy somrthing to use not sit in the garage and look at it.
Snowmobilers do get more rights than we do, if you pay for something then you want to be able to use it. if you pay $100 for the reg then shame on you, that is nuts for a month or 2 of use. At least my 4 wheeler i can use 12 month of the year. There has to be something that can be worked out, happy medium.
There seems to be quite a Pro-ATV movement forming around NYSORVA, the state OHV group, hopefully by finally working together we can get some respect in this state. I was just on the NYSORVA, RideNY.org site and watched the event videos, good stuff, and I signed up for a newsletter on that is supposed to keep you informed of OHV rides, events, and political action. It is definitely time to unite and the truck trails seem to be the perfect martyr, the email I just got from NYSORVA says site hits have skyrocketed.
Most of all the roads that were closed in Lewis County are what connect one trail to another, nice going DEC. Most of your truck trails see nothing but ATV’s and most of your so called pristeen nature trails have not seen a track other than animal tracks, a gate across them to stop any and all that is not on foot. Who walks 6 miles to the other end and calls another to pick them up?
If the DEC would help us instead of driving us out of state to ride NY could reap the cash flow.
30 years it was OK to ride these same roads that now you feel is WRONG.
N.Y.S. DEC and New York politicians, we need your help on this very important issue regarding the closing of roadways. ATVing has become a great sport and you need to accept this and start working with your constituents to make things better for everyone. We all want to keep our environment safe and pristine for our children and their children, however, we must also think of avenues to keep our environment working for us. We should think of methods to work together to get more trails and roadways open, not closed, so we can enjoy the great environment that we have. Please consider this an open invitation for everyone to contact their politicians to work together to come up with some solutions for additional trails and tourism. We all need areas to ride and our local businesses need the tourism, lets get together, address the issues and find remedies.
The atv people and clubs need support from the State. Our elected officials need to get involved. The atv needs to be re-registered with Parks not DMV, what do we get for $10.00, nothing. Clubs can help maintain and patrol trails, give them a chance.