cats bike is out

K

kwikgren

Member
scoot said:
Where do fat tire bikes fit in? :cool:
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That's a good one. It is rather amazing how some people who are so adamant about defending their personal freedoms, how willing these same people are about taking other peoples freedom away.

I don't know how snow motorcycles fit in, but one of the largest corporate landowners in Keweenaw County has banned all 2 wheel motorcycles and 2 wheel atv's from their property. This includes the route from Mandan to Copper Harbor. I thought this was ridiculous when I first heard about it, and was curious why such a dramatic action. Apparently, this decision came from corporate headquarters and was the result of a lawsuit involving a motorcycle in another state. So the landowner decided "no more motorcycles" of any kind on their property. Just like that. So I got to wondering if that same corporate office, and the insurance company that carries the burden of liability coverage on their property, was aware of the extent to which their property is being used in the wintertime by all kinds of snowmachines. Apparently, they haven't been sued by any of them yet. I don't think bragging about "tearing it up" on these private lands and posting extreme riding videos on social media is going to help the future of these activities. I understand people's excitement and wanting to share, but can't they just keep quiet about it? More isn't always better, unless of course you are in the business of selling these toys! But even then, too much of a good thing can ruin it for everyone in the long run.

A large share of the privately owned land in Keweenaw County is in Commercial Forest Reserve, which means the landowner is taxed at a reduced rate of $1.25 an acre and in exchange allows public hunting and fishing on their property. Which means the only access rights that are guaranteed by law are by non-motorized sportsmen in possession of a valid hunting or fishing license.
Any and all other access is up to the discretion of the individual landowner.

Another problem with assumed rights to free access on large tracts of unposted private land is that these tracts are often adjacent to smaller tracts of both posted and unposted private lands owned by different landowners some of whom might not want motor vehicles on their property for a variety of reasons including protection of planted trees or groomed ski trails. Or they might just not want anyone on their land period. When the mayhem overflows onto these lands, these smaller landowners could pressure the State of Michigan to do something about it. Like pass a law prohibiting all off trail motor vehicles on lands not specifically posted as open to the public for such use. Some said it would never come to this UP here, but the way things are going I'm not so sure.

Kelley_NoTrespassing_2016_IMG_1062_small.jpg Kelley_NoTrespassing_2016_P1050975_small.jpg
 
W

Woodtic

Active member
Great post Kwikgren! That about sums up the large track owners atatude in the UP. My son just applied for a internship in the UP studying some of what you pointed out. It's called respect. No respect,say good by. That simple .......
 
W

Woodtic

Active member
scoot said:
Where do fat tire bikes fit in? :cool:
Click to expand...

I see a few fat tire bikes a year in my travels. Deer on the other hand,we are going to have to aradicate those sumbitches. I'm tired of having to slow down in my truck and on my sled. Who do they think they are? Standing on the trail with no trail permit . They never cross near that deer crossing sign.
 
H

Hoosier

Well-known member
kwikgren said:
That's a good one. It is rather amazing how some people who are so adamant about defending their personal freedoms, how willing these same people are about taking other peoples freedom away.

I don't know how snow motorcycles fit in, but one of the largest corporate landowners in Keweenaw County has banned all 2 wheel motorcycles and 2 wheel atv's from their property. This includes the route from Mandan to Copper Harbor. I thought this was ridiculous when I first heard about it, and was curious why such a dramatic action. Apparently, this decision came from corporate headquarters and was the result of a lawsuit involving a motorcycle in another state. So the landowner decided "no more motorcycles" of any kind on their property. Just like that. So I got to wondering if that same corporate office, and the insurance company that carries the burden of liability coverage on their property, was aware of the extent to which their property is being used in the wintertime by all kinds of snowmachines. Apparently, they haven't been sued by any of them yet. I don't think bragging about "tearing it up" on these private lands and posting extreme riding videos on social media is going to help the future of these activities. I understand people's excitement and wanting to share, but can't they just keep quiet about it? More isn't always better, unless of course you are in the business of selling these toys! But even then, too much of a good thing can ruin it for everyone in the long run.

A large share of the privately owned land in Keweenaw County is in Commercial Forest Reserve, which means the landowner is taxed at a reduced rate of $1.25 an acre and in exchange allows public hunting and fishing on their property. Which means the only access rights that are guaranteed by law are by non-motorized sportsmen in possession of a valid hunting or fishing license.
Any and all other access is up to the discretion of the individual landowner.

Another problem with assumed rights to free access on large tracts of unposted private land is that these tracts are often adjacent to smaller tracts of both posted and unposted private lands owned by different landowners some of whom might not want motor vehicles on their property for a variety of reasons including protection of planted trees or groomed ski trails. Or they might just not want anyone on their land period. When the mayhem overflows onto these lands, these smaller landowners could pressure the State of Michigan to do something about it. Like pass a law prohibiting all off trail motor vehicles on lands not specifically posted as open to the public for such use. Some said it would never come to this UP here, but the way things are going I'm not so sure.

View attachment 53652 View attachment 53653
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Do the fat tire bike riders buy trail permits? How is it a personal freedom to be on someone else's private property? And yes, even mountain bikes can tear up the land. ATV's are even worse, which is why I'm not sure it's the best idea to try to open all the snowmobile trails to them.

The great thing about vehicles on snow is that, if used respectfully, you don't damage the land. Of course the amount of snow users respecting the land seems to get lower every year, which I'm sure you see.
 
E

ezra

Well-known member
Hoosier said:
Do the fat tire bike riders buy trail permits? How is it a personal freedom to be on someone else's private property? And yes, even mountain bikes can tear up the land. ATV's are even worse, which is why I'm not sure it's the best idea to try to open all the snowmobile trails to them.

The great thing about vehicles on snow is that, if used respectfully, you don't damage the land. Of course the amount of snow users respecting the land seems to get lower every year, which I'm sure you see.
Click to expand...

not sure what the insurance in in MI but in MN when a land owner puts his name on the dotted line to open his land to a snowmobile trail he can no loner be sued for some dumb *** going off the trail on his land and having his head cut off on some fence. cant remember but I think the state insurs owners for like a million per occurrence. that is the biggest pitch when working with owners is the fact they are no longer libel .
 
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