Interesting Take on the New Signage...

[Banjo Man]

I suppose that the FIB's are used to highway signage and they feel right to home with plenty of it. I think it ruins the landscape and takes away from the wilderness experience.

Merry Christmas to you from all the FIB's who enjoy the sport as much as the people of Wi, Mi and Mn.

 

[lenny]

All we need is the basic signs. Stop, road crossing,, that sort of thing. I have helped put up signs and it's a bunch of people thinking where to put the sign for the corner,,how close to the corner,,, how far away from the corner,,,etc,, does this represent a corner,, it's people like you and me thinking where, if, how far,,,,.I ride with me own eyes and trust them only, anything else you are asking for a problem and the responsibility comes off the rider.

Signs can be a help but like everything else we have become dependent upon them and believe we need them. Anything crossing the trail is good to know. Just because sleds can go real fast doesn't mean they always should.

Personally I believe the rider will have to step up now and ride accordingly. Sure there me be more or less deaths but will that be the fault of the sign or lack of sign?

 

[ill marty]

Im a fib and where we ride there are no signs so it doesnt effect us what so ever. Gave up trail riding years ago after to many close calls . Its more fun and challenging out in the woods.

 

[polarisrider1]

Merry Christmas to all my FIB (Fine Illinois Boys) friends! Hope this clears up some questions.
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/MotorizedTrailSignHandbook04-02-2012_381136_7.pdf

 

[Skylar]

I love it when people compare riding in Michigan with out West or in Canada. Night and day. How many people go out west to ride just trails? Canada has lots of trail riding, but the trails are typically much better and the traffic is so much less compared to the UP. I just can't see how you can compare them!

Trail riding is trail riding, no matter where you are.

 

[Football coach]

Amen Banjo man, I'm a fib and all my snowmobile dollars are either spent in Wisconsin or Michigan Merry Christmas to all my neighbors to the north

 

[polarisrider1]

Trail riding is trail riding, no matter where you are.

Thank you!

 

[indy_500]

Less signs just means more corner cutting and missed corners. If you are a "less sign supporter" dont complain when people are riding off the trail.

 

[lenny]

Less signs just means more corner cutting and missed corners. If you are a "less sign supporter" dont complain when people are riding off the trail.

that's pure speculation but I can respect your thinking, possibly it is but maybe not

 

[polarisrider1]

Less signs just means more corner cutting and missed corners. If you are a "less sign supporter" dont complain when people are riding off the trail.

I suspect you are joking? Because the lack of a narrow bridge sign or similiar will not cause off trail riding. Blowing a corner going to fast will cause some "off" trail a bit.

 

[russholio]

I posted the link to the news article more for the curiously interesting choice of words rather than to start a debate again.

I will admit that I am somewhat terrified to take to the trails now... not because *I* can't manage or ride without signs... but because of those out there who are going to make it more dangerous. Russholio always leads... and I really don't want to lose my best friend to a snowmobile accident.

Mrs Russholio

 

[polarisrider1]

I posted the link to the news article more for the curiously interesting choice of words rather than to start a debate again.

I will admit that I am somewhat terrified to take to the trails now... not because *I* can't manage or ride without signs... but because of those out there who are going to make it more dangerous. Russholio always leads... and I really don't want to lose my best friend to a snowmobile accident.

Mrs Russholio

I can't blame you one bit.

 

[whitedust]

I suspect you are joking? Because the lack of a narrow bridge sign or similiar will not cause off trail riding. Blowing a corner going to fast will cause some "off" trail a bit.

Narrow bridge & bridge ahead are the 2 signs they should keep. Meeting others head on on a hidden bridge spooks me & have had some close calls on 1 bridge on Trail 3 going into Watermeet. I was going southbound at a good clip towards Lando in #2 position north bound sleds waiting for us to clear when 1northbound yahoo pulls out in south bound lane to pass stopped northbound sled while I'm in middle of bridge with no place to go hit the binders he gets around the 1 sled & I slide by could not believe I didn't whack him head on. Ever since then I look for any bridge ahead sign & bring it way down when traffic present. That was lucky that 2 sleds could fit side by side on that bridge many only have width for 1 sled. I just would never lose any bridge signs too important & hope no one dies because those signs were removed.

 

[sw_lower]

they could of made one more sign.... keep right....... some don't know this !!

 

[xcr440]

Narrow bridge & bridge ahead are the 2 signs they should keep. Meeting others head on on a hidden bridge spooks me & have had some close calls on 1 bridge on Trail 3 going into Watermeet. I was going southbound at a good clip towards Lando in #2 position north bound sleds waiting for us to clear when 1northbound yahoo pulls out in south bound lane to pass stopped northbound sled while I'm in middle of bridge with no place to go hit the binders he gets around the 1 sled & I slide by could not believe I didn't whack him head on. Ever since then I look for any bridge ahead sign & bring it way down when traffic present. That was lucky that 2 sleds could fit side by side on that bridge many only have width for 1 sled. I just would never lose any bridge signs too important & hope no one dies because those signs were removed.

What's your definition of "a good clip"?

Also, from the sounds of this, a sign would have made ZERO difference on whether the idiot would have pulled out to pass or not. If you saw people waiting to go onto the bridge, CLEARLY you saw the bridge before you should have taken it down, from "a good clip".

Maybe I just don't get it.

 

[Banjo Man]

With the Bridge Ahead sign not there, the guy who passed on the right may have thought the northbound sleds were pulled over and taking a break. Still it was a bogus move on his part and endangered a few lives including his own.

 

[whitedust]

Like I say I was riding #2 so #1 sled had already been over bridge & oncoimg sleds where waiting for our group to continue crossing. Good clip upon approach not fast crossing bridge or I would have whacked the sled that pulled into south bound lane & started crossing while I was on bridge. I would say not more then 5mph sliding when locked up with studs. When riding #2 in snowdust you may or may not pick up signs & depend on leader for pace & judgement. I went back to that trail on my own on a different day to check signs & bridge ahead sign was there but you can't see bridge on a turn going southbound. Ever since then I have been very aware of any bridge warning sign & if up to me I would not remove any bridge warning signs the trail boss would have to do it himself but removing those signs is very dangerous in my riding experince.

 

[indy_500]

Blowing a corner going to fast will cause some "off" trail a bit.

This is what I'm talking about. I see many blown corners and what happens after the blown corner? You got it. a BUNCH of stay on trail signs, winter wheat signs, etc. So what happens when ricky racer doesnt have his corner sign? He may not end up climbing trees but end up off the trail, somewhere he shouldn't be to begin with. Trail signs were put up to keep people aware and on the trail. When they aren't there, you might as well post 1 sign before a field opening that says "go anywhere you want just somehow get across this field slowly and safely". Or how about this. Dec 1st i rode up to houghton and back. The first half my ride was all untouched pow. There were hardly ANY corner/chevron signs. We made so many wrong turns and ended up on private property as we were the first to go down the trail with no signs to direct us.

 

[raceinsnow]

I went out riding this last weekend and I noticed that in my riding area that they took down at least 40 corner signs to put up only 1 . I would think that the state of Michigan would want more safety and less accidents and fatalities. If one person gets hurt or dies because the signs were removed thats too many. I would rather see speed limits in the trails before any signs were removed. All I can say is ride safe and lets hope the emergency personal aren't stretched to thin this year. Lets get ready this years blanket statement " You/ They were going to fast " for every accident or fatality.

 

[1flatlander2]

this is what i see hapening on some of the 90s. the first couple of sleds blow the conrner no big deal. now you have tracks going straight. so the next bunch goes straight a little farther. ect ect till you end up miles down a cleared path and lost and out of gas. (actually sounds fun now that i type it out)