Illinois?
Michigan Fee increase next season???
- Thread starter bryan t
- Start date
Illinois?
My problem is everyone I know is cost cutting, less trips, fewer trail miles,sled repairs,food lodging & gas. No one is buying a new sled this year all said riding this 1 into the ground all brands too expensive. 1 guy did not ride at all & did not purchase registraion or permits just sat out this season. Cost cutting is name of game in corp biz & life these days so some will not buy MI permits next year just stay in WI or MN to save $$ for multiple sleds. I'm down to 1 sled now used to have 2.
borderstaff
New member
Here's my MN perspective. We spent over $850 in the U.P. last weekend for my wife and I to enjoy riding our M7 and M8. We spent about $300 on gas, $150 on breakfasts and dinners, $30 at M&M in Houghton for a new throttle lever (my wife is learning how not to jump her M8), $220 on lodging, $80 at trailside stops and $70 on permits. The cost going up to $100 for the 3 days of riding is not the deal breaker - but if there was a 3 day tag option we would use it. But, frankly, I like to feel appreciated for spending my money there. And I did everywhere except the Pines in Copper Harbor - the bartender was really rude to us (and will never see us again) when we asked to pay for our room and check in. Next year we probably won't bother to go to the U.P. though if its $90 for 2-3 days of riding. Its not worth it if they won't go the extra effort to have a few day pass and offer a map that shows legal places to ride off trail. I/we only ride about 3 times a year and Montana and Wyoming will continue to see my money from now on.
Let me see if I understand what many of you WI & MN riders are saying.
The sticker goes from $35 to $45. A $10 increase, and because of that, you will not ride in Michigan?
Really?
Snowmobiling costs thousands of $$ a year, and $10 is the breaking point?
Don't get me wrong, I have 4 sleds to pay for permits on, and I don't like increases on anything, but $10 is not going to make me quit riding.
The sticker goes from $35 to $45. A $10 increase, and because of that, you will not ride in Michigan?
Really?
Snowmobiling costs thousands of $$ a year, and $10 is the breaking point?
Don't get me wrong, I have 4 sleds to pay for permits on, and I don't like increases on anything, but $10 is not going to make me quit riding.
Since you are not coming to Michigan anymore, are you changing your username?
xsledder
Active member
I'm from Illinois and my answer to you is YES!!! $45/$50 is pretty much my breaking point considering that I can travel a shorter distance and get just as good of riding.
If I want more exotic riding, I'll go out west or to Canada. Since I won't go there every year, the permit fees are less of an issue.
For the UP, ride there once a year for a weekend, yes, it is no longer worth it for me to ride there. (Not once did I say I couldn't afford it.)
Will I go to the UP again, maybe in five years. I'm Not going to go every year anymore.
There should not be a defensive attitude from anyone or taking any of these posts as complaining. Rising costs will break you down at sometime as everyone is trying to save money just the name of the game when money is tight & costs are rising you need to cut back when & where you can. You can't cut back on trail permits it is a fixed cost so all you can do is predetermine wether you will buy that permit or not buy that permit. I predetermined years ago that Canadian trail permits cost tooooooo much never will & never did visit Canada due to very high permit costs. MI runs the same gamble.....maybe they don't care but MI needs newbies to back fill lost revenue for those who do not return due to high permit costs. Fast nickles are better than slow dimes so the MI daily permit should go hand & hand with season pass so Ma & Pa don't face risk of lost revenue for those who vote by exit due to higher permit cost.
Don't get me wrong, I was not suggesting that anyone said they could not afford it.
The difference is $10. So right now, you are paying $35 if you want to ride in Michigan and you are ok with that, but $45 you are not?
For the last three years we have had awesome winters here in south central Wi. Lots of people have chosen to ride here at home instead of travelling. The first winter we get where we have little to no snow again, BAM, the U.P. and the ever present LES belts will once again become THE place to go. 50 bucks or not.
That makes perfect sense. I guess if you have good snow in WI, why go elsewhere and pay $50 to ride.
I see your point about hurting business, but someone still has to pay for all the costs of maintaining the trails.
As for comparing to Canada, Michigan is not even close to them. They are $100 for a 3 day permit.
borderstaff
New member
The difference is $10. So right now, you are paying $35 if you want to ride in Michigan and you are ok with that, but $45 you are not?[/QUOTE]
No, you are looking at it wrong. $70 just for stickers to ride one weekend is a lot of money. If it goes up to $100 for the one weekend some of us ride in the U.P., that is too much. If there was a daily fee option of $5 per sled per day I would use it. But, honestly, I am already registered in MN and riding the North Shore isn't too bad and to save $100 on tags and the extra money on gas and still be able to ride...well, you do the math. The "mom and pop" businesses are the ones who will suffer the most. Like I stated in an earlier post I spent $850+ just for my wife and I to ride in the U.P. last weekend...and its inconsiderate posts by many "Yoopers" that don't take into account what it costs for us to ride there that is sad. Us out of towners keep your businesses alive and, while we don't ask to be catered to, a nice "thank you for staying with us" goes a long way.
No, you are looking at it wrong. $70 just for stickers to ride one weekend is a lot of money. If it goes up to $100 for the one weekend some of us ride in the U.P., that is too much. If there was a daily fee option of $5 per sled per day I would use it. But, honestly, I am already registered in MN and riding the North Shore isn't too bad and to save $100 on tags and the extra money on gas and still be able to ride...well, you do the math. The "mom and pop" businesses are the ones who will suffer the most. Like I stated in an earlier post I spent $850+ just for my wife and I to ride in the U.P. last weekend...and its inconsiderate posts by many "Yoopers" that don't take into account what it costs for us to ride there that is sad. Us out of towners keep your businesses alive and, while we don't ask to be catered to, a nice "thank you for staying with us" goes a long way.
Well, it is a $10 difference per sled if it goes to $45 or $15 if it goes to $50, so I am not looking at it wrong. You were already willing to pay $35, so $10-$15 is your breaking point if you choose not to come back.
However, in your earlier post, you said:
So I am confused. Will you pay it and come back, or won't you?
As for inconsiderate posts by Yoopers. I am not a Yooper, and probably drive just as far as you do to get to the UP.
You also stated:
If you were treated badly at one business, then do not visit that business again, don't act like all businesses in the UP are that way. I am sure that you have been in businesses in your area where you have been treated badly. Just don't go back to that business.
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T
Team Elkhorn
Guest
2 years ago stickers were $25, this year $35, next year $45. See where this is going?
Great logic there. I could say it's a $20 increase from last year, a $35 increase from 10 years ago and a $45 increase from when I first started riding there. If it went up $10 every year since you've been riding would you still pay it? I'd be paying $280. Gotta cut it off somewhere.
Well, I was going to, but then you might not know it's me the NEXT time we have a friendly conversation. Just think of it as upsledder as opposed to downsledder....hmmm, the way things have been going, that might be more appropriate. :0)
The discussion was on the fee increase for next season. Not what the permit was in the past, so it is perfect logic.
I have been riding for 36 years, so if it had gone up $10 per year like you suggest, $360 for a permit?? I'd like to say I would not pay it and put my foot down, but I am not sure. Would $360 stop me from doing something I love to do? I guess I really can't answer that one for sure. I am sure that in my 36 years of riding, my gas costs have gone up more than $10 per year, and that has not stopped me.
Good point, I am sure there will be a NEXT time.
Well, I suppose we could go back to the no permit days and bring back the bumps.
Nopro, how would that work for you? Do you think you would hear about that from SQ in the Chatterbox?
I have ridden over 2000 miles on Michigan trails this year, and had only about 25 miles of bumps. (Southside of Munising where trail 8 has permanent bumps)
I would say my $35 has done some good.
Nopro, how would that work for you? Do you think you would hear about that from SQ in the Chatterbox?
I have ridden over 2000 miles on Michigan trails this year, and had only about 25 miles of bumps. (Southside of Munising where trail 8 has permanent bumps)
I would say my $35 has done some good.
borderstaff
New member
And I have rode 200 miles (and my wife also) in the U.P. So would I say that it was worth $70? Well, it was nice to get away - but not worth it for one weekend of riding. And will it be worth it to pay $90 or $100 next year. No - and I won't ride there on a family trip and have to spend $200 on 4 sleds. $100 isn't the deal breaker - but it doesn't entice me to ride there. I'd rather put that money towards a trip out west where trespassing isn't everyone's gripe and you can ride all day and hardly see anyone.