Trail permits

[Pitch]

Am I the only person that believes Michigan would be better off if they offered a 3 or 5 day trail permit instead of the yearly pass only. I come up with my family 1 time a year, and the guys once a year for usually 3-4 days on both trips. I bring 2 sleds with the family, and 1 on the guys trip. We stay in the Mercer area on both occasions. I do not want to spend the $45 on a trail permit on a sled that is only going to be in Wisconsin for 3 days and would only ride in Michigan 1 or 2 days. I'm fine with buying a yearly permit for one sled because it will be in the northwoods twice a year for a total of 6-8 days. I think more revenue would be generated if they offered such because riders may be more apt to spend the $15 or $20 for a temporary permit instead of boycotting the current fees. I know I may catch some slack about this, and some may tell me to just spend the money and ride, but I can't help but believe that everyone would benefit because a little revenue is better than no revenue.

 

[whitedust]

No discounted MI Trail Permit available. Have not bought mine yet but last year was $45.

 

[russholio]

Am I the only person that believes Michigan would be better off if they offered a 3 or 5 day trail permit instead of the yearly pass only.

I'm with ya. I live and ride in Michigan but I think this is a valid point. Ontario does it, why can't we?

 

[mezz]

This topic was well discussed last year on this forum. There is a segment of riders that have expressed this, so you are not the only one. Personally, I say the pay the $45, I say this not to be snide, but for the mere fact that I as well as a number of local riders hardly use the trail, in fact, this segment of riders probably put on less trail miles in an entire regular season than most visitors do in a day or two, but, we still have to have them. IMO, it would be more costly for the State to produce daily or weekly pass & in all reality, I suspect that they would not be a real cost savings to the snowmobilers desiring a permit for a day or a week. The other factor to consider is the extra burden this would put on law enforcement whom need to verify the validity of a daily or weekly pass. One permit, one color, one year, simple.-Mezz

 

[raceinsnow]

With all the money the state is saving with less signs maybe the permit fee will be lowered.

Joke of the day !

 

[polarisrider1]

With all the money the state is saving with less signs maybe the permit fee will be lowered.

Joke of the day !

I suspect record low permit sales this year, I am not planning on riding here this year at all with the weather situation. As far as cost of permit, well I bought a gallon of Poo VES plus oil yesterday for $49. That is robbery.

 

[whitedust]

I suspect record low permit sales this year, I am not planning on riding here this year at all with the weather situation.

On the other hand if only snow in Midwest guess where will trail riders will go & pay the $45?
I'm all for a discounted 3-4 day permit but MI does not seem interested.

 

[raceinsnow]

2 years of low snow conditions is not the only reason for low permit sales.In years past I would buy 4 trail permits pre season at the snow show but because of the increase in price I am only buying my permits as needed and if my 3 remaining sleds don't make it to the trails this year again then the state gets no money. With limited to no grooming going on and the money saved with the signs and fuel costs I would think the state has alot of permit money
saved.

Can of worms now open.

 

[Pizza Man]

I bought my Mich permit in early December.
Have not ridden up there to date
and cancelled one trip for this weekend.
As soon as they get snow, I'll be up there
I don't mind paying the $45.00.

 

[POLARISDAN]

i still say 45 is a deal..you cant go to the movies with 2 people for that anymore..MI fishing has the 1 day but its computer generated and you put it in your pocket..affixing to the sled is probably more costly sticker..i buy mn wi and mi every year..total 115 roughly(3 year mn)..i mean comon,,,12k sleds..50$ gal oil..3-4$ gas..and people are complaining about the only funds(from users) that go exclusively to the trail clubs to setup and maintain the trails..i for one think all 3 states should be 100 year..maybe get some of the ***hole tresspassers away from the sport

 

[polarisrider1]

I suspect record low permit sales this year, I am not planning on riding here this year at all with the weather situation.

On the other hand if only snow in Midwest guess where will trail riders will go & pay the $45?
I'm all for a discounted 3-4 day permit but MI does not seem interested.

No they do not. Keep in mind that the powers who make the rules leave bigger tips at lunch then the $45. I see it as, if you can purchase a $30,000 plus tow vehicle and a 4 place enclosed aluminum trailer, sleds for the trailer, Klim gear, Polaris VES oil ($$$), Motel lodging, Bar money and meals out then $45 is nothing. Then you got the guys who can't afford any of it and their sled is not worth the $45 sticker they have to buy (like my $25 250 Enticer). Point is both Parties if both useing the trails need to pay their share. It is not MSA's , DNR's or governments fault your ability to pay is not there. Flat smooth trails and bridges and right a ways do not come cheap. Actually with permit sales down the trails will be even in more dire straits next season. I rode the un groomed Corn field trails of the 70's and either poeple forget or were not there. The trail system now is a deal at $45.

 

[polarisrider1]

Do I qualify for a out of state permit if there was one? last year I put on about 100 miles of Forest roads with snowmonkey in one day. Trails had little snow and many Ricky racers on them. And never rode here again.
Buing a permit is a better way to go then say raising the gas tax or adding another tax to the motels. Trails do need funding one way or another.

 

[xsledder]

i still say 45 is a deal..you cant go to the movies with 2 people for that anymore..MI fishing has the 1 day but its computer generated and you put it in your pocket..affixing to the sled is probably more costly sticker..i buy mn wi and mi every year..total 115 roughly(3 year mn)..i mean comon,,,12k sleds..50$ gal oil..3-4$ gas..and people are complaining about the only funds(from users) that go exclusively to the trail clubs to setup and maintain the trails..i for one think all 3 states should be 100 year..maybe get some of the ***hole tresspassers away from the sport

That's nice! Is this for one sled or each sled? How about if you do it for three, four, five, or six sleds? Would it still be a bargin? At what level would you start feeling the pain and start reducing your permits? If you think $100 a state would be great and would remove the tresspasser, why not make $250 a state? Just image how smooth the trails would be and the other people out of the sport then just the tresspassers. Heck, since most sleds are 12K, and some people on this site think most everyone on this site have a 12K sled, why not make the trail permit per state be 10% of a 12K sled, or $1,200 a year.

 

[Jonger1150]

I don't mean to sound like a *****, but its $45....

My machine cost $10,000... I spend $600+ a season on gas and probably another $500 on gas getting to where I ride.. $45 isn't that much compared to the other expenses.

Not to mention the headache I get from my wife hating on my sport.

 

[harvest1121]

Your from Illinois what did you pay in tolls to get there? Just look at $45 / 8 = so about $6 a day is not too bad. Just do not have 2 drinks and its paid for.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Just remember not everybody has a 10-12k sled (I myself ride a 1k 14 year old sled). And not all of us ride on the groomed trails. And some of us use our sleds for work...

 

[EXCESSIVE FORCE]

Actually it's not a $45.00 yearly pass anyway. It's more like a $45.00 3 month pass........I'll keep buying it anyway....C'MON SNOW ALREADY !!!!!

 

[xsledder]

Actually it's not a $45.00 yearly pass anyway. It's more like a $45.00 3 month pass........I'll keep buying it anyway....C'MON SNOW ALREADY !!!!!

Realistically based on last year's snow and this year's snow, it is more like a 1 month pass with the opportunity to ride it 4 month out of the year but saying it is good for one year, but that depends on if you buy them early enough.

 

[indy_500]

I don't mean to sound like a *****, but its $45....

My machine cost $10,000... I spend $600+ a season on gas and probably another $500 on gas getting to where I ride.. $45 isn't that much compared to the other expenses.

Not to mention the headache I get from my wife hating on my sport.

x2 i got mine already in eagle river day before trails opened.

 

[xyooper]

I believe if you are riding in a state you are not a resident of you need to be correctly registered and permitted in your home state before you can do so.