Noise, wheels and getting around.

[James Harvey]

#5459

Hey guys,

I’ve got the impression there’s a general distaste in these parts for all forms of ‘motorised’ hunting. I understand quad bikes have become wildly popular in the US, opening up even remote backwoods to the laziest of slobs.

I don’t know if you guys have heard of a company called Zero Motorcycles, they’re a california based world leader of electric motorcycles, particularly offroad mx style bikes. I figure it’s only a matter of time till they release a quad.

The biggest criticism I’ve heard of off road bikes (2 or 4 wheeled) is noise pollution. These Zero bikes are about as noisy as a push bike. I imagine electric quads would be very popular for hunters.

I suppose the point of all this is that if you are in opposition of quads in the back country you should be aware it’s only a matter of time before their users will get to say they don’t make any noise.

Jim

[David Petersen]

#41110

This is a Pandora’s box you’ve opened, Jim. Back when I was fighting the motorized takeover of public “wild” lands and wildlife and fish habitat as a “professional” for Trout Unlimited, and as deeply involved in this battle as it’s possible to get without stringing the piano wire, we started hearing about the future of electric ATVs, dirt bikes, etc. and discussing how to react. On the one hand, yes indeed it’s the noise that most disturbed quiet-use outdoors folk, even as studies have shown that the noise of approaching ATVs moves elk sooner, faster and farther than any other form of human travel through the backcountry, etc. So by getting rid of the noise the industry will have solved a major problem … only to create new and more difficult problems for the natural world, including muscle-powered humans. For one thing, they could better “sneak up” on game to shoot at with obscenely long shots, rifle or bow. For another it presents a huge trail-safety problem for horsemen and hikers and bicyclists and wildlife … and the motorheads themselves, given the excess speeds most travel at most of the time, hills and curves in trails … you get the picture. But the most worrisome of all is what you have hinted at, Jim — the politics of the motor alliance being able to say “OK, so we got ride of the noise you always complain about. Now leave us alone!” The only realistic and lasting cure is to close all motorized trails on public lands, period. If they prefer to ride in the open, rain, dust, etc. on designated forest roadways rather than the comfort of a vehicle, no problem. But when we leave the roads and get onto “backwoods” trails, it’s muscles only. Fat chance that happening.

[Etter1]

#42250

I wish 4 wheelers were illegal everywhere. I don’t care if it’s private property or not. If you don’t want to use your legs, you might as well be a parapalegic. People these days are so pathetic.

[Goraidh]

#42269

ATVs aren’t only noisy, but, man, do they scar up the trails, especially when the weather is wet. And, as Dave pointed out, the average 4-Wheeler doesn’t mosey along—they’re flat out zipping. I wonder how much money is spent yearly by rescue teams and such on injured riders in the wilds of this country.

[James Harvey]

#42283

Dave, I’m glad you haven’t gone down the piano wire route! I used to be a pretty active off road rider (2 wheels) and I hate guys that ride irresponsibly. I have a policy that if a chap is somewhere he’s not supposed to be on a bike and he gets close enough to me, I’ll knock him off his bike. I’ve only done it once and it didn’t hurt a bit.

The other thing I do when I hear them around is drag logs at inconvenient angles across trails, just around tight, blind corners. If they are riding too fast they’ll have a spill. I am a bit of a wilderness wierdo though 😉

Etter, I don’t begrudge people who want to use them, particularly for land management. I’ve never walked more than 40km in one day, but you could cover that in less than an hour on a quad. I’ve helped a fella cut a trail through his wooded property and his quad was a really handy tool. Do you guys have a lot of problems with people shredding topsoil with them or something? I know high powered sports quads tear up soil like just about nothing else on the planet 😕

In my mind one of the greatest challenges would be enforcing any usage restrictions. I don’t know what your parks are like, but rangers here are too few to police bikes and quads as it is, when you can hear them all the way across a valley. When they’re silent, fellas will be able to get away with just about anything they want, which is a real worry.

I’m completely at a loss thinking about any solution that would both be likely to gain popular support and actually protect wilderness areas from abuse. I get depressed thinking about it actually.

Jim

[grumpy]

#42341

My biggest worry is that I’ll be run over because I can’t hear them coming. As it is, there are no speed limits (and no way to enforce them). They are talking about making electric cars that make noise for the same reason. When I hear them coming, I step off the trail, and stand still, they don’t even see me. Also worried about what they do the the trails. Lots of volunteers out there maintaining trails (on the AT, and LT, and others). If the bikes/4 wheelers get on them, they won’t be able to keep up.

[Mark Turton]

#42827

I’d guess the weight of an equivalent electric vehicle is going to be greater than that of the gas powered machine, with less range and endurance making it less agile. The upside is that if it runs out of juice the rider is screwed, hows it getting out without being towed.

Battery life will be unpredictable due to terrain, temperature and natural deterioration in the life of the battery.

Electric vehicles may not be as noisy or pump out Co2 but the manufacture of the batteries, recycling and disposal of waste chemicals is a big issue. They are not green.

The one exception I see is Segways for disabled folks.

Cant help though when it comes a humane way of dealing with these things.

Mark.

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