Taking the High Road - All Terrain Vehicles

All-Terrain Vehicles or ATVs are very popular with many types of people because of their ability to cross terrain that other vehicles are unable to handle.  They are also featured in numerous YouTube videos ranging from friends having fun to people hurting themselves in dangerous ATV stunts.  Although they are a source of fun for many, there have also been numerous criticisms including the dangers to children who ride ATVs; the impact on the environment both due to pollution and their contributions to erosion; the noise they make, which can disrupt the outdoor activities of others; and the fact that ATV riders sometimes trespass on private land with their vehicles.  Despite these criticisms, responsible ATV use can be a great source of fun for enthusiasts. 

Development

Although ATVS as we know them today are a fairly recent invention, the forerunner to the modern ATV was actually introduced in the late 19^th century.  Quadracycles looked and worked much like modern four-wheel ATVs but ceased to be manufactured soon after the introduction of automobiles.  However, in the 1960s amphibious ATVs were offered which usually had six wheels, were steered using a traditional steering wheel, and could carry multiple passengers.  Although these still exist, the term ATV now only refers to single-passenger all-terrain vehicles steered with handle bars rather than a steering wheel.  These were first introduced by Honda in 1970 with a three-wheel model.  Many types of ATVs have been manufactured since then but due to safety issues three-wheel models ceased production in the late 1980s at which time a 10-year moratorium took effect.  Although it is once again legal to produce three-wheel ATVs, most manufacturers only produce the safer four-wheel variety, usually with the added safety feature of four-wheel drive. 

ATV Criticisms

Safety issues have been a constant criticism throughout the history of ATVs, leading to many of the improvements developed by manufacturers.  Nevertheless, many remain concerned about children riding ATVs, particularly models that are too large and too fast for them to be able to handle properly.  Nevertheless, it is still legal for children six and over to ride certain types of ATVs with proper training.  Other problems with ATVs include environmental pollution, trespassing, and excessive noise.  ATVs can cause damage to public lands they are ridden on and have been cited for promoting the growth of certain invasive plant species.  In addition, some ATV riders don’t concern themselves with using only public lands, often trespassing on private lands in rural areas.  Finally, some outdoor enthusiasts such as hunters have complained about the noise of ATVs interfering with their own activities.  It’s hard to hunt animals when they’ve all been scared off by ATV riders.  Nevertheless, considerate and responsible ATV use can be a safe and fun pastime for many types of people.