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Post by sickmojave on Feb 8, 2005 8:47:17 GMT -5
Did any of you guys get the Email from Pitnazi saying that Bella vista is closed? Well Let me tell you this email pissed me off.. Let's take a look at this line. Who are these "idiots"? are they the people that have bought land there and want to build a house now? I think not. the last time I was there I noticed several new homes being built. did any one notice that 90% of the garbage is from the construction of these homes? maybe we could blame them. or maybe we could blame it on the fact that this was never a legit riding area to start with. We all knew from the start that it was just a matter of time till it was closed due to the amount of growth in the area and If you didn't you need glasses. But to blame all of this on a few "idiots"( aka fellow riders) is just a blind narrow minded view of what really happend. no matter what happend there we were going to get the blame from outsiders, but coming from someone that is suppose to be promoting our sport? I found this very offensive..
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Post by sportsman1213 on Feb 8, 2005 13:00:57 GMT -5
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Post by Dawn on Feb 8, 2005 16:52:24 GMT -5
Hmmm...well.... ...I have never ridden at the Bella Vista gravel pits...and I am A$$uming that they were never a legit spot to play in....so I can understand someone possibly getting it shut down. I agree with James about the "few idiots" part...we're all supposed to be an ATV family...we might have a few people who do stupid things and they reflect on all of us... I heard that Applachia Bay might be closing soon too...because of some boaters griping about the area. Tyler and I talked to some GRDA and Corps people in Tulsa at the boat, rv, sport show. The GRDA seem like they are willing to help ATVers out...we just have to learn to work WITH them. As you all know, the Rebel Outlaws have adopted 2 different highways in Oklahoma and Arkansas...we're trying to be a group of ATVers who are responsible...we have a good thing going.... I guess if we want to keep our designated ATVing spots open, we all need to work together! I have no problem going out and picking up trash to help show others that we do care. We just need to show the other ATVers that it is the right thing to do so we can keep our places OPEN!!! Dawn
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Post by Dawn on Feb 8, 2005 17:13:42 GMT -5
A local newspaper...
CCI contends ATVers trespassing
Matt McNair
Weekly Vista Staff Writer
An isolated section of Bella Vista Village continues to be at the center of an on-again, off-again controversy.
The area in question is a largely undeveloped tract of land along Grosvenor Road that runs along a creek bed. While there are not many houses in this area -- it is a low-lying area prone to flooding -- it is a popular spot for joggers and dog walkers. It is also criss-crossed with off-road trails well-suited to all terrain vehicles (ATVs) and four-wheel-drive trucks.
And for many villagers, therein lies the rub.
"Our position is that they are trespassing," acknowledged Neff Basore, senior vice-president of Cooper Communities Inc. "We don't condone or permit individuals using reserved property."
The prohibition on using reserved properties is not exclusive to ATV riders. No hunting, or any other activity, is allowed either.
Reserved properties are defined as "areas reserved by the Developer that are not subject to declarations or protective covenants," according to Ron DeBrock, the public information officer for the Bella Vista Property Owners Association.
The problem with enforcing such prohibitions is many-faceted. The most glaring is the issue of posting.
"If they don't post it, we can't enforce it," acknowledged Cpl. Barb Shrum of the Bella Vista Division of the Benton County Sheriff's Office, who said that there have been "No Trespassing" signs posted there in the past, but they are no longer there.
Basore noted that Cooper Communities Inc. has attempted to post the area in the past.
Off-road machines are notoriously loud, and while the noise might generate complaints, that too is out of the hands of the BVSO.
"There is not a noise ordinance down there," said Shrum, noting that while noise ordinances may exist in Benton County townships, there is no ordinance concerning noise for the county at large, and hence no ordinance that covers Bella Vista.
Yet another objection to ATVs is their use on maintained roads, which is illegal and can be enforced. ATVs can go across the road at 90 degrees, according to the BVSO, and are permitted to drive beside maintained roadways.
This same rule applies to another off-road conveyance: Golf carts, which have the same legal status as ATVs.
While many object to the damage done by ATVs and consider ATV use to be a recent development, there is evidence that wear and tear caused by ATVs is steady and somewhat contained, and while cumulative, is not exponential. The area's popularity as an off-road recreation area also has a relatively long history.
"My brother brought me here when I was just a kid," said off-road motorcycle enthusiast Mike Coch, 19, whose family has lived in the village for a decade. "Ten years ago, these same trails were here, and people would come to hang out."
Benton County -- and southern McDonald County in Missouri -- counts many ATV enthusiasts among its citizenry, and development is making it harder and harder for off-road hobbyists to find relatively undeveloped areas to indulge in their chosen pastime.
Although Sugar Creek Motocross Park in Pineville, Mo., offers sanctioned riding, non-racers must go on practice dates. Those dates vary from month to month, and are sometimes only scheduled once or twice a week, at particular times. This leaves some riders with no viable option but to skirt the prohibition on ATV use.
"It's better to ride here than in your neighborhood," said Coch, noting that motorcycles are too noisy for highly-developed areas.
He added that ATV enthusiasts that utilize the bottomland near Grosvenor Avenue do not feel as if they are out of line.
"We're just having fun," he said.
Fellow rider Tyler Down, also 19, agreed.
"We don't do anything wrong. We just ride trails. That's what bothers me."
Both riders avowed they had never encountered "No Trespassing" signs.
"The trails are here, so why not ride them?" asked Down rhetorically.
Both riders stated that the trails have remained basically unchanged for as long as they have utilized them. They say that riders use pre-existing trails and do not regularly make new ones.
Cooper Communities Inc. employed the area as a quarry at one time, but usage of the spot is now described as "sporadic." The same pattern can be seen in ATV usage and resident complaints as well.
"It comes and goes," said Shrum concerning off-roading and related complaints. "The first good weekend, there are lots," of ATVers, and several calls about the riders.
"It's all weather-related."
With rapidly receding rural areas to accommodate outdoor-lovers, combined with radically different opinions about what is a proper use of land -- as well as hard-to-enforce laws concerning that use -- the contention seems poised to persist for the foreseeable future.
Shrum, speaking for a police force with only 12 deputies -- 12 deputies who, between them, field almost 10,000 911 calls a year -- offered a silver lining concerning ATVers.
"Well, they're not out there stealing," she said.
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Post by hondacowboy2002 on Feb 9, 2005 18:30:17 GMT -5
well to start with i dont like the bashing a certain person gave the sport in his wording we are all atvers and him saying that affects all of us he needs to think about his wording those " few idiots" are just doing the same thing he is trying to ride the sheriff's office have always been nice to me and my friends when i live with my dad in rural rogers they never picked on us they have always looked at they would have us offroad somewhere than on thier paved roads i dont know we'll see what develops tyler p.s. i say all of them
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Post by Dawn on Feb 9, 2005 23:02:24 GMT -5
Ok...I know some people might think we are taking this a little harshly...but I just think that most of us are mature enough to know that any NEGATIVE attention is bad for all of us. Yes, we might agree that sometimes there are a few IDIOTS that ride ATVs...BUT, we have some great people out there too! All I have to say is...we need to keep the areas that are ATV designated CLEAN and be sure to be a positive influence on others around us. (Set an example!) For those who read this, just remember, we are all ATVers who are looked negatively upon at times! We just need to keep the positive stuff going. Anyone that looks at the Rebel Outlaw forum should see that we are trying to be a positive example!! Everyone else...if you have a forum, webpage, or don't...keep riding, stay safe, and be a good example... Dawn's worth!
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Post by nwaatvrc on Feb 15, 2005 10:59:19 GMT -5
OK here we go. I was just stating what the Deputy Sheriff stated to my co-worker who was there that day. Yes I am trying to promote our sport of ATVing and apologize if I offended you our anyone else James. And further more I was not bashing atv's or the sport. I have ridden for almost 20 why would I do that. We are going to contact the POA, CCI , Sheriff's Dept. or whoever else we need to to try to keep this area open. It is too nice of a area and too close to let it get closed down. Like they said in the article posted by Dawn this area is not much use for much else. I agree that the tresspassing needs to stop. That is what kill's it for all. Tha last weekend we were down there there was over 100 people out there riding that day. Including alot of Families. My point if they are going to crack down on the ATV's then they need to crack down on the Dang Golf Carts on the roads. Just yesterday on my way home I got stuck behind one and he would not get out of the way. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCES? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
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Post by Dawn on Feb 15, 2005 11:21:20 GMT -5
Behind a golf cart and he wouldn't move... I don't know what the difference is...but that's funny! You should have plowed him over... Dawn....
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