Newsworthy
ATV Riders Urged to Avoid Mud
The Maine Department of Conservation says all-terrain trails are starting to open, but many trails are still too muddy for riding. Officials warned ATV operators that they shouldn't ride on any trail until it's completely dry and mud season signs have been removed. The 85-mile long Down East Sunrise Trail through Hancock and Washington counties opened over the weekend, and most trails will be open by Memorial Day. Maine has about 6,200 miles of ATV trails, 95 percent of them on private land. The Bureau of Public Lands says ATV riding in increasing and the state wants to encourage it because of the positive impact of tourism on Maine's economy.
BDN
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Access to Downtown Madawaska (April 2012)
THE NEW TOWN POLICY WILL BE THAT ALL STREETS IN TOWN WILL ALLOW ATV AND SNOWMOBILES TO OPERATE BUT WITH THE FACT BEING THAT YOU MUST GO 10 MPH OR LESS AND KEEP TO THE RIGHT AND KEEP NOISE DOWN AND USE THE SHORTEST ROUTE TO YOUR DESTINATION. ALSO, FOR EXAMPLE, DO NOT TAKE OF FROM 26TH AVENUE AND GOT TO DAIGLE OIL TO GAS USING THE STREETS. USE THE TRAILS TO DO THAT. IF YOU DO YOU MAY GET A WARNING FROM POLICE OR A TICKET.
WE WILL ALSO MAKE SIGNS AT THE TRAIL HEADS INDICATING SUCH.
Visit the video section of this site for instructions.
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Irving Lands Riding Requirements (2012)
We are certainly privileged again this season to be able to ride Irving Lands ATV trails. Our Map Section of this site shows you where these trails are and how to access them. But there are requirements that must be met to be able to ride these trails. Here they are. First, you must belong to an ATV Club that has aquired and paid for a "Liability Insurance" purchased from "Maine ATV" . Secondly, you must be a current paid member of that said local ATV club. You will have to have your club's sticker on your unit along with the round Maine ATV sticker on your unit. Thirdly, You must have your club registration card on your person while riding. If any of these requirements are not met and you are checked by either an Irving representative or State of Maine Warden Service, you will be held liable and probably be given a ticket. So please, follow these required steps and help us keep our relationship with Irving "Top Notch" so that we can continue to enjoy these trails. Also, please stay on marked trails only. They will not tolerate any infractions.
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Park & Ride (April 2012
The subject of where to park your vehicle when "trucking" your ATV into Madawaska to unload and then go riding has been questioned by many this season. Well, we now have two locations, one in St. David and one in Madawaska for you out-of-towners. The one in St.David is located behind Morin's Variety at 756 Main Street, Madawaska (as some would deny, St. David is a suburb of Madawaska!) and the second location is our Four Seasons Lodge on Spring Street, also in Madawaska. You are welcome to park your trucks and trailers at these locations and enjoy the best trails North of Miami!!!
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Houlton Revisits ATV Access
Almost seven years after failing to resove the issue, town councilors on Monday (3/26/12) evening introduced an ordinance to designate more ATV access routs in the community. A public hearing will take place on April 23, 2012.
In 2005, ATV enthusiasts came before the council and requested that officials open up more access routes in town so riders could navigate legally around more streets. A handfull of ATV trails dot the outskirts of town, and sometimes operators must ride a short distance on public roads to reach a trail. Under state law, a registered ATV driver may not exceed a distance of 300 yards traveling on a public way. This means riders sometimes cannot get from their homes to nearby trails legally, nor can they always legally reach local restaurants and gas stations by ATV. Riders have stressed that the town would benefit economically if they had access to restaruants and stores using their machines. Some residentsobjected to the idea, however, expressing concerns about safety, speeding riders and noise.
Councilor Mike Jenkins brought the issue back to the table two weeks ago because he felt the community could benefit grom more access roads. At the same time, he did not want to see the busiest streets open to ATV riders. Downtown Market Square is a high traffic area with a number of stores and offices. The proposal also excludes all state-owned roads from being used, including U.S. Route 1, Route 2A and Route 2.
Despite the exclusion, ATV riders will be able to get to stores, restaurants and gas stations on a section of US Route 1 known as North Street. The council in 2007 designated the access road an ATV trail to nake it easier for riders to reach businesses on that part of North Street. (Bangor Daily News - 3/28/12)
