Upcoming Events
Poll
Supporting the ATV idea
This is in reference to the prejudicial letter regarding Commissioner (Scott) Adams’ proposal for the promotion of ATVs. I would like to see the statistics supporting the writer’s statement “people here for nature typically introduce higher levels of income and education than those interested in ATVs.”
The median household income for a Citrus County family in 2007 (U.S. Census bureau) was $35,810. The median household income for ATV owners in 2007 (Specialty Vehicle Institute of America) was $52,800. While most ATV owners consider themselves “blue collar,” 23 percent of ATV owners have professional or managerial occupations. Seventy-five percent of ATV owners ride as a family recreational activity. The price of a new ATV runs between $4,000 and $11,000. So to ride as a family is not an insubstantial investment.
Our public recreational lands should support the recreational interests of as many citizens as possible, including hunters, boaters, fisherman, hikers, horseback riders, bird watchers and ATV riders. Riding on public land in Florida requires vehicles be titled and permits acquired, which encourages people to ride legally and safely and increases the opportunity for ATV safety education. ATVs also provide access to lands people with mobility difficulties might not otherwise be able to enjoy.
Having specified areas for a variety of activities ensures those activities are enjoyed without disruption to others. While no single approach is likely to solve all of the ounty’s woes, taking steps to broaden the area’s recreational appeal is a logical course of action. For more information on ATV riding on public lands in Florida, go to http://floridaohv.org/ohv_locations.html#public.
Regina Fillinger
Hernando
Add new comment
Read and share your thoughts on this story
Ad Gallery
Copyright © 2013
keep the peace
I'm way below 70 and am totally against allowing ATV use on public lands. Rididng ATVs on roads and right of ways is illegal, yet loud ATVs ride up and down the road and tear up the right of ways in my neighborhood and anywhere else the riders wish to go, including on private property. Other states that allow ORVs on public lands can't control the destruction of wilderness areas that riders cause when they leave designated trails. I have to go for a hike on public lands to get away from the noise of ATVs in my neighborhood. I certainly don't want to have to listen to it when I'm trying to enjoy some peace and quiet in the woods of Citrus County's public lands, too. Then there's the disturbance of wildlife to consider. It's already a rare sight to see a deer or a bear in the woods. Hunters are asking the state to expand hunting areas, ATV supporters want to add to the disturbance, SWFWMD is talking of selling properties. We need wilderness for the safety and well being of ourselves and our wildlife.
taxpayer
atv's
it's a money maker, charge a yearly fee for their use in management area's. use the money for environmental upkeep only and defray taxpayers costs. i see no problem with atv's on public land as long as it's controlled like much of the vehicle traffic is now. it is the people who want to use public land as race tracks for atv's that cause the problems. . good idea as far as i'm concerned.
You can use and enjoy your ATV's in all surrounding counties
As a hunter and outdoorsman, I would appreciate it very much to be able to use my ATV to get to place I could not walk to. Hernando, Marion and Sumter counties all have this. What about taking the game out of the woods it is much easier.
Another thing many parts of the state of Florida besides our bordering counties as well as Georgia wildlife area's allow and share the great outdoors with ATV users. The elderly people here in Citrus do not own the woods but sure want to keep it for their personal use. Thank you Scott Admans for being the only member of the BOCC looking out for people below 70. The rest of the CC Board does not have the guts to help the youth around here their interests only lie for wealthy seniors so they can keep getting re-elected.