Readers Reject ATV Registration, New Poll for April

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com

By a lopsided margin, RIDE-CT.com readers have said “no way” to a proposed law in Connecticut that would require the registration of all ATVs. That means quads, dirt bikes and snowmobiles – even if they’re used solely on your own property.  Results of the website’s March poll revealed that 84 percent of voters opposed ATV registration, while only 16 percent supported it.

Under the bill, it would cost $20 to register a snowmobile and $40 to register an ATV. Half of the ATV registration fee would be deposited is an “all-terrain account” that the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection would use to create and maintain trails for ATV operators and to assist in the law enforcement of ATVs. At the time of registration, ATV owners would also be assessed a $5 “land purchase fee” to establish trails.

The ATV bill is proceeding at the legislature. After being approved by the Transportation Committee in a 32-2 vote on March 15, it was referred a week ago to the Office of Legislature Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis.

A new poll question has now been posted for April. It asks “If you could buy one accessory for your bike, it would be…” The choices are “Better seat,” “More lights,” “Extra luggage,” “Anything chrome” and “Other.” The polls are now open.

—

This is the time of the riding season when motorcyclists especially gripe about non-observant drivers.

With bikes being absent from the roadways for a few months, drivers get out of the habit of looking for us, assuming that they ever did, and do all sorts of stupid things that put us in harm’s way. That’s why wearing something bright when riding can be beneficial. (The T-shirt shown here is from Seacoast Biker Gear in Hampton Falls, NH.)

But riders can be to blame, too. I wanted to scream “Learn to ride!” at the top of my lungs on Saturday at three guys who rode like jerks. I was in my pickup, heading northbound approaching the stop sign on Hill Road (Route 222) in Harwinton where it dead ends into Route 118. I was applying the brakes preparing to come to a halt at the stop line when these guys, who were turning left to head south toward Thomaston, cut the corner. All three rode across my path in the northbound lane, forcing me to jam the brakes.

The experience certainly made me aware of the perspective of cagers. For an instant, I wanted to run them down to teach them a lesson. The bottom line lesson is that it’s up to riders to ride responsibly so as not to tick off drivers because in a showdown, cars and trucks will always win.

—

Triumph is recalling 3,799 bikes for having turning signal stems that may fracture. They include Daytona 675s, Speed Triples, Street Triples and Tiger 800s from the 2012 and 2013 model years. Dealers will replace the stems free of charge.