In favor of BRAAAP, not BRAAAT

Early this month we wrote our first editorial in many years on the subject of ATV use within the city limits of Wasilla.

At the time we had already written one story on the topic and received a smattering of feedback. All of it favoring a ban. We wrote an editorial saying as much and heralding a shift in public opinion from the days when ATV riders were up in arms about a discussed city limits ban.

Now we’re not so sure which way the tide is moving.

The city is moving incrementally closer to prohibiting ATV use in city limits and users have organized to make their displeasure known. Folks on our Facebook page and reader boards don’t seem completely convinced of the ban. Many seemed to agree that it’s time to have a conversation as a community about our options to mitigate concerns about ATV use and abuse.

We asked for ideas on our Facebook page, ideas besides the city’s proposed ban. Thank you to the many folks who took the time to share thoughtful ideas. Opinions were varied, but people seemed to agree there is cause for concern with the way ATV riders presently interact with other motorists, pedestrians and private property owners.

So what are we going to do? We don’t think it’s productive to object to the ban without suggesting solutions. If not a ban, how do we address the fact that ATV users seem to wholly ignore the rules on the books already?

We posted Wasilla’s rules to our Facebook page after it became clear folks are unclear about the existing rules in the city and borough. And we’ve included reporting in this issue outlining what the rules are for ATV use in various jurisdictions. To us, it seems like education is part of the issue here. No one seems to know the rules. That doesn’t excuse riders’ behavior, but it does offer some low-hanging fruit to grab as we address ATVs use alongside rapid population growth.

We have heard talk of better signage. Trails clearly marked as motorized or non-motorized. This sounds like a good idea to us. And some trails — including one along Lucille Street in Wasilla that is part of the city’s existing ATV corridors — are already marked with speed limit signs for ATVs.

Many of the other rules readers suggested — such as speed limits, age limits, limits on noise and requiring helmet use — are already on the books in Wasilla, but are ignored by riders.

Rights can never be separated from responsibilities. But we think that’s sort of what has happened here. People use off road vehicles in Alaska as if they are entitled to do so regardless of other people’s rights and their own responsibility. More than anything, it’s that disregard for others that has driven us to talk about ATV use and abuse as a community.

It also seems true that the things that Wasilla residents find intolerable about ATVs also apply to residents who live out side the city in the Mat-Su Borough. We don’t want to see ATV use banned along roadsides borough-wide. But we do see a need for riders to be respectful of others rights and mindful of their own responsibilities.

In short, we favor BRAAAP, BRAAAP, BRAAAP. But don’t be a BRAAAT.