Sept 2006 ATV-Industry News

Updated 10/01/06

Archives: Jan 06, Feb 06, Mar 06, Apr 06, May 06, June 06, July 06, Aug 06

JOHN DEERE PLANS TO LEAVE ATV BUSINESS

John Deere announced the company intends to depart the All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) business. Public Relations Manager Bill Klutho explains the company has not achieved an acceptable level of profitability in their ATV products since they began selling utility ATV products in the spring of 2004. No jobs will be affected by the decision, Klutho adds. John Deere will reportedly continue to honor all product warranties for their ATVs and ATV products for 10 years under the terms of the company's long-term commitment to service parts. Once the company's dealers sell out their inventories, John Deere will no longer sell ATVs, said Klutho.

Iowa opens their newest all-terrain vehicle park, located near Fort Dodge, reports the DesMoinesRegister.com. The Gypsum City ATV Park is the state's eighth such location and park hours are said to be from sunrise to sunset. The park's rules and regulations require all ATVs and motorcycles display a valid registration from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, all operators must wear a helmet, no one under the age of 12 may operate an ATV in the park, ATV riders under 18 must have a valid safety certificate and riding double or riding off trail is prohibited, explains online news sources.

The All-Terrain Vehicle Association (ATVA) is praising the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission's rejection of a request by anti-ATV groups. The group, consisting of the Consumer Federation of America, Bluewater Network and the Natural Trails and Water Coalition, petitioned to ban the sale of full-sized ATVs for use by children under 16, states spokesperson Tom Lindsay. The decision by the safety panel is being viewed as a major victory by the ATVA in its effort to convince federal safety experts that young riders should be allowed to ride ATVs that are properly sized for their body size, explains Lindsay.

A proposal unveiled by the Vermont Agency of Transportation is being opposed by a number of anti-access groups. The proposal plans to allow ATV access to the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, reports the St. Albans Messenger newspaper. The trail would cover a 96-mile stretch of old railroad bed from St. Johnsbury to Swaton, making it the largest such trail in New England, adds the newspaper. Opposition to the plan stems from safety concerns in regard to mixing ATV use in the summer months with the variety of hikers, bikers and walkers, explains St. Albans.

Delta, Wis., chairman Myron Anderson announces his resignation, effective July 31. Anderson resigned his position in protest of a town board vote in which the other two supervisors voted to pass a motion to increase the number of routes within the town to be used by ATVs, reports The Daily Press. “I felt that the people of Delta should have had an opportunity to vote on an issue of this significance,” he explains.

The Bowie County, Texas, Sheriff's Office announces it is cracking down on people illegally riding ATVs on public roadways, reports the Texarkana Gazette. Bowie County Sheriff James Prince said they are getting complaints almost-daily on ATV traffic, with offenses include driving on paved roads, cutting doughnuts in dirt roads and ditches, plus driving ATVs on people's lawns, causing damage. “We've been giving a lot of warnings, but now we are going to have to start giving tickets. Driving on public roads is against the law, and we're going to start issuing citations,” stated Prince.

American Suzuki issued a recall for the 2006 Eiger ATVs, reports the Kansas City infoZine News. The mounting brackets used to secure the left-front suspension arm to the frame may not have been welded completely and could break off during riding, causing the rider to lose control of the ATV and crash, explains the paper. Only about 300 units have been recalled.

The BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) announced its support for the new access and recreation provisions incorporated in the Northwestern California Wilderness Bill (HR233). The legislation would recognize off-highway vehicle and mountain bike use as legitimate recreational activities on federal lands by codifying said use in stature on a majority of routes affected by the proposal, states BRC spokesperson Don Amador.

The New Mexico Off Highway Vehicle Alliance (NMOHVA) and the BlueRibbon Caolition (BRC) sent a letter to Senator Pete Domenici expressing concerns about legislation proposing the establishment of a National Monument near Las Cruces, NM. The proposal includes an area where dinosaur tracks have been found in the past, explains Public Lands Director for BRC Brian Hawthorne. He adds, “The area is already protected as a Research National Area which provides the authority to properly study the trackways. A National Monument is more words, more restrictions on the public and far more expensive, but does not provide a lot more protection.”

The town of Dunbar, PA., is cracking down on the recreational vehicle riders who want to ride on the town's roads and streets, reports the Daily Courier. Town supervisors will vote on an ordinance to regulate recreational vehicles operating on township roads and streets in the hopes of cutting down the many complaints they have received and to prevent ATV accidents, states the Courier. Under the ordinance, riders may not be allowed to ride on township roads, riding an ATV on public property is not permitted and riders under the age of 16 are only allowed to ride on their parent's or guardian's land, unless they have passed a safety course and are supervised by a rider at least 18 years old and are given permission by the private property owner, explains the newspaper.

Nancy Norad, Vice Chairman for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission released a statement explaining her decision to accept proposals from staff on the new safety rules for ATVs, while also rejecting a request by anti-ATV groups to ban the sale of full-size ATVs for use by children under 16. According to the statement, the new rule attempts to both make the ATVs as safe as possible and gives enthusiasts the information and resources they need to operate the ATV safely. Norad explains the ban on selling ATVs for use by children under 16 would be virtually unenforceable. “It is bad public policy to proceed with a ban which cannot be effectively enforced,” she added.