The Scottsbluff city council has been working the last couple of months on an alternative transportation ordinance. This was finally passed on Sept. 15th to allow atv use on the city streets. The key points of the ordinance requirements are:

Headlights, taillights, and working brake light is required. Helmet use is mandatory. Operator must have a valid drivers license and insurance. Legal muffler and spark arrestor. Also an orange triangle flag at least 6 ft off the ground. No passengers allowed even if the machine is designed from the factory for a passenger. 30 mph maximum speed limit. Atv's will be allowed on most city streets, but may not be operated on hwy 26, except to cross it at intersections.

Here is a link to an article in the Star Herald this morning. Of course they get it wrong right up front in the title of the article when they say "Cruising" as pleasure riding is forbidden in the ordinance to keep people from using them for dragging main on the weekends, but still to allow you to drive downtown for shopping or other business.

Overall the city council was good to work with as originally they were split about 50-50 on this issue. Also the city lawyers wanted to make it daylight hours only. The mayor stepped up and said We're requiring lights and coming into the time of year where people go to work in the dark and come home in the dark, why limit this to daylight only??? Another council member requested that city employees mainly in the park dept. who currently use atv's in their work, also be required to wear helmets while operating the atv since they will be requiring the general public to use them.

Kevin Staman of Staman's Suzuki really stepped up and helped push this through and called and reminded people when this was coming up before the council urging them to attend and be heard if this is what they wanted.

I checked with the PD yesterday and it sounds like its going to be Oct. 10th before they are ready to start issuing stickers. I really like this as I wasn't wanting to have to fire the diesel up cold twice a day for the short drive back and forth to work. Unless its just bitterly cold, I can ride to work on the quad before the heater would have warmed up anyway.

Keep us informed if it does pass. Here in Montana, you can ride them anywhere. Interstate included. Not that I would ride them on the Interstate.

Sujada, if you get a chance, go over to Dale's Tire and find the biggest and ugliest guy over there and tell him that it was not nice to pick on his little Brother as he was growing up. Aks him about getting a little wet when chasing him up a tree. Now, this man is 6'7 and about 300 pounds and wears glasses. Take his glasses away from him first. He can't see past his nose with them. You may still have to stand back about 5 feet because he has a big nose also. His name is Bob and that is spelled with two "O's". You can tell him that his little Brother put you up to it.

Tom

T Wolf,
The ordinance has already been passed. Just waiting for the Police dept. to get their stickers in. We kind of have a twin cities deal going on here with Scottsbluff north of the river and Gering on the south. I heard Gering was waiting for Scottsbluff to finalize theres and they will pass the same ordinance. Common sense in goverment?? Hopefully they will have reciprocity with each other on this.

I'll try to stop down at Dale's and say Hi to your brother some time, but anybody that big, I'm not going in and ask for the biggest, uglist, blind guy there.

He has ridden Quads when they come up here to visit in Montana. And has talked about buying a couple. He could also be a great source for tires. Twist his arm into buying some and then teach him how to ride one like a man. He rides very very slow. I think Cob can out run him.

All in all, he is a great guy. Ugly, but good. I think I mentioned it before, but it was his Son Jamie that got killed in Iraq.

Thanks Randy,

Tom

How did they settle on a maximum speed of 30 mph? That's a bit slow.

Don't know why they decided on 30 mph. Just a happy medium I guess. Residential streets are all 25 and that will have to be followed anyway. Most of the non residential are 30 or 35 with a few of the main routes at 45. I still think a quad is safer than all the first timers on their 150cc imported scooters, but at least they had to go get a motorcycle endorsement on their license.

I really hope they enforce this strictly right off the bat and not let a few get away with racing or just generally being idiots til people complain and it gets repealed. I think my 500 would get at least 25 mpg and would be a lot more fun for running errands or quick trips instead of taking the car (about 15-18) in town or the pickup at 11-14 for these short trips.

Sujada, I was in Alliance two weeks ago. I think they allow ATV's on city streets also. I saw something in the paper about it. Sadly I am headed there again as my father passed away and the funeral is this Friday.

Yes, Alliance as well as several other towns in western NE have passed ordinances allowing atv's on the streets.

Arkyrider,
Sorry to hear about your father. I lost mine 2 years ago this month. My condolences to you and your family. If there's anything I can do when your out this way let me know.

Sujada~ this alternative transportation ordinance is really great news. Let us know how it all turns out. I am sure some hard work on the part of riders made this happen. Way to go!

Arkyrider~ My sincere condolences to you and your family. May memories sustain you through this hard time.

Just got finished talking to the Mayor of our town, he is an ATV rider also. We talked about the above, he would like to see it in our town but his concern is the joe rednecks who would ruin it for everybody. We even talked about using ATV's in the allies which are all gravel, but again came to the point of joe redneck getting out and ruining it for everybody. He is even in favor of golf carts and those electric wheel chair. We have several of the electric wheel chairs running all over town. The mayor sees no difference in the electric wheel chairs and atv's or golf carts. He just has to convince the rest of the city council, if at all.