38 replies to this topic

[OldViperRider]

I am a Trail Patrol member of the Pittsburg Ridge Runners Snowobile Club and I have been noticing a few disturbing practices by riders of our trail system this season.

The first one, and the most dangerous, is the failure to keep to the right, especially when negotiating left hand corners. Many riders are completely crossing over to the other side of the trail EVEN ON BLIND CORNERS!!!! This practice is extremely dangerous. If a rider can't negotiate a turn with their right hand ski within a foot of the right hand side of the trail they are going too fast and are out of control and a menace on the trail.

The second is stopping three of four abreast anywhere on the trail and blocking other riders. It is not as dangerous as the above but still could be in a blind spot in the trail. It is also very inconsiderate of other trail users who have to try and squeeze by the parked sleds. Anytime riders stop on the trail they should do so in single file and as far to the right as possible.

The third is failing to stop at stop signs or before crossing a plowed road even if no stop sign is there. In NH all snowmobiles are required to come to a complete stop before proceeding across a plowed road.

By my observations, these three seem to be more prevalent on our trail system this season than ever before. Please take them to heart and try to do your best to be as safe on the trails as possible. The last thing the club wants is to have any avoidable accidents on its trail system.

Mark

Edited by OldViperRider, 22 January 2009 - 03:55 PM.

[Oldtimer]

NH F&G or NH State Police or the county sheriffs needs to deputize a few hard nosed club members from each major sled area and let them "clean up". If the people agreed to do it for $1 a year, then the funding would not be an issue..

[AsnowmanZ]

It has ALWAYS been a pet-peeve of mine when people can not stay on their own side of trails. I understand that it happens occasionally, and when conditions are WIDE OPEN thats one thing, but how many times have you rode freshly groomed trails with just a couple tracks showing. This past weekend I folloed such scenario for 30 miles of twisties, and the sled was "Bouncing" back and forth from left to right - WTF

I do not understand those who cannot follow a BASIC PRINCIPLE OF DRIVING - KEEP RIGHT so we are all safe

Good Topic.

[skully]

AsnowmanZ, on Jan 22 2009, 05:52 PM, said:

This past weekend I folloed such scenario for 30 miles of twisties, and the sled was "Bouncing" back and forth from left to right - WTF.

Hmmm .....
I have a slight problem with your logic !
I have been riding in the woods since 1970 (30 years riding & racing dirtbikes) and the last 10 years on a sled.
I do not see a problem with using the WHOLE TRAIL if there is NO ON-COMMING traffic.
If you think I am going to stay on the righthand side of a trail like a long straight or even long sweeping twisties where
I can see PLENTY far ahead to alter my course if I see someone comming or someone in the trail and it is all whooped
out and the other side is not as bad ........ then you are nuts !
What is next ? You going to require the clubs to paint YELLOW lines down the middle of the trail next ?
Ohhh .... Wait you can't do that ! Liberals need to have Laws to protect you against yourself ! Sorry I forgot !
How about just require people to use COMMON SENCE when you are riding !

Rob .....

[Oldtimer]

He said twisties. Not long straights. And tone it down.

[skully]

Oldtimer, on Jan 22 2009, 07:54 PM, said:

And tone it down.

Tone WHAT done ?
What part of my reply did you not like ?
And why ?

[Oldtimer]

skully, on Jan 22 2009, 07:00 PM, said:

Tone WHAT done ?
What part of my reply did you not like ?
And why ?

Ohhh .... Wait you can't do that ! Liberals need to have Laws to protect you against yourself ! Sorry I forgot !

[skully]

Oldtimer, on Jan 22 2009, 07:54 PM, said:

He said twisties.

Ya and I said TWISTIES ?
Plenty of times I can see THROUGH the twisties way far enough to adjust my course if I see ANYONE comming or in the trail !
Expecially if the TWISTIES are on a powerline and they are flat and there is no vegetation and can see plenty far ahead.
I am not saying to do a KAZILLION miles an hour either. I am talking doing the SPEED LIMIT or LESS !
Rob .....

[skully]

Oldtimer, on Jan 22 2009, 08:03 PM, said:

Ohhh .... Wait you can't do that ! Liberals need to have Laws to protect you against yourself ! Sorry I forgot !

Ohh ... Sorry I must have missed the NO political comments are to be added.
Should have just PM'd me to EDIT it out !
I wouldn't have had a problem doing that.
Or if your an Admin you should have just done it.
Rob ....

[OldViperRider]

AsnowmanZ, on Jan 22 2009, 04:52 PM, said:

It has ALWAYS been a pet-peeve of mine when people can not stay on their own side of trails. I understand that it happens occasionally, and when conditions are WIDE OPEN thats one thing, but how many times have you rode freshly groomed trails with just a couple tracks showing. This past weekend I folloed such scenario for 30 miles of twisties, and the sled was "Bouncing" back and forth from left to right - WTF

I do not understand those who cannot follow a BASIC PRINCIPLE OF DRIVING - KEEP RIGHT so we are all safe

Good Topic.

skully, on Jan 22 2009, 06:52 PM, said:

Hmmm .....
I have a slight problem with your logic !
I have been riding in the woods since 1970 (30 years riding & racing dirtbikes) and the last 10 years on a sled.
I do not see a problem with using the WHOLE TRAIL if there is NO ON-COMMING traffic.
If you think I am going to stay on the righthand side of a trail like a long straight or even long sweeping twisties where
I can see PLENTY far ahead to alter my course if I see someone comming or someone in the trail and it is all whooped
out and the other side is not as bad ........ then you are nuts !
What is next ? You going to require the clubs to paint YELLOW lines down the middle of the trail next ?
Ohhh .... Wait you can't do that ! Liberals need to have Laws to protect you against yourself ! Sorry I forgot !
How about just require people to use COMMON SENCE when you are riding !

Rob .....

Rob,

My original point was stay off the left side of the trail on BLIND CORNERS!

Mark

p.s. On the trail there is no yellow line, the right half is yours, the left side is MINE!

[skully]

OldViperRider, on Jan 22 2009, 08:10 PM, said:

Rob,

My original point was stay off the left side of the trail on BLIND CORNERS!

Mark

p.s. On the trail there is no yellow line, the right half is yours, the left side is MINE!

Sorry Guys ...
I just read your Rules ....
Me Bad ....
I flunked this one !
" Don't be a wiseass. "

I know what he meant !
You should NOT BE on the other side of a BLIND corner no matter WHAT !
Even on hills I make sure I am on MY side as far as I can if I cannot see the downside of the hill.
If I am 1st sled in a group I even tend to slow WAY DOWN just incase some is on my side comming over the top.
Rob ....

[snownut#2]

Rob,

What crawled up your boxers and pulled the short hairs. This should be a great topic for discussion not a bash fest. And you only addressed one of the issues not the three, how many stop signs have you blown though?

[Oldtimer]

skully, on Jan 22 2009, 07:08 PM, said:

Ohh ... Sorry I must have missed the NO political comments are to be added.
Should have just PM'd me to EDIT it out !
I wouldn't have had a problem doing that.
Or if your an Admin you should have just done it.
Rob ....

Not a big deal Rob, just started getting "personal"..You know we don't do that here. Have a nice evening.

[OldViperRider]

Boy, you guys must have really fast Internet connections. Up here in the North Country it takes at least four seconds to get a request for a web page and then the delay for the response. I am very envious! Plus I can't really stick it to you in real time! DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mark

[skully]

snownut#2, on Jan 22 2009, 09:15 PM, said:

Rob,

What crawled up your boxers and pulled the short hairs.
This should be a great topic for discussion not a bash fest.
And you only addressed one of the issues not the three, how many stop signs have you blown though?

Ahhhh ..... NONE in 38 years of driving or riding !
I only took offence to this ...
" This past weekend I folloed such scenario for 30 miles of twisties, and the sled was "Bouncing" back and forth from left to right - WTF "
So the problem is ?
This person makes this statement not knowing if there was any traffic on the trail or not !
He didn't say BLIND corners .... just TWISTIES !
So I took it as say a powerline section with MILES of TWISTIES with UNLIMITED sight of on-comming traffic.
So what is the problem of using the WHOLE trail to PLAY on ?
Besides SOMEONE has to play the Devil's Advocate !
Rob ....

[skully]

OldViperRider, on Jan 22 2009, 09:30 PM, said:

Boy, you guys must have really fast Internet connections. Up here in the North Country it takes at least four seconds to get a request for a web page and then the delay for the response. I am very envious! Plus I can't really stick it to you in real time! DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mark

Ya that is what happens when you live in the boonies !
I am envious of all the GREAT riding you get to do from your door step.
I have to drive 4 1/2 hours if I want to play on YOUR side of the trail .... LOL ....
Rob ....

[OldViperRider]

skully, on Jan 22 2009, 07:34 PM, said:

Ya that is what happens when you live in the boonies !
I am envious of all the GREAT riding you get to do from your door step.
I have to drive 4 1/2 hours if I want to play on YOUR side of the trail .... LOL ....
Rob ....

Yeah, I had a 8 1/2 hour ride from NJ up to "God's Country" for at least 10 years before I retired and moved here permanently. We all have to pay our dues.

Take it from me, the pain is worth it!

Mark

[skully]

snownut#2, on Jan 22 2009, 09:15 PM, said:

Rob,

What crawled up your boxers and pulled the short hairs.
This should be a great topic for discussion not a bash fest.
And you only addressed one of the issues not the three, how many stop signs have you blown though?

Ok ...

#2 .... ALWAYS single single file in a SAFE spot and not like in a CORNER or on a HILL or a NARROW section of trail.
You would be suprised how many time I have seen that. If it is narrow I try to pull mine off atleast 1/2 a sled
off the trail, if not the WHOLE sled.

#3 .... ALWAYS stop ! Even at driveways with stop signs. Common courtisy (sic) for the land owner just for letting us do so.
Besides that would be like playing Russian Roulette ... No Thanks .... I aint THAT crazy !

38 years in the woods without causing an accident OR being in one OR causing anyone to go off the trail (dirtbike or sled).
So I am not the one you will be having a problem with.
There you HAPPY now ?

Rob ....

Edited by skully, 22 January 2009 - 07:47 PM.

[sno-dust]

With N.H. not having a left of center law theres nothing illegal about riding the center or left hand side of the trail.It also ties the hands of enforcement when it comes to this sometimes reckless operation.By the way, I ride right!

[Paul D]

sno-dust, on Jan 22 2009, 08:20 PM, said:

With N.H. not having a left of center law theres nothing illegal about riding the center or left hand side of the trail.It also ties the hands of enforcement when it comes to this sometimes reckless operation.

Very good point. Someone should work on getting that law on the books. Someone are you listening?