Rail trail should benefit ENTIRE community I must say I have to agree with James Feleen’s statement in the Eagle the other day that the rail trail should benefit the entire community. However, unlike Mr. Feleen, I include ATV riders as part of our community. The legal question Mr. Feleen refers to came to light because of the agenda of a few that have taken it upon themselves to get ATV riders off a trail that have been using for 20 years or so virtually without incident. Only because of this agenda and their correspondences with DOT and other Concord agency officials has the issue come to the table as to whether or not motorized wheeled vehicles are allowed to use a certain section of the rail trail. They have dug into the funding and grant agency stipulations to find evidence that Claremont may not be in compliance by allowing the ATV riders on the 2.7 mile section of trail being disputed. Because of information that has surfaced the question of liability insurance has come up and the town council members have done the right thing in making the decision not to allow the ATVs to use the trail this season until they can get this all worked out and be assured that the town (all Claremont citizens/taxpayers) is protected and proper liability insurance is in place. The council stated at their last meeting that they will follow the recommendation to seek a waiver that will allow ATVs to use this portion of the trail and put this argument to rest once and for all. I recommend, unlike Mr. Feleen, that the waiver request move forward. I see now that additional items on the “agenda” have come to light in anticipation that the ATVs will be forever banned from the trail. We could pave it, James says. We could put in lighting. We could put in benches. We could landscape the 2.7 mile trail. Hey, why don’t we plow it and salt it in the winter months too, James? Will Mr. Feleen pay the cost to convert the trail to the “green space” he speaks of? Will he maintain it? Will he pick up the trash? Will he pay the electric bill every month for the lighting? I imagine these will be a very expensive project that will come with ongoing costs. If James is not going to pay for this in perpetuity, who is? Will the taxpayers be funding his agenda? What’s a few more dollars out of everyone’s pockets, eh? Another point I agree with Mr. Feleen on is that “the rail trail…should be utilized in a way that benefits the entire community”. Yes, I couldn’t agree more and this should include those in our community that ride ATVs. This trail for the most part has been maintained, policed, and cleaned, by the SCATV club since its existence. The club has worked hard over the years to secure funding from various agencies to help with material costs and such. But the majority of the time and labor keeping the trail up was donated by the members of the club at no cost to the city of Claremont. The SCATV club has served Claremont well and will continue to do so if we leave things alone. Many riders come to our city from all over New England. They bring revenue to our stores and business. The sport brings families together. It gives our youth an activity that teaches them road etiquette, driving skills, and mechanical aptitude. It keeps them occupied with good clean fun. The SCATV club sponsors safety courses every year. People as young as 12 get certified and learn to ride responsibly. During this 7-8 hour course they hear from the Fish & Game Warden about laws and being a responsible rider. Golden Cross is kind enough to come in and teach our young riders about 1st aid. The CPD has had officers come to share the municipal laws around the privileges of riding the trails. All in all this is good stuff to be teaching our youth. Please send an email indicating your support in allowing the trail to remain accessible to ATVs to rail.trail.for.all@gmail. I am in favor of permanently allowing ATVs and other motorized wheeled vehicles on our trail. I support the request for the waiver that the city council is pursuing. I too will present your emails to the council. Thank you, Steve Neuser Claremont
Posted on: Tue, 27 May 2014 00:42:42 +0000
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