Development of a proposed route to accommodate all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) through Cameron County has split the opinions of residents on the topic.
More than a year ago, a group formed to develop a route that would link the communities of Sinnemahoning and Driftwood in the southern portion of the county to the Borough of Emporium further north. The trail would be a system made up of mostly township roads currently used by vehicles and maintained for that purpose, and would include no newly created roadways or trails.
Despite this, some residents still have serious concerns over the safety of dual-use roadways, environmental impacts that could be caused by large amounts of trail riders, and disturbance of the peace and quiet that is emblematic of life in Cameron County.
Residents concerned over the ATV trail’s development recently formed a group to push back against plans laid by the Cameron County ATV/UTV Association.
The group has not officially chosen a name, but has created a website, cameroncountywilds.com, to give like-minded community members a forum to rally against the move. The group hosted a forum last week attended by approximately 70 community members and featuring a panel of guests including Pennsylvania State Police troopers and supervisors, the county District Attorney, wildlife, forestry and law enforcement personnel.
“We (the ATV opposition group) are very pro-tourism, pro-development for attracting people to the county, but not things like this. We just think this is the wrong avenue to take,” said group member Randy Flament. “We don’t agree with much of what the ATV association members are presenting, and we don’t believe they’re disclosing the true nature of this development. We want to present a counterpoint backed up with facts.”
Members of the opposition group hosting the meeting invited the Cameron County ATV/UTV Association to send a representative to the meeting. A post on the group’s Facebook page indicated members politely declined the invitation. However, the issues discussed at Thursday’s meeting had been raised to and addressed by ATV/UTV Association members at previous group forums organized by the association over the past few months.
On the matter of safety, ATV/UTV members have stated that individuals using the opened roadways would be mandated to wear helmets, carry insurance and possess a valid driver’s license. Speed limits would be posted. In Driftwood Borough, where council members have already approved the opening of roads to ATV riders, all streets will be posted at 15 mph for both automobiles and ATVs. Signage will be erected indicating speed limits, sections of roadways where ATVs can be operated, Children Playing and other safety issues.
Opposition group members argue that ATVs are not intended for use on paved roads or roads shared with automobiles, as is indicated by warning stickers mandated by the federal government to be placed on all ATVs and UTVs sold in the United States. Safety organizations, including the Consumer Federation of America, advocate against the use of ATVs on public roadways, especially paved routes.
Proponents of the trail state that it could bring positive economic impacts through increased tourism to the area, bringing back camp owners and their families who do not frequent the area as much as they did in past decades, and drawing in new tourists seeking an off-road experience in the Heart of the PA Wilds.
Those who are against the trail state that they would love to see more tourism, but not ATVs traversing through the pristine wildernesses, wetlands and waterways of Cameron County.
“We’re not against economic development. We just want it in a low-impact way. There are lots of opportunities to do that,” said Flament. “There are also lot of places to ride — on hunt clubs, national forest-designated trails, state forest-designated trails. There are hundreds of miles and thousands of acres available.”
But, many of those opportunities are not in Cameron County, and not accessible to Cameron County riders without a trailer, traveling and some expense. Summer permits can be bought from hunt clubs, though numbers are limited and memberships can be pricy; residents can rent time on the track on Whittimore Hill or ride on their own properties. However, the Commonwealth collects registration fees from Cameron County residents, despite not providing any opportunities in-county for them to ride. At this time, no roads or trails owned by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) or other entities with large tracts of land in the county permit ATV operation.
Opponents argue that Cameron County is one of the only counties not open to this kind of activity, and that would make the county unique, by itself, without all of the other recreational opportunities available. They call Cameron County “the last frontier in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” and suggest development and promotion of less impactful activities, like birdwatching, canoeing and kayaking, hiking, biking, backpacking, hunting, fishing, stargazing, geocaching and equestrian activities.
A pro-ATV petition circulated in Lumber Township had 70-some signatures, but opposition members believe that only positive information was presented to the signees, not the entire picture. However, parties on the pro-side of the ATV trail debate state that the anti-ATV group only presents facts that paint their opinion in a favorable light, as well.
Lumber Township has since voted against opening any roads. As the township lies in the middle of the county, it would be difficult for the trail to be developed without using Lumber Township roads, unless private landowners offer to allow right-of-way through their properties, but it is unlikely that established trails are present in the proposed area.
Shippen Township, the biggest landmass in the county, has so far declined to support the move. At their most recent meeting, supervisors stated they could not support the trail without knowing which roads would be used, and the route they were presented is impossible without Lumber Township’s support. Gibson and Grove township supervisors stated they would base their decisions on surrounding townships’ support, or lack thereof.
Both sides of the argument can be seen by visiting the Cameron County ATV/UTV Association, Inc. Facebook page, and the opposition’s website at cameroncountywilds.com.
