You can be an environmentalist and ride too. There is no reason per say that quads are fundamentally incompatible with our earth. They simply do not do the unqualified damage that some of their critics claim. These machines might be noisey, produce a smelly hydrocarbon-laden smoke, and leave ruts, but their impact is relatively minor compared to other human actions.

Our environment is tough—like a pickup truck or a quad. It can take some abuse. Yet, it also must be protected from real threat like development. The woods ceases to exist when it's a parking lot, the farm ceases to exist when it's a subdivision. Nature loses it natural quality not when a rutted trail is created, but when it's permanently changed by man to be permanently unnatural.

Riding gets people outdoors it gets them to think about the natural world and what we as a society are doing to it. Quads might drown out background with their noise, and make the woods little bit a blur, but at least people are getting out. Most riders are avid woodsmen or will become avid woodsmen.

The argument that there is some senstive areas were quads don't belong makes a lot of sense. Certainly we don't want them in the Albany Pine Bush today, where only 3,000 acres of this unique habitat is still left. Likewise, there are some truly unique swamps and forests in the Adirondacks where they don't have a place. Yet, there is a lot of land where their impact would be minimal. Most activists argue that any trail program emphasizes education.

People are not going to ride everywhere, if there are trails avaliable. Trees tend to be too close to ride through the woods, and unless your going to saw your way through the woods, your likely to stay on old woods roads that were already created years ago.

I think quads are great way to have fun. We need woods and farmland to ride on, and I think the best way we can assure both of those things continue to exist is to ensure people are getting outdoors. Tolerance is a key, and we need to remember allowing quads on old woods roads and getting kids outdoors is a better alternative to increased development.