Riders Be Aware at Halsey

by Dan Nitzel

            District Ranger Patty Barney is requesting that ATV and dirtbike riders be more aware of their actions and other riders at the Nebraska National Forest, Bessey Ranger District near Halsey.

            During one weekend in August, Forest Service staff and the Thedford Rescue squad was called to help with an accident at the hill climb. A dirtbike traveling up the hill climb collided with an ATV traveling down the hill.   While responding to the call, the ambulance could not travel on the four wheel drive roads to the hill climb.  Believing the injured person on the dirtbike required immediate critical attention, the Flight for Life helicopter from Kearney was called and he was flown to Good Samaritan hospital in Kearney.  After being examined in Kearney, doctors determined there were no serious injuries, just bruises. 

            After the rescue call, the Thedford Rescue squad has determined that since they cannot get their ambulance down the four wheel drive trails, they will no longer respond to calls in remote areas of the forest. 

            Riders are warned that if they become injured out in a remote section of the forest, due to the terrain, the Flight for Life helicopter will be called.  People need to slow down on the trails.

            Additionally, enforcement of regulations will be greatly increased. Those who are not aware of the rules will not be given warnings.  It is the obligation of those who use the trails to know the rules before they ride at Halsey.

            Riders without a spark arrester on their machines will be ticketed and ordered to remove their machines from the trails.  In the past, those with out spark arresters had their spark plugs removed.  They then had to push their machine back, walk back and get their trucks or have someone tow them back.  I recommend that this practice be used again. This includes machines that have stock exhausts and have the baffle removed from the pipe.

            People have been using side-by-side machines such as Rhinos and UTVs in the Dismal River trail.  They have been getting hung up in the trees and corners.  Please remember that the Dismal River trail is limited to machines not more than 52 inches in width and Rhinos and UTVs are too wide for the trail and thus not allowed.  . 

            ATV riders have been riding their machines from their camp sites in the main camp ground to the rest rooms and showers.  Travel is only allowed in the camp grounds to and from the trails.  Travel from your camp site or parked truck or car to the rest rooms and showers is not allowed.  Also, riders cannot park their machines on the grass in the camp ground at their camp spots, even for over night and even if they pushed them there. 

            Riders under the influence of alcohol while operating ATVs and dirtbikes will now be watched much more closely. 

            There is considerable concern for people who allow their children under 16 to ride on the trails un-supervised.  This cannot be allowed to continue.  Rules state that they must be under the direct supervision of an adult while on the trails.

            Parents need to stop the VERY stupid and deadly practice if placing children riding with them on a small machine ahead of the pack as the lead rider.    Riders at intersections or coming from the opposite direction on the trails can easily run over the child.

            Licensed ATVs, UTVs, and side-by-side vehicle from other states where these machines can be licensed are not allowed to use public roads and highways in Nebraska.  Many of these people are riding on the road to the Lookout Tower and on the other roads such as Circle Road (203).  While some communities are allowing the practice, state law does not allow the non-agricultural use of ATV, side-by-side or un-licensed dirtbike riding on public roads, streets of highways.  None of these vehicles are traveling to their fields in the forest.  Those who do so will be ticketed for operation of an ATV on a public road or highway.  This is a $500 fine.

            ATV riders are not allowed to ride from the 4-H camp.  There are no trails or roads that are open to them from the camp and they will have to trailer their vehicles from the camp to the trails.         

            In this authors opinion, law enforcement resources at the Nebraska National Forest are stretched to the limit.  Far too many people (including a few NOHVA members) are riding without a spark arrester and ignoring other rules.  Far too many people are not exhibiting any signs of intelligent life while using ATVs and dirtbikes at Halsey. 

            Operating an ATV or dirtbike on these trails can be deadly.  In my opinion, unless you are willing to accept the risk of severe injury or death to you or someone in your family, then stay away from any public trails or park any where.  

            While you may be able to ride ANY WHERE at home on the farm for any reason, this practice is illegal in Nebraska unless you are traveling to and from your fields.    The last time I checked, there are no fields at Halsey.  People have to stay off the roads closed to ATVs and dirtbikes, even if you ride on them at the farm, or you have a license from another state. 

            This ignorance is eroding our privilege of riding on National Forest lands and giving fuel to close the trails down to our critics.  Don’t be surprised if most of the area is closed to ATVs and dirtbikes soon because of this ignorance. 

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This page was updated on Tuesday, August 01, 2006