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| ATV Traction Community Forums
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| Author |
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over the hill gang
Posts:1168
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| 12/24/2007 10:49 PM |
 Alert
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Please everyone, read carefully below. The DCNR is trying to create
something positive for the ATV Community we must make sure they are not
stopped and be able to proceed with their project of opening roads to us.
write everyone you know, time for us to be heard. Richard Martin and the
Forest coalition has stated unfound propaganda to stop this attempt of
opening roads. Do not let it stop here.
Thanks Everyone
Ray Merriman
----- Original Message -----
From: <staff@post-gazette.com>
To: <raym@atvtraction.org>
Sent: Monday, December 24, 2007 9:24 PM
Subject: a news tip
This is a copy of the message you sent to post-gazette.com. No further
action from you is required. However, if you did not send this message,
please notify us immediately at staff@post-gazette.com.
*****************************
Name:
Ray Merriman Vice president ATV Traction Inc.
E-mail address:
raym@atvtraction.org
Comments:
The comments and editorial sent by Richard Martin are completely unfounded,
Article in your Newspaper on 12/24/2007. There is no proof that these will
be anymore dangerous on the back roads than any other vehicle. There are
many townships in Pennsylvania that allow ATV's and Snowmobiles on there
roads and they coexist fine with few to any problems. these ATV's are
licensed, insured and mandated by the State of Pennsylvania to be as such.
His comments of 357 deaths in 24 years is a very small percentage by any
means. Lets look at the auto industry how many innocent children and mothers
have been killed on the highway each and every year? how about millions !!
this is a tuff number to swallow by any means. How can the Post gazette or
any other news agency be willing to post such propaganda with out finding if
the facts are correct. Mr Richard Martin needs to be held accountable along
with his resources for false accusations and unfounded truths.
Article below.
State plan to allow ATVs on roads decried
By Don Hopey, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A state plan that would allow ATV riders to travel on local paved and dirt
roads between designated ATV trails in state forests is dangerous for the
riders and other motorists on those roads and should be abandoned, according
to the Pennsylvania Forest Coalition.
The nonprofit forest advocacy group said the state Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources' efforts to expand riding opportunities
for the growing number of ATV enthusiasts by developing "connectors" to
existing trails on township roads will cause more accidents and fatalities
in Pennsylvania, which led the nation with 357 ATV-related deaths between
1982 and 2004.
"Allowing unlicensed, uninspected ATV's (on roads) with other vehicular
traffic is a recipe for disaster," said Richard Martin, coordinator for the
Pennsylvania Forest Coalition. "The DCNR is confusing transportation with
recreation. The ATV is not a second car." |
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Ray
Vice President
ATV Traction Inc.
DCNR Certified trainer
I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see.
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zr2s10
Posts:173
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| 12/26/2007 10:43 PM |
Alert
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| Mr Martin is apparently not very 'with it' (surprise surprise!), seeing as he said "unlicensed" ATVs. Seems to me we've been licensing and registering these things for a few years now! |
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Rick O
Butler Chapter President |
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herk9106
Posts:213
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| 12/28/2007 12:01 AM |
Alert
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The same article surfaced in today's (Dec 27) Sharon Herald. The Sharon Herald's AP article is twices as long and gives Richard Martin a little more soapbox space, but also lets DCNR spokesman Terry Brday equal footing as he speaks some facts. KDKA also gave a mention to the story yesterday as well. I will have a rebuttal to both newspapers hopefully tomorrow.
I wanted to include the link to the article in my email to our members, but can't find one for either newspaper. I don't want to re-type myself. I may have to subscribe even though I bought the newspaper today.
If anyone has the link, please PM it to me. Thanks. |
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Dan Scott
Mercer County Chapter President
2003 Suzuki Z400
2006 Suzuki Vinson |
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silver bullet
Posts:291
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| 12/28/2007 8:20 AM |
Alert
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This article also was in print in the Venango news (The Derrick and The New Hereld) in the Franklin-Oil City area as well on 12/27/07. Thankfully it looks like we have someone on our side.
sb |
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over the hill gang
Posts:1168
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| 12/28/2007 3:23 PM |
Alert
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here are some links to some very interesting reading from Mr Richard Martin
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=t&ie=UTF-8&rls=GFRG,GFRG:2007-08,GFRG:en&q=Richard+Martin+forest+coalition
Here is an article that I have submitted
Mr. Richard Martins attack on the ATV community and the DCNR. was very disturbing, he fails to mention that he was a Motorcycle and ATV salesman for many years earning his living from Motorcycle and ATV enthusiasts, he was even a certified ATV Instructor at one time now he draws a pension from this form of recreation but then turns around and bites the hands that have fed him for many years. He claims to have once even been a Motorcycle rider, racing in different division throughout his life. It makes you wonder what type of an environmentalist he is. I think he must be one of those that best suits his lifestyle. What I'm saying is it's OK for him to enjoy his recreation when he was young but not OK for us to move in and fill foot steps that he has created. Take a look at his web site <www.paforestcoalition.org > no backers, no sponsors, no links to anything just a lot of nonsense. Mr. Martin should be exposed as who he is and that's a problem maker for many families that enjoy the sport. He claims 357 deaths in 24 years I believe that is a good record by any means for a motorized sport; ask him how many auto accidents happened just over the .Holiday weekend in Pennsylvania
Just my 2 cents worth.
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Ray
Vice President
ATV Traction Inc.
DCNR Certified trainer
I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see.
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Foreman52
Posts:184
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over the hill gang
Posts:1168
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herk9106
Posts:213
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| 12/29/2007 7:29 PM |
Alert
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Below is my Letter to the Editor. This is the version I sent to our local newspaper. I sent a similar letter to the Post Gazette. We'll see if it gets posted.
To the Editor,
The Associated Press article in your newspaper on December 26, 2007 written by Mr. Don Hopey (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) contains false and misleading information. Richard Martin of the PA Forest Coalition has once again demonstrated his bias and ignorance of ATV laws and facts. Mr. Martin’s comments of “allowing unlicensed, uninsured ATV’s (on roads) with vehicular traffic is a recipe for disaster”. Pennsylvania law requires that all ATV’s operated off of one’s property to be registered, insured and display a license plate as defined by Chapter 77 of the PA state vehicle code. Since Mr Martin claims to have been an ATV salesman and safety instructor, he should have known that the registration and insurance law has been in effect since 2001. Titles and registration have been required since 1986. Most ATV owners perform a safety inspection of their machines prior to riding, due to the rough environment in which they operate. There are many townships in Pennsylvania that allow ATV’s and snowmobiles to operate on secondary roads. They coexist with vehicles with very few problems. There is no evidence that ATV’s will be any more dangerous when operated on approved secondary roads.
According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, California led the nation with 297 ATV related deaths from 1982-2001. Pennsylvania came in at second, with 274 deaths during the same time frame. The data for 2002-2005 is incomplete. The total number of ATV related injuries and fatalities have increased recent years. This is due to the fact that ATV’s have become increasingly popular. The CPSC states that the number of ATV’s in use has doubled since 1998, yet the number of injuries per 10,000 ATV’s has decreased.
While everyone is entitled to their opinion, good journalism is backed up by fact, not fiction. I suggest that the Sharon Herald (or any other news media) print the facts about ATV’s and not Mr Hopey or Mr Martin’s personal opinions. I strongly urge Mr. Hopey to find another source of information, other than the PA Forest Coalition, which is nothing more than Mr. Martin’s personal propaganda website. There are no other members or sponsors of any kind associated with the PA Forest Coalition. Factual information could be easily obtained by anyone that is willing to spend the time researching the facts.
ATV Traction, Inc
Mercer Chapter President |
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Dan Scott
Mercer County Chapter President
2003 Suzuki Z400
2006 Suzuki Vinson |
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herk9106
Posts:213
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| 01/03/2008 4:56 PM |
Alert
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I have submitted my "Letter to the Editor" to the following newspapers:
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Greenville Record Argus, Sharon Herald, The Derrick (Venango News), PhillyBurbs.com, Centre Daily Times, WTAE news, New Castle News.
I have been contacted for verification for printing by: Greenville Record Argus, Sharon Herald and The Derrick. The letters should run today (Jan 3) at the earliest.
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Dan Scott
Mercer County Chapter President
2003 Suzuki Z400
2006 Suzuki Vinson |
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herk9106
Posts:213
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| 01/08/2008 2:08 PM |
Alert
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The Sharon Herald printed my letter today. That makes 3 in print! |
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Dan Scott
Mercer County Chapter President
2003 Suzuki Z400
2006 Suzuki Vinson |
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