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“It just came to our notice then. We want to keep creating an enemy in society that we have to fight against. Surprisingly, only all-terrain vehicles are highlighted and no other vehicles are mentioned: cars, tractors. As if all quads were criminals that must be punished and isolated. We have more than 30 members in our club: adult men, doctors, businessmen, specialists in different fields. It is not pleasant to hear when the members of the Seimas seem to sum up everyone as destroyers of nature, “he says. Vytautas Banionis, the director of the four-wheel club “Kaunas ATV Companions”, says the report.
ATVs fear that such decisions could provoke the opposite reaction: When new drivers are encouraged to buy unregistered ATVs, they will be unmanageable.
“Efforts should not be made to oppose the partnership with the ATV community, but to cooperate, educate and communicate. There are official quad clubs, we are open to cooperation. No one addresses, invites a discussion and we learn from the press about the objective of punishment. After all, politics is communication and talking and finding common ground, not punishment. There is a lack of dialogue on this issue, “said V. Banionis.
A spokesperson for the quad community says such changes to the law could put off some members of the community. According to him, most ATVs engage in legal travel, hike, and drive responsibly: current technical possibilities allow for precise route planning and travel without breaking the law. But due to the new amendments, some may simply abandon this activity out of fear.
“It is said that many ATVs are being stopped, but this is baseless and unfounded information. In 2020, up to fifteen ATV violators in the country will be punished in total. Their violations were due to unregistered vehicles, driving without insurance or right to drive a vehicle. And only one violation of damage caused to nature. One in every forty raids. Sounds like manipulating public opinion, “said a spokesman for the ATV community.
For the bans to take effect, representatives of the ATV community are proposing to establish a legal framework that allows ATVs to be properly registered.
According to the representative for ATVs, a major problem persists: the lack of a clear forest labeling system. It is difficult to understand if the area is protected or if it is an official highway. The status of the area may have changed and you will be charged for driving on a forest road, even if it is shown on the map. All-terrain vehicles offer a solution to these problems.
“I think we need more dialogue and with the foresters themselves, less resistance and more cooperation, even if we help with the management of the same forest. I think many clubs would contribute, because after spending a lot of time in nature, you naturally start taking care of it.” said the head of the club “Kaunas ATV Companions”.
The ATV representative said that the problem would be partially solved with the creation of infrastructure, public or private routes, where ATVs could circulate freely.
“It is also important to us that there are no harmful and inappropriate drivers left in the ATV community as they cast a shadow over all ATVs. There is a negative opinion in society and sometimes it seems that members of the Seimas want to create political capital with such actions and not solving the problem. Not all politicians are the same, not all quadrupeds are hooligans destroying forests, “said V. Banionis.
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