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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

ATVs now allowed on county roads

Posted 5/25/16

REGIONAL— All terrain vehicle riders will no longer be limited to off-road travel in rural parts of St. Louis County.

The county board, on Tuesday, unanimously approved an ordinance change that …

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ATVs now allowed on county roads

Posted

REGIONAL— All terrain vehicle riders will no longer be limited to off-road travel in rural parts of St. Louis County.

The county board, on Tuesday, unanimously approved an ordinance change that will allow ATV riders on all county roads outside of city limits.

The new ordinance goes into effect immediately, making it legal for ATV riders to operate on the right shoulder or extreme right hand side of county roads, provided the driver follows all state laws for speed and safety.

 This week’s vote follows a pilot program last fall, and extensive public input from citizens county-wide, ATV users, representatives of cities and townships within the county, law enforcement, surrounding counties that have enacted ATV ordinances, and anyone else who wanted to voice an opinion, including those opposed to an ordinance.

 “This has been a very inclusive process with an eye toward safety and connectivity,” said County Board Chair Steve Raukar. 

“The ultimate goal is to have a trail system, but right now we don’t have a complete trail system,” said Commissioner Tom Rukavina, who first brought the ordinance forward at the request of ATV clubs. “Nobody wants to ride on roads, but this allows them to connect from trail to trail, or just to drive down the road to help a neighbor. So this is a good ordinance.”

St. Louis County has numerous ATV trails, but many of them do not yet connect. This has meant ATV operators had to load up their vehicles on trailers to transfer from one trail to the next, even for just a short distance down the road. 

“This is positive, another avenue for recreation in our region,” said Commissioner Chris Dahlberg. 

Supporters of the ordinance have praised the effort as encouraging responsible ATV use by all ages, expanding recreation opportunities for families, and making it possible for senior citizens and others with limited mobility to enjoy time outdoors.

 The ordinance includes an application process to permit ATV usage on county roads within cities. Following input from some city leaders, the board approved an amendment to the ordinance that gives cities a stronger role in the permit process. As amended, the process will require a city council resolution of support as part of the application process. 

A map showing the county roads where ATVs are allowed, as well as a copy of the final ordinance are available online at stlouiscountymn.gov/atv.