>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

The Cove City Council made the right move in putting the brakes on riding ATVs on city streets. The council majority wisely considered the long-term consequences of such a move and voted against it. And, of course, the council didn’t have much choice, considering the laws governing state highways, and the fact that state law supercedes city law. State law allows ATVs on public roads only if they are being exclusively used for farm work, and sorry, but trips to the store to get milk don’t qualify.

The state law becomes problematic when you consider a state highway makes up Cove’s main drag and gives access to most of its main businesses. And those businesses would be a primary destination for many ATV trips, although the proposal also could have opened the door to the more obnoxious sorts of racing up and down streets causing havoc in the neighborhoods.

The council was right to seek the town’s opinion on the matter in a mailing poll. It’s always good for a governing body to take the pulse of the populace before launching ahead, in order that the voice of the people be heard. Sometimes, though, as in this case, a council has to courageously go against the will of the majority of the people it serves. The bottom line is, maybe more research should have been done on the ATV issue before polling, but in most cases the knowledge gained from polling is worth the added expense.

While ATV riding is an ever-growing popular sport, their use in cities needs to be regulated. The ATV hasn’t been built yet that purrs down the road quietly, in the mode of an electric golf cart. Unrestricted ATV riding on the streets could cause many conflicts with neighbors who don’t appreciate the roar of a well-tuned engine or the quick acceleration of the new generation of powerful ATVs, which if handled incorrectly could put pets and small children in jeopardy.

The good news is there are plenty of places in the surrounding hills where ATV riders can go and have a blast. Cove lies on the border of a recreational paradise that many cities imuch bigger in size would envy. ATV riders can enjoy those more remote riding sites, and citizens who prefer the peace and quiet of small town living can be happy too.