REGIONAL- Since his first campaign for the state Legislature, Rep. Roger Skraba, R-Ely, has wanted to find ways to connect ATV trail riders with businesses in nearby communities served by trails. That goal took a step forward on Monday as a bill sponsored by Skraba cleared a second committee hearing in the House.
The bill would give small towns more flexibility in allowing ATVs on local roadways and highway shoulders by allowing cities and towns with populations under 25,000 to pass ordinances permitting ATVs on roads or the shoulders of trunk highways.
However, specific conditions would apply:
The speed limit must be 45 mph or lower.
ATVs could only use a road to reach businesses, residences, or make trail connections.
There must be no alternative public access for ATVs.
Skraba presented the bill to the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee, supported by testimony from Ely Mayor Heidi Omerza and ATV Minnesota Board Secretary Nick Wognum.
Skraba said the legislation would address a critical need in Greater Minnesota, where ATVs serve both recreational and practical purposes.
“This bill will better help cities to integrate ATVs into their local transportation networks,” Skraba said.
Omerza called the bill “essential” for towns like Ely that depend on outdoor recreation. “The ability to safely operate ATVs on designated public roads is not just about recreation, it’s about connectivity and accessibility,” Omerza said. “This bill helps open up opportunities for more people to enjoy our natural resources in a sustainable way.”
MnDOT has concerns
Ken Johnson, assistant state traffic engineer for the Minnesota Department of Transportation, warned committee members that mixing ATVs with heavier, faster-moving traffic could be dangerous.
“Having ATVs operate with or near heavier and faster-moving vehicles is not consistent with our ‘Toward Zero Deaths’ goals,” Johnson said. “The Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety, and the state patrol share our serious concerns about safety. Their size and design make ATVs difficult to see. Imagine trying to see an ATV behind a large pickup. And they don’t have safety features to reduce the consequences of higher-speed crashes. The DNR and DPS have pointed out to MnDOT that ATVs are not road worthy vehicles and don’t meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.”
Some research supports MnDOT’s concerns. A 2013 study of seven years of ATV crash data published in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention found that compared with off-road ATV use, on-road ATV users were ten times more likely to be involved in a vehicle-vehicle collision, three times more likely to suffer a severe brain injury, and twice as likely to have suffered major trauma. Adult operators in on-road crashes were also twice as likely to test positive for alcohol.
Despite the opposition, Skraba expressed willingness to work with MnDOT officials to address safety concerns while still supporting rural communities that rely on ATVs for transportation.
The committee approved the bill, sending it to the House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee for further consideration.