Good read stolen from a FB post

[flick2614]

GUEST ESSAY:
This is a short, well stated, article by Doug Russel. He wrote it for SxSs, but it is just as relevant to us full-size 4x4 types. I liked it enough I asked permission to post it here.
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Doug posted: Are We Our Own Worst Enemy?

There’s no easy way to say this, so I’m just going to spit it out: we might be killing the very thing we love.

Yep, I said it. Us. The SxS community. The trail riders. The weekend warriors. The gear junkies. The Motorized Trail Riding Recreationalists. We might be our own worst enemy.

And it’s not because we don’t care—it’s because we do care. We care so much about the freedom, the rush, the connection with nature, the comradery, that sometimes we forget that this hobby isn’t a right. It’s a privilege. And privileges can be taken away.

We Leave a Bigger Mark Than We Realize
It starts small. A little throttle-happy donut in a meadow. A beer can that “accidentally” ends up on the side of a trail. A shortcut across fragile tundra because we didn’t want to backtrack. We’ve all seen it—or worse, ignored it.

What used to be “just having fun” is now showing up on trail closure reports. The Forest Service isn’t blind. Land managers aren’t clueless. And environmental watchdogs? They’re locked, loaded, and looking for reasons to shut us out.

We give them ammo every time we forget our impact.

Trail Etiquette Isn’t Optional
Tailgating. Passing without warning. Dusting hikers. Ignoring yield signs. Folks, this isn’t NASCAR—it’s a shared trail system.

I’m seeing more and more reckless behavior out there, and not from kids. Grown adults who should know better. Riders blowing past campsites like they’re chasing trophies. People with 20-foot flags and $40K machines but zero courtesy.

When did horsepower replace humility?

Social Media: Our Best Tool or Worst Weapon?
Look, I love sharing trail pics and highlighting great gear like the next guy, but the “Look at me!” attitude is poisoning the well. We tag fragile locations, show off rule-breaking, and flood sensitive areas with riders who aren’t prepared, trained, or respectful.

We flex online, and the damage echoes in real life. It’s like lighting fireworks in a drought. Just because it looks cool doesn’t mean it’s wise.

We Know Better. So Why Aren’t We Doing Better?
We’ve been at this long enough to know the rules, the risks, and the consequences. So why are we still seeing burned-down fire rings, trashed pullouts, and trails scarred by oversized rigs during mud season?

It’s not ignorance—it’s apathy. And that’s worse.

Be the Example. Not the Excuse.
Here’s the hard truth: our access to public lands is hanging by a thread. Every time a gate closes or a trail gets decommissioned, it’s because someone broke the trust.

And if we’re not part of the solution, then we’re the reason that gate locks shut for good.

The Challenge
So I’m challenging all of us—especially us 50+ folks who’ve seen the changes—to be ambassadors, not agitators. Let’s lead by example:

Pick up more than you pack in.

Speak up when someone’s out of line.

Show newcomers the right way to ride.

Ride with respect—and expect it from others.

Because if we don’t clean up our act, someone else will do it for us… and we aren't gonna like the way they do it.
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Thank you to Doug Russell of Colorado SxS Adventures for allowing us to share his post. (link in comments)
Here is his FB page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558376720918

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[Ratbert]

It's extremely rare to see that behavior from Jeep enthusiasts. Unfortunately it's extremely common to see it from SxSs.

 

[Dusty Dude]

It's extremely rare to see that behavior from Jeep enthusiasts. Unfortunately it's extremely common to see it from SxSs.

I totally agree. I noticed that it seems to be all about the speed with SxSs.

 

[flick2614]

It's extremely rare to see that behavior from Jeep enthusiasts. Unfortunately it's extremely common to see it from SxSs.

Eh, I’ve been run off the trail by a Jeep or two in AZ. Mostly blind corners.

 

[pfletcher229648]

Same story in the boating world. We sold our 21’ SeaRay because cruising the local lakes and rivers just wasn’t enjoyable anymore. The biggest offenders? Some boats, sure — but mostly jet skis. It got to the point where you couldn’t take a peaceful ride without jet skis cutting you off, weaving through traffic, or jumping every wake in sight.

And the damage isn’t just to the experience — it’s to the environment. Especially during flood stages, the wakes on our rivers tear up shorelines, damage docks, and impact wildlife habitats. Our rivers and springs are winter homes to manatees, and because common sense and courtesy were apparently optional, wildlife management had to step in — turning more and more stretches of river into idle no-wake zones.

We loved boating. But it just got out of hand. So we sold the boat… and bought Jeeps.

 

[Roaddog]

It's extremely rare to see that behavior from Jeep enthusiasts. Unfortunately it's extremely common to see it from SxSs.

While I don't necessarily disagree with your statement, We don't want to turn this into an 'us vs them' battle. We all have seen damage and trash done by all types of trail users. I took my wife to Bowman lake last fall and the amount of trash on the trail was upsetting. I don't know what the answer is but I know what will happen if it keeps up.

 

[Heimkehr]

He wrote it for SxSs, but it is just as relevant to us full-size 4x4 types.

No, it isn't.

I've used shared trails for many years now, and the side-by-side community is an absolute curse. There's any number of anecdotes that the dual sport rider community, for example, can tell about wholly avoidable close calls when a rube, or his child, comes around a blind corner at high speed and in the oncoming lane. And then there are the stories where actual rider injuries have occurred...

By way of example, I've stopped attending an annual Toys for Tots riding event because the spineless organizers won't exclude SxSs, who've predicably ruined it with their wild driving antics...starting in the parking lot before we've even had the mandatory safety briefing!

Don't dare lump Jeep owners, or anyone else, in with those assholes. They're the authors of their own ruined reputation, as Russel states (in too gentle a manner, but at least his heart is in the right place.)

 

[Vinman]

It's extremely rare to see that behavior from Jeep enthusiasts. Unfortunately it's extremely common to see it from SxSs.

I can count in one hand how many times I’ve seen a group of quads/SxS’s stopped on the trail NOT drinking beer. It seems to be a right of passage for those guys.
On the other hand, I don’t think I have EVER run across another group of Jeepers drinking on the trail.

 

[Turniipp]

I appreciate the author of the original post, and while I absolutely agree with many of the sentiments above, I've seen my share of idiots (usually with alcohol involved, but not necessarily) in all manner of 4x4's including Jeeps. Don't even get me started on Subaru drivers!

My only point is that I agree that SxS's do tear up trails, do widen them or go up banks, do all the many things we've all seen them do, but we should also pay attention, not only because the few can ruin it for the many, but also because there are certainly elements of that group, or the issues they present, within our own ranks as well.

Living in the west, I've also seen the damage that politicians (I'm talking about you ->BLM) can do to our access and use as well. Personally, we need to remember to vote and recognize the consequences of our votes, or lack thereof.

 

[azjl#3]

Problem is voters won't vote understanding there is a difference between 4x4 and sxs.

I cringe everytime I see the add for sxs rentals in our movie house, doughnuts with vis blinding dust, speed around corners betting on a head on, and hitting bumps so fast the ones inside who all are unbelted, fly up a foot.

It's not the jeep doing 5mph that's the problem, it's the rice rocket sxs doing 50 that is

 

[RubiThursday]

FWIW -In regards to SxSs. We have a problem with the SxS owners buying the tracks for them and then tearing the *%^ out of our groomed snowmobile trails. Part of our snowmobile registration fees pay for said grooming, but no money from SxS fees goes to grooming.
Then these clowns get mouthy when you mention it.
I keep a trail litter bag hanging off the spare when wheeling, picking up trash when I see it. One time I cleaned up a whole campsite where a group of SxS had just stopped to have a beer(or more) and then took off like a herd of jackrabbits....
Alas you can't fix stupid.

 

[gato]

Show newcomers the right way to ride.

So, so pretentious. So he, the 50+ knows the "right way" to ride? Is he going to perform a "Karen stop", hop in and "show them"?

We live in a country where it is now acceptable to urinate and defecate on a downtown sidewalk, and where steeling another's property (including the majority of SxS and dirt bikes being ridden) is common place.

Where I live ALL legal wheeling is on private land, following private rules, with organized clubs. There is no public wheeling anymore. So all I see are conscientious and respectable riders. Conversely, on the over regulated streets, I see mobs riding (mostly stolen) SxS and dirt bikes, colliding with people and cars with complete impunity. Do you want to volunteer to "show them the right way to ride" also?

Until we are back to living in a law-abiding and respectful society, all you can do is try to stay as far away as possible from the anti-social types.

 

[grimmjeeper]

It's extremely rare to see that behavior from Jeep enthusiasts. Unfortunately it's extremely common to see it from SxSs.

It's not as rare as you might think.

Sure, a significant percentage of douch canoes are in SxS'. But there are plenty of Jeeps that are in that crowd.

There are plenty of good people in all the different types of off road motorized vehicles. But the author has a point. Doesn't matter what they drive, the "f--- everyone else, I can do whatever I want" crowd is getting us shut down.

 

[YBABRAT]

Imo, small atv types have no business on trails. Why?... Simple; too powerful and nobody riding them will ever ride at a crawl around delicate areas of trails. Riding open air and lower in height than a full sized 4x4 looses awareness from speed. Most who ride are for the thrill, more so than admiring sites. Public trails should be respected at all times. Even on foot trails... I see and pick up broken glass and trash more often than I like. At one time west coast states only sold beer that did not have pull tabs. Reason being trails and camp sites being littered with them.

I am a minimalist with nature... no fancy food stuffs to cook and attract various hungry animals. If I should go off trail, it will be with caution to the environment, leaving little or no trace if possible. Doing difficult obstacles is last on my priority, Taking a foot scout to look for a natural path around a difficult obstacle and finding one is imo more rewarding than pushing through, to save time.

 

[YBABRAT]

So, so pretentious. So he, the 50+ knows the "right way" to ride? Is he going to perform a "Karen stop", hop in and "show them"?

I prefer the Yolanda method... dragging the sob by the balls and beating the living tar out of em.

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