It's been over a quarter of a century since the Honda ATV hit the trails

Some times I like to stop and look around. I don't mean to physically look around the area I'm standing in at the moment, or in this case, sitting. I mean look at where we are today, where we were last year/decade/century, where we'll be tomorrow, and beyond that.

Except for dirt bikes and dune buggies, off roading wasn't part of my youth, unless you count while I peddling my ass off trying to hit that (not so big any more) ski-jump, or hoofing it through the washes in So Cal. Even when the ATC came out in the 80's, I wasn't very involved in off roading. But in to the 90s I started getting more away from just camping and more in to camping while riding for the weekend. Much better plan if I do say so myself.

Anyway, I'm working on a project that got me to thinking about the past, present and future of ATVs and the sport of off roading. I've seen good and bad in this sport, as there is in every sport, and while I am not entirely convinced my kids will be teaching their kids to ride on public land, I'm still hopeful.

Reducing the environmental impact we have will only help, and really isn't that hard when you get down to it.



In the future, Electric Utility Vehicles (ETVs) may provide more power and better performance, while helping reduce environmental impact and our dependence on foreign oil

In the future, we will probably look back fondly at some of the companies that are moving forward today to take us to the next level. Companies like Barefoot Motors, who are developing one of the world's first all electric adult sized ATV, the Electric Utility Vehicle, (EUV), with the help of forward thinking people like Mythbuster's Jamie Hyneman and CEO of Ducati North America, Michael Lock.

When you consider the amount of money OHVers bring to some communities, not to mention the incredible amount they spend on their toys, many in 6 figures, I can see there will be plenty of interest and hopefully funding for projects like these to continue.