Least anyone forgets that there is more to ATV than just having fun and here is some interesting factoids. The figures used here are representative statistics of 15 counties in Arizona. The figures are 2004-2005 totals; and surely have grown in the past few years. The statistics are an average.
Of the entire total county's population, 30% of the people living there have OHVs, 34% of these are ATVs. The total monies that these OHV/ATVers created for the state of Arizona were a staggering 186.43 million dollars. Basically, this means, all the money you spend on gas and fuel, buying groceries, or eating in restaurants, fees for trails, fees for events, souvenirs and such went into this total. This in turn created full and part-time jobs, wages, and tax revenues.
Also, here is a list of what matters the most to ATV users: enjoying an area's natural beauty, respecting private property, respecting the environment, respecting other users, ease in accessing the ATV area, enjoying a closeness with family members on an ATV trek, cleanliness of the ATV area visited, and enjoying the solitude of an ATV area.
No one is standing at a trail head with a smile and a decal for all you do to help the economy, no one is standing at the entrance of a state or national park to shake your hand, but, at the back of it all, everyone involved with making your ATV experience great knows how very key you ATVers are in the "big picture."So, here's to you, thank you! The next time you're going out on an ATV run, remember, we think you're the greatest!
