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May 1, 2019 www.DesertMessenger.com 19 Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ DesertMessengerNews Follow on Twitter @DesertMessenger @QuartzsiteRain Kids and OHVs When are they ready to safely ride? One size doesn't fi t all and other key considerations Exploring Arizona from an off-highway vehicle (OHV) provides a great way to view the state's beautiful scenery and spend quality time with family and friends. While children may be eager to climb aboard — or parents ready to share their love of the hobby with kids — OHVs aren't toys and there are many questions to answer before allowing youngsters to take the handlebars or steering wheel. For example, there are fi ve different categories of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and each vehicle has a warning label that states requirements regarding the minimum age of the rider, according to the ATV Safety In- stitute. These safety labels clearly highlight the seriousness that everyone should employ when riding an ATV: "Operation of this ATV by children under the age of X increases the risk of severe injury or death. Adult supervision required for children under the age of 16." The ATV Safety Institute also provides a readiness checklist to help individuals determine if their child is ready to ride an ATV. The checklist covers information like physical development, visual perception/motor development, social/emotional development, and reasoning and deci- sion-making ability. However, it also clarifi es that "the decision is yours" and "there are no suggestions as to how many of the following abilities are necessary, nor the degree of ability that your child should have." When it comes to other types of OHVs, another organization wants it to be clear that ATVs and recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs) are not one and the same even though they are used for similar types of recre- ation. According to the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association, ROVs are "driven" — they have a steering wheel and foot pedals for ac- celeration and braking. By comparison, ATVs are "ridden," have a han- dlebar for steering, a throttle controlled by a thumb lever, hand levers for brakes and a foot pedal for the rear brake. Another major difference: ROVs are designed to be operated by individu- als age 16 or older. The different size models of ATVs allow children as young as 6 to ride the vehicle, with adult supervision of course. In addition to following the requirements set by manufacturers, educa- tion is the key to safely introducing people of any age to OHVs. The Ari- zona Game and Fish Department's website links to a number of hands- on courses that are offered by different groups as well as online classes. Once it's been decided that it's time to introduce a newbie to the world of OHVs, don't forget the safety gear. All OHV operators or passengers younger than 18 are required to wear a U.S. Department of Transporta- tion-safety rated helmet (and they're strongly recommended for every- one). Motorcycle goggles or a full-face shield are legally required for all riders if the OHV isn't equipped with a windshield. See the complete list of protective gear in the OHV Laws and Places to Ride brochure. And fi nally, if the OHV is equipped with seatbelts, wear them. They'll help keep the operator and any passengers inside the vehicle in the event of an accident and could help prevent a tragedy. For more information visit www.azgfd.com. PHOENIX – Imagine seeing trail conditions at your favorite Arizona state park before you head out, giving you the chance to perfectly plan your hike. Arizona State Parks and Trails is working with Google to make that happen. Arizona State Parks and Trails staff have been using the Google R7 Trekker Camera to capture in detail the more than 175 miles of trails in state parks across Arizona. The data will be posted on Google Earth and Google Maps, enabling visitors to see trail conditions and plan the perfect hiking adventure. Use of the camera was free after Parks sub- mitted a request and detailed information about which trails would be documented. During the past six weeks, staff have walked over 200 miles carrying the Trekker, which weighs 45 pounds and includes 15 individual lenses to capture a 360-degree view of each trail. The data will help visitors understand the diffi culty of trails, topography, and what to expect to see along the route, as well as the accessibility of the trail. The project also had the added value of identifying any trails in need of maintenance or repair in the park system. Once all trail data has been collected, it will be sent to Google for pro- cessing and uploading to the existing Earth and Maps databases for free use by the public. "Managing and conserving Arizona's natural, cultural and recreational resources for the benefi t of the people, both in our parks and through our partners." For information about all 35 Arizona State Parks and Natural Areas, trails, Off-Highway Vehicle Program, and State Historic Preservation Offi ce, call 1-877-MY-PARKS or visit AZStateParks.com. Arizona State Parks & Trails and Google help plan your hike

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