Is it Time to Ban Snowmobiles Altogether?

Recently, Sharon Springs school district residents concerned for the safety of their children have decided to speak out against the gangs of marauding snowmobilers who somehow believe they should have the right to ride their vehicles on school property. Of course, the critics are right. These machines are really quite dangerous. They are free-roaming and can approach very high speeds. Allowing them on school grounds poses a significant threat to school children. One resident recently called for the resignation of Jim McFadden, a Sharon Springs school board member who has supported the idea of allowing snowmobilers to pass through the school grounds. Whether McFadden should resign or not is a separate matter. However, it seems like every winter there are issues of public safety and quality of life being raised by residents complaining of snowmobilers. There are numerous concerns. The snowmobile treading has been know to cause damage to private property and public road surfaces. The noise that can be heard at all hours of the night is a nuisance. There are also numerous safety issues posed by intersections of roads and snowmobile paths, and then there’s the potential threat to pedestrians. That’s not to mention the danger to the riders themselves. By the way, there also a monumentally stupid and unnecessary waste of fuel. Add all this up and you get one more nuisance that we just don’t need. Snowmobiling is both a nuisance and a threat to public safety. Let’s end the bickering by banning snowmobiling completely.