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Fraser officials consider allowing OHVs on some town streets

Autumn Phillips
Sky-Hi Daily News
Grand County, Colorado

A group of Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts approached the Fraser Board of Trustees last week about designating certain streets in Fraser for use by recreation vehicles.

Currently, in order to ride on the trails near Fraser, OHV owners must trailer their vehicles and transport them to the trailhead.

“I’d like to access Elk Creek and St. Louis Creek on my 4-wheeler,” said Fraser resident Norm Benson. “I’d like to ride to the Quik Stop to get gas or stop at the KFC to get lunch after I’m done (riding) and not get a ticket.”



Some towns, such as Kremmling, have passed ordinances making it legal to ride ATVs and dirt bikes through town in order to reach public lands.

The Fraser board was open to the idea.



“OHVs are popular up here,” said Trustee Scotty Brent, who showed enthusiastic support for the group. “They are big business up here.”

Fraser-Winter Park Police Chief Glen Trainor said the obstacle to passing an ordinance for Fraser is that there is no public land immediately bordering in the town. Therefore, ATVs and dirt bikes would have to use county roads between Fraser and the trailhead.

In order for a Fraser OHV designation to work, the county must also approve OHV use of the connecting roads.

“I spoke to (Sheriff) Rod Johnson about this,” Trainor said. “He said (summer OHV use) has never been requested, unlike numerous snowmobile routes that have been designated in the winter.”

Trainor suggested the group approach the Grand County Board of Commissioners first and return to the Fraser board with their request once they have the county’s approval.

The Fraser board agreed to send a letter of support for the group to the county.

“I applaud these guys for wanting to do this the right way,” Trainor said.


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