On Wednesday I was invited to a meeting with Elachee and the Gainesville Police Department. Elachee has had an on-going concern with the number of people illegally night riding at Chicopee. This has been an issue for some time.

With Winter deer culls occurring the center is concerned about riders being out there during hunting. Of course, we’re all aware of the issue where the gate was torn down 2 years ago. This put SORBA on notice. The park commission finally decided to only allow night rides that are organized by SORBA. While these have been going well, efforts by SORBA to get the word out about illegal night riding have been futile. Mainly because many of these riders are not members and therefore have little incentive or concern for the park. Unfortunately, this puts even our organized rides in danger.

The police have been asked to start writing tickets to illegal riders. This means anyone seen illegally riding will be ticketed even if they don’t park in the park. The automatic gate at the front of Elachee Drive has been reset for Winter hours and now will close at 6:30pm. If you are seen with lights on you will probably be assumed to be night riding. Please try to plan your afternoon rides to get you off the trail before dark. Do not carry lights with you “just in case” as you may be construed to be night riding.

Additionally, the police will also monitor the park for rain closures and will assist the Gainesville Chapter with closing the trail during inclement weather.

We as a chapter welcome the ticketing of illegal riders. We’re confident that SORBA members will not be among those ticketed and Elachee is aware that those illegally riding are not likely SORBA members.

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