Duluth Mayor Herb Bergson, top city officials and police officers met with members of an ATV watchdog group Thusday and vowed to crack down on illegal riding in the city.
Bergson, public works director Dick Larson, city forester Kelly Fleissner and neighborhood police officers met with members of Minnesotans for Responsible Recreation.
The group is seeking tougher enforcement of the ban on ATVs on city streets and city-owned property such as parks and trails. They remain legal on private property.
Minnesotans for Responsible Recreation presented city officals with the results of a report that shows extensive ATV problems within the city, including trail erosion and stream sedimentation.
Minnesotans for Responsible Recreation, the Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota - Duluth Environmental Studies Interns and the Superior Hiking Trail Association cooperated in the report.
City officials agreed to secure two ATVs for police officers to ride on patrol and to increase efforts for citizen walking patrols to report problems. Efforts also will be made to make public citations that are issued.
ATV enthusiasts say they need more local and legal places to ride their four-wheelers and that new trails should be designated before the machines are banned from other trials.
