riding on the shoulder of a road

[mudslinger64]

i know it is alright to ride the shoulder to get around unridable areas then jump back down to the inside of the ditch.my question is i can ride the ditches for a few miles from my house but then i will get to some really bad stuff where if i went into it i would be stuck in no time.to get by this i would have to drive on the shoulder for a good mile and a half then i would be into some good trails that go all over.this would be along side of a county highway that doesnt see a whole lot of traffic.so would this be legal or not?

[Dave S]

base on your description and how the laws read, you should be ok. Not to mention, I'm not 100% how much leniency you're afforded by the local LEOs but as the law is written, you should be ok.

That goes without saying they would much rather you haul the wheeler if there's that much of an obstacle to bypass.

[Eckie]

A few years ago, I was riding a shoulder to avoid a ditch (which is normally used by wheelers from time to time) because I knew waterfowl were nesting close by and I didn't want to take a chance of upsetting nests. It was also a county road (near Big Lake). I was riding the shoulder (going 10 mph) for about a mile, when a sheriff pulled up along-side me. I stopped and we chatted for a few minutes -- he was glad to see I was avoiding the area for the reason stated above, but also because of my attempt to drive responsibly on the shoulder. Nice guy.

Of course, this story's outcome could have been very different with a different officer.

[mudslinger64]

i am thinking it is ok to do.i have read through the regs and to me it seems like it would be ok as long as i am not in the middle of the road and drive responsible staying as far to the right as possible.i was just wondering what others thought about this,thanks...

[Glock]

A few years ago I was riding a shoulder because the ditch had standing water. I got pulled over by a CO. He asked why I was riding the shoulder not the ditch. I told him there was standing water and didn't want to rip up the farmer's ditch. I got a warning ticket and told to ride in the ditch

glock

[spearchucker]

A few years ago I was riding a shoulder because the ditch had standing water. I got pulled over by a CO. He asked why I was riding the shoulder not the ditch. I told him there was standing water and didn't want to rip up the farmer's ditch. I got a warning ticket and told to ride in the ditch

glock

Some COs have an attitude. If you had ridden through the water he probably would have ticketed you for that to. You would have gotten a ticket either way.

The other day I saw a lady riding down a paved county road with a very small shoulder only big enough for one wheel of the ATV. She had 2 small girls (3-5 years old) on their with her and no helmets. She then pulled into a county park and drove down the walking trails. I wonder why ATVs get a bad name.