Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

Slow_Hard_Curve t1_jdhbzki wrote

Reply to comment by degggendorf in 2 dead from reckless Dirt Bike riding on city streets by Flashbulb_RI

They used to be used for exactly this back in the 70's and 80's. I remember as a kid driving up 95 and specifically waiting to get to that part of the highway to watch them ride for a couple of seconds. Then someone got hurt (naturally) and they closed the land for this use. Same thing has happened at parks and hills all over the northeast for sledding- one person gets hurt, everyone suffers the consequences. Insurance companies up the cost of coverage and it just becomes cheaper for municipalities to close everything off.

5

degggendorf t1_jdhdag2 wrote

Oh yeah, good analogy with sledding. I kept thinking about mountain biking which is allowed (and expressly encouraged) in a bunch of municipal parks around, and which also must have a pretty healthy injury rate too...but I guess not as high as sledding...?

Does the state actually have any liability beyond gross negligence in state parks? I guess I've just been assuming it's all at your own risk, and that I can't get the state to pay my bill if I trip while hiking and break a pinky finger.

3

Slow_Hard_Curve t1_jdhfafc wrote

That’s a good question and I have to believe it depends on where you are, as well as if the land is covered by a local municipality or is state owned (or even federally). I’m sure the state has a lot more leverage for covering themselves than a local municipality does, but as a hiker my understanding is that the local, state or federal government can be sued if you get hurt on their land if your injury is due to their negligence, although I have no idea how that would play out in real life (if a tree falls across the trail and you fall when trying to climb over it who’s fault is it?). That being said, I can see how making a state owned motocross area could have a lot of issues like this come up.

3

degggendorf t1_jdhglrh wrote

> That being said, I can see how making a state owned motocross area could have a lot of issues like this come up.

For sure; that will certainly ramp up the severity of both bodily and property damage.

I wonder how close to profitable a private business could be. $1 lease of that land from the state, modest amount of capital investment in track fencing, signage, clubhouse, track building/maintenance. Significant investment in security and insurance. What would someone pay, $40 for a 4-hour session? Then a clubhouse slinging $5 tall boys of Gansett after your session is over (strictly enforced) to pad the profits. It seems almost conceivable, but also, I know nothing.

3