With the advent of cheap ATVs, it has become affordable for virtually anyone to purchase one of these all terrain vehicles. Take a look at many of the outdoorsy magazines that you can peruse at the local convenience store, and you will see how a cheap ATV is marketed directly to families that are looking for new ways to interact with one another, especially families with children who are trying to find a hobby that the whole family can enjoy. As such, an ATV lends itself to this kind of activity, but while a cheap ATV's cost is but a small price to pay for this kind of familiar togetherness, there are some concerns about the growing popularity of the ATV.

Take for example the fact that ATV use is not for the untrained. There are a number of people who lost their lives due to improper use of their ATV, or simply because they overestimated their skills while underestimating the terrain and the limitations of the vehicle. Add to this the fact that some ATV use has actually been linked to serious erosion which in turn has adversely affected the flora and fauna on public lands, and you can well imagine while this hobby is not as welcomed by nature aficionados as it was once thought to be.

While the erosion can be stopped by the purchase of proper tires - cheap ATV tires may not necessarily be bad – and by the practice of only riding in designated areas, the breaking of the law that occurs when rogue ATV riders enter and use private land is harder to curtail. Horses have been spooked when the machines suddenly arrived over the horizon of pastures, and the noise of tampered with machines is enough to set anyone’s teeth at edge.

Fortunately the industry has chosen to police itself; it does so by offering classes to new owners of these all terrain vehicles, offering after purchase support and training, and by publishing a number of ezines and print publications that highlight proper trails, best terrains, and the do’s and don’ts of the sport. While the discourteous drivers have left a bad taste in the mouths of many landowners and also public officials, the conscientious riders have begun to turn the tide of criticism by respecting boundaries – posted or otherwise – and not contributing to the erosion of the landscape. Who knows, the criticism may all but be forgotten in a few short years when riders observe the etiquette!