Safe Riding Practices

 Plan Ahead..................

   Good planning and practicing safe riding habits should eliminate    
   most emergencies.
   If you decide to ride  in areas where a breakdown could threaten your
   survival, you should prepare yourself by learning survival 
   techniques.
   In many States survival information is available through State
   Departments or Agencies involved in outdoor recreation.  

Before you leave:

* Prepare and secure emergency supplies, tools, first aid kit, and any
   other items necessary for your ride.
* Let someone know your route and when you should return.
* If you are stranded and you determine help is too far away to walk.
   Use good judgment and common sense. Remain calm! Panic is your worst enemy!
   If you need a fire, select a protected area away from the machine and any dry leaves 
   or bushes. Start your fire using small dry sticks and branches, gradually adding 
   larger pieces. Collect enough wood before it gets dark.
   Remember: One hot ash from your fire could destroy your entire riding area.
   Whenever you are both stranded and injured, attend to injuries first, then sit down 
   and think out possibilities.
   Do not travel on foot in strange areas after dark. Conserve all the energy you can  
   because it will help keep you warm.

Survival Kit 

   A survival kit is an absolute necessity when planning a long ride on your machine.  
   Whether with a group or just a friend, a survival kit should be included with your 
   supplies on each ride.
   Prepare your kit according to the local conditions. It should easily fit into a can or  
   other small waterproof container. Just like the emergency food supply and tool kit, 
   this survival kit applies to all terrains, from the woods to the desert.
   Whenever you plan an extended ride or you are going to go farther than you can  
   walk back in a reasonable short period of time, you should carry at least the 
   following Items: (click here for detail).
 
First Aid Kit       

   Accidents can cause bodily injury as well as equipment damage. The most 
   hazardous situation occurs when a person is injured and alone, miles from help. 
   Any injury can be serious if handled carelessly. You may have to care for your own 
   injuries and someone's else trauma when you least expect it.
   A first aid kit should contain: (click here for detail)

Tread Lightly

Being a responsible rider means not only protecting yourself  from potential hazards, but protecting the environment where you ride as well.
It is your responsibility to avoid accidents by riding within your skills at a safe speed and by not performing unsafe maneuvers. It is just as important to do all you can to preserve the environment when you ride and to be aware of the damage to the environment is to stay on established trails. Using marked trails limits any potential damage to the recreational area.