Set off land for off-road vehicles
I am 13 years old and an eighth-grader at Dzantik'i Heeni Middle School here in Juneau. I have lived here all my life and find Juneau fascinating and beautiful. I am lucky to live here.
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Here in Alaska we have some very active people. We like to hike and camp, and we are thankful just to be able to go outside. But there is one thing that a lot of people want here in Juneau, a place to let off some steam or a good place to go on weekends to have fun. That is why I believe we need land set aside for off-road vehicles.
There is not that much space to ride dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles or snowmobiles here. I have asked many people if they would like an area for off-road vehicles in Juneau, and all of them said yes. Some people own these vehicles and have ended up using them illegally, getting them taken away, getting tickets, etc. I am not saying that you should ride them on the streets, but it goes to show that citizens of this town are deprived of their interests.
I think that is unfair.
Some people say they are dangerous. Well, so is walking. You have the chance of tripping and breaking your arm every time you take a step. These machines can be safe if you use them correctly, wisely and appropriately. Off-road vehicles can be entertaining and harmless.
The total land mass of Juneau is 2,715.7 square miles. If we could just use one square mile of land, it would be perfect for a place to ride. The land mass of Juneau is huge and can still be preserved, but we are only asking for just one square mile.
This is just my opinion on how we should make Juneau more exciting and fun. So, what would you choose?
Ariel Chamberlin
Juneau