Vietnam Status?

[82cruiser]

Does anyone know the status of this trail? I have heard mixed reports on it. The local police station says that if the gate is open we can go in. If it's locked we cannot. I have seen trucks in there on a regular basis.

It would be great to have a run in there but only if it's legal. If it is illegal to run there, why do the local authorities say otherwise?

Scott H - what's the deal?

Thanks
Randy

 

[Wrench]

I can go check as I live ten minutes from the place. After the closing I completely forgot about this place. I always loved wheeling there.

 

[joex3]

Does anyone know the status of this trail? I have heard mixed reports on it. The local police station says that if the gate is open we can go in. If it's locked we cannot. I have seen trucks in there on a regular basis.

It would be great to have a run in there but only if it's legal. If it is illegal to run there, why do the local authorities say otherwise?

Scott H - what's the deal?

Thanks
Randy

I think it is has been closed since the mountain bike club bought some of the land near the entrance.
I could be wrong though.
Before driving on that trail, I would get the person's name at the police station that gave the ok, just in case.
Joe

 

[JohnnyC]

i love that trail...i lost a pinion there once

 

[82cruiser]

Spoke to someone at the Milford PD again and they said that the entire area is closed to ALL motorized vehicles. Bicycles only.

So much for that fine trail.

 

[zebrabeefj40]

How nice of them to share...

Nick

 

[Wrench]

Spoke to someone at the Milford PD again and they said that the entire area is closed to ALL motorized vehicles. Bicycles only.

So much for that fine trail.

Seems like they don't know their ass from their elbow. There are trucks wheeling there all the time!

 

[Sporin]

Seems like they don't know their ass from their elbow. There are trucks wheeling there all the time!

That doesn't mean they are there legally though.

 

[Wrench]

That doesn't mean they are there legally though.

That is not entirely true. If the owners of the property don't press charges then they are not there illegally. It's the owners job to keep people out and press charges against all offenders. Not the police. Someone put a gate up. Sometimes it's locked other times it is not. Who is unlocking it? Why are there trucks still wheeling there? Seems to me the owners don't care and the police are powerless to stop it. It's like Mabell. Is that legal to wheel? Who owns it? We don't have permission to wheel there. But we and a ton of other trucks do. Ploice don't do anything nor do the owners. So where do we draw the line? Wheeling places are becoming scarce and scarce every year. Sad

 

[joex3]

Vietnam status

Last time I went by there, I saw a few private property/no treapassing signs at the entrance of the trail.
No tresspassing signs usually mean it's illegal to wheel.

Joe

 

[Wrench]

So the mountain bikers are there illegally as well. But you see a lot of them there.

 

[joex3]

So the mountain bikers are there illegally as well. But you see a lot of them there.

I am not 100% , but I am pretty sure I heard that a mountain bike club purchased some of the land at the trailhead and those are their posted signs.
So I would guess that if your a member of the mountain bike club, then it would be ok to ride your mountain bike there.

 

[Wrench]

So they bought some of the land from the electric co? Seems odd they would sell it. They still need to access the lines.

 

[green40]

Not sure how it works in Mass. but here in NH powerline corridors are not owned by the power companies. They have an easement/lease and the land is still owned by individuals. If you can get landowner permission you can wheel.
(learned this from hanging out with NEA people.)

 

[vfrer]

I did some digging once I saw this thread as I am looking for near-by places to go wheeling. NEMBA (New England Mountain Biking Assoc) bought the property. Some quotes from their FAQ's...

http://www.nemba.org/Articles/Vietnam/NEMBAsVietnamProperty.html

As most of you in the mountain bike community know, in the fall of 2003, NEMBA accomplished the incredible feat of being the first mountain bike group in history to purchase and own property by buying 47 acres in the area commonly referred to as “Vietnam.” This parcel of land has been designated for use by all traditional non-motorized vehicles.

After the land purchase, NEMBA established a Land Management Committee to focus on the area. The committee is tackling all concerns regarding this property and welcomes your suggestions.

Presently, the committee is focused on establishing short and long term goals for managing the property. The number one short term goal has been to work political issues with the Holliston and Milford Conservation Committees and establish ourselves as “good neighbors.” Among our other goals are to improve trails while respecting natural surroundings and maintaining challenging terrain. This is all designed to provide full enjoyment of our area. Please respect this area and our neighbors in order for future riders to enjoy it for years to come.


What about motorized vehicles?

Access by motor vehicle is not allowed on NEMBA land and is also prohibited on all other land in the “Vietnam” area. There is presently a major crackdown on motorized vehicles occurring in the town of Milford. NEMBA recently purchased a number of “No motorized vehicles” signs, and you should see them installed very soon.

How much land does NEMBA own?

The NEMBA parcel is 47 acres in Milford only. The parcel is surrounded by approximately 1000 acres extending to Holliston, Hopkinton, and private lands.

 

[Sporin]

I know it's not "our" cause, but I honestly say good for them. They got organized and BOUGHT their own land to use as they please.

4x4 clubs and associations are doing the same all over New England.

 

[vfrer]

There is currently an effort in RI to purchase some land in Coventry to be used for ATV's. Not sure if this means trucks too but I hope so, still need to find more info. I do know that it is getting some opposition by the locals... typical stuff like too loud and irresponsible users. If I find anything that we could do to help support I will post it here.

 

[joex3]

I did some digging once I saw this thread as I am looking for near-by places to go wheeling. NEMBA (New England Mountain Biking Assoc) bought the property. Some quotes from their FAQ's...

http://www.nemba.org/Articles/Vietnam/NEMBAsVietnamProperty.html

As most of you in the mountain bike community know, in the fall of 2003, NEMBA accomplished the incredible feat of being the first mountain bike group in history to purchase and own property by buying 47 acres in the area commonly referred to as “Vietnam.” This parcel of land has been designated for use by all traditional non-motorized vehicles.

After the land purchase, NEMBA established a Land Management Committee to focus on the area. The committee is tackling all concerns regarding this property and welcomes your suggestions.

Presently, the committee is focused on establishing short and long term goals for managing the property. The number one short term goal has been to work political issues with the Holliston and Milford Conservation Committees and establish ourselves as “good neighbors.” Among our other goals are to improve trails while respecting natural surroundings and maintaining challenging terrain. This is all designed to provide full enjoyment of our area. Please respect this area and our neighbors in order for future riders to enjoy it for years to come.


What about motorized vehicles?

Access by motor vehicle is not allowed on NEMBA land and is also prohibited on all other land in the “Vietnam” area. There is presently a major crackdown on motorized vehicles occurring in the town of Milford. NEMBA recently purchased a number of “No motorized vehicles” signs, and you should see them installed very soon.

How much land does NEMBA own?

The NEMBA parcel is 47 acres in Milford only. The parcel is surrounded by approximately 1000 acres extending to Holliston, Hopkinton, and private lands.

Cool I never saw that before. I thought they bought alot more acreage that that.
Hmmm. So technically, so to speak, If you entered from an area that they did not own and stayed off their 47 acres and wheeled the other 9953 acres, then they can not say sh!t.
Joe

 

[peepers]

thanks for taking the time and finding the facts vfer. joex3, i think this statement allows them to say "s***" if we take our trucks there:
"Access by motor vehicle is not allowed on NEMBA land and is also prohibited on all other land in the “Vietnam” area."

all in i think it should be the position of the club and if that is not possible then at least the people in it that if there is even controvery around a given area we should stay away from it.

-your friendly YT crummudgen.

 

[joex3]

"Access by motor vehicle is not allowed on NEMBA land and is also prohibited on all other land in the “Vietnam” area."

This statement from their site is kind of what I was refering to. They have the right to post their land and not allow motorized 4x4s on it, but they can not prohibit anyone from using the land that they do not own. That is up to the individual land owners to decide if they want anyone on it.
They created a "lock" by purchasing the land at the trailhead, but if someone was to get permission from one of the other land owners I do not think the mountain bike club could do anything about that.
Joe