-
News
News
By Allison Joy
IRON RIVER — The Iron River City Council will hold a public hearing to amend its ordinance on off-road vehicles on July 17 at 4:30 p.m. at the Iron River City Hall.
“I am a proponent of the ordinance,” said Iron River Police Chief Curt Harrington at the council’s June 19 meeting. “I think it’s good for our city to have that. It promotes our businesses and people just traveling through, maybe to get gas and leaving.”
Always a tourism staple in the U.P., ORVs saw a surge in popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic, when sales rose 33% (after nine years of steady growth). Purchases declined from that peak the following two years, but 2023 was another banner year for sales — the third highest-grossing year ever, according to MotorCycles Data.
Updates to Article III of Iron River city’s traffic code would fully repeal two sections relating to ORVs: those prohibiting ORVs to operate on city-owned property including streets, alleys, sidewalks parks and pedestrian trails; and prohibiting ORVs on Forbes Road or public alleyways from operating a “speed greater than walking speed.”
If the ordinance were to pass, ORVs would be allowed on all public streets in the City of Iron River, with the exception of mini-bikes or “pocket bikes.” A separate resolution was passed at the June 19 meeting of the Iron River City Council.
ORVs would be limited to a speed of 25 miles per hour and be required to stay on the far right side of the maintained portion of the roadway, which includes the shoulder; drive single-file with the flow of traffic; and feature headlights and taillights. Drivers must be at least 16 years old, possess a valid driver’s license and wear a helmet.
The following are not covered as ORVs under the proposed ordinance: registered snowmobiles; farm vehicles; military, fire, emergency or law enforcement vehicles; and vehicles for utility, oil or gas companies when used for the purpose of maintenance.
ORVs would still remain barred from parks, natural areas, cemeteries, Apple Blossom Trail, city sidewalks and other non-motorized pathways; and over wetlands and bodies of water — with the exception of Ice Lake when it’s frozen.
In the event of an accident, the ORV driver would be considered “prima facie negligent” — presumably at fault.
The full ordinance is available at ironriver.org.