Personal Transportation

Scott Steer

WMSTR Lifetime Members
WMSTR Lifetime Member
Ladies and Gentlemen, I approached the Board of Directors regarding ATV/Golf Cart use during the show. This has been a big topic of conversation for many years, sometimes heated conversation. With the Board of Directors blessing, I will be putting together a team to enforce the Personal Trsnsportation Rules. I assure you, this will be done fairly and impartially. I am looking for members to join my team and also welcome input from all members regarding this topic. We all understand there are some needs but we will crack down on the Unnecessary Use of ATV's and Golf Carts.
 
While I agree with Craig regarding black and white answers, I believe we can make some changes/improvements to help alleviate the issue somewhat. First and foremost, is the shuttle service convenient, quick and easy to use? When the answer to all 3 of these questions is a resounding yes, then golf cart usage will be much easier to manage. The real question is how do we get shuttle service to that level?? We need to gather input from the people that we want to be using the service-members and visitors alike and then implement changes, get more feed back and implement more changes. Keep doing this until we see the improvements that we are striving for. Show time transportation needs to be a comprehensive plan that involves all areas of the show not just ATV/golf cart usage. I strongly believe wide spread ATV/golf cart abuse is is the result of no/poor alternatives. Yes, there will still be the violators that will need to be policed, but I would hope that it would be a very small number compared to what we now have.
 
What is needed most is enforcement of the present rules and making sure there is a need to use one during the show I get my permit each year but don't use it for transportation while the show is in progress I use the shuttles. If you plan right you will get where you want to be on time. I also drive shuttle wagon, one of the most stressful job on the grounds in my opinion, aside from watching out for our attendees I have to watch and make determinations as to what a golf cart driven by people who probably could have taken a shuttle is going to do next. Many times I have seen a cart over loaded with young people cutting off or using poor judgment when encountering shuttle wagons forcing me to stop quickly with a full wagon load of people, it is hard to drive and drive safely while watching out for attendees and members on personal vehicles and cars and pickups driving around .
I love driving shuttles but people must realize that there are many factors that enter into the equation that may delay shuttle service or bunch up wagons, the parade, a steam engine backing in to park or get water, stopping at a rail road crossing to wait for a train but by reducing the personal cart/atv traffic would help make things safer for everybody. I do see the need for service vehicles but I go by some exhibits and see several golf carts parked in the area and wonder how much is enough.
 
As someone who had been dealing with this my entire tenure on the board (10 years) and now we're a couple past that... I am happy to see this development. I was at the meeting where it was discussed (as a visitor) and I think Scott has some really good idea's on enforcement.

His challenge starting this process is in it's infancy and at this point all he is going to do is come up with more plans going forward and then work with the board to finalize something. Sounds like there is going to be a lot of input and careful consideration going forward.

Personal vehicle use on the show grounds is out of control. There is way too much traffic and a good share of it is "joy riding". NOT ALL, but way more than there should be.

Let's say you are sitting in the same place of a couple of hours tending to a steam traction engine, and you see the same people drive by 3 or 4 times just rubber-necking and doing nothing productive. That's a problem... but that's not even the concerns that were brought up last Saturday. Those concerns were more people driving too fast, overloaded (4 people on an 4-wheeler), underage people driving, failure to display a permit or a safety ribbon, no lights at night, etc... Blatent rule breaking when everyone who has ever attended a safety meeting knows, or should know better. Where are things falling apart? Safety meeting leaders not stressing things properly? People just either don't care or think they are above the rules? Who knows! That is what Scott and his group are going to work through.

I am excited to see how Scott and the group he forms plan to start to fix this. He has a law enforcement background and that will prove invaluable to the task at hand!

Good luck Scott and group! I am sure we all want to see you succeed!
 
What is needed most is enforcement of the present rules and making sure there is a need to use one during the show I get my permit each year but don't use it for transportation while the show is in progress I use the shuttles. If you plan right you will get where you want to be on time. I also drive shuttle wagon, one of the most stressful job on the grounds in my opinion, aside from watching out for our attendees I have to watch and make determinations as to what a golf cart driven by people who probably could have taken a shuttle is going to do next. Many times I have seen a cart over loaded with young people cutting off or using poor judgment when encountering shuttle wagons forcing me to stop quickly with a full wagon load of people, it is hard to drive and drive safely while watching out for attendees and members on personal vehicles and cars and pickups driving around .
I love driving shuttles but people must realize that there are many factors that enter into the equation that may delay shuttle service or bunch up wagons, the parade, a steam engine backing in to park or get water, stopping at a rail road crossing to wait for a train but by reducing the personal cart/atv traffic would help make things safer for everybody. I do see the need for service vehicles but I go by some exhibits and see several golf carts parked in the area and wonder how much is enough.

I agree and have seen this many times myself. The shuttles often move slowly but that's no reason to zip past them dangerously and risk the safety of many. There's nothing so important that is worth injuring our members or guests. We do a fantastic job enforcing safety around the grounds hopefully with Scotts leadership we can get this under control and keep our show safe so all can enjoy.
 
I DON'T SEE THE SHUTTLES AS THE MAIN PROBLEM, IT GETS DOWN TO THE OPERATORS OF ALL GOLF CARTS QUAD'S ETC. SOME JUST WANT TO DO THERE THING WHAT EVER IT IS.
COULD BE A WELL WRITTEN POLICY SHOULD, BE A START BUT STILL IT WILL BE A PROBLEM, HOPE SCOTT WILL GET SOMETHING DONE. I HOPE.
 
Just a question to our members camping in the campgrounds such as Parsnip, 7-day, or even OK corral. Would shuttle service in those camp grounds help to cut down significantly on your use of personal vehicles? I know from experience it is a long hike from parsnip to the shuttle stop by the water wheel, especially if you are carrying something, or a young child. Service for those with disabilities already are available on all of the grounds on request.

Please keep in mind that IF more shuttles are needed on the grounds, for whatever reason, that will also mean more volunteers to man those shuttles. Are you that volunteer, or do you know someone that would volunteer?

Just some thoughts.
David
 
possible I might rent a "rascal" to help me get around the ground this yr getting to the point where a lot of walking does not agree with me anymore
 
possible I might rent a "rascal" to help me get around the ground this yr getting to the point where a lot of walking does not agree with me anymore





One thing I sensed is our visitors using ATV to view the show grounds, driving where ever they please around other people which is a no no in my book. I understand the need for that as many are elderly. It is understandable but not acceptable. I myself am chasing after things for the two big engines during the show. Walking is becoming a big problem for me. Some of those ATV take up as much space as a pickup plus the trailer that hauls them making for parking spaces. Restricted to just a pickup then? Some of the young people may be in training for one or more of the show jobs running around on ATV's? What ever choices are made, they will be hard ones. Hope everyone can understand the need and respect the rules
 
Mandatory Safety meetings for ATV/UTV/Golf Carts begin Wednesday @6pm. There are meetings on Thursday at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm and 6pm; Friday and Saturday at 9am, 3pm and 4pm. All meetings will be held behind Admin Building. It is mandatory to attend one of these meetings in order to operate a ATV/UTV/Golf Cart. There is a new ribbon to be worn for the use of these vehicles. These meetings will be lead by members of the enforcement team and will cover the rules of operation and consequences for violation of said rules. These meetings are not a time to argue or debate the use of these vehicles or the rules. Any disrespect or arguing will result in you being asked to leave and failure to receive the necessary ribbon for use. Please make sure you have your Member Numbers with you for the meeting as it will be needed on the acknowledgment form. These meetings are above and beyond the other safety meetings required for WMSTR.
 
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