Wisconsin Rapids council approves limited ATV/UTV routes with signage and 16-year age limit

The Wisconsin Rapids Common Council voted 5-3 to adopt specific routes that allow ATV and UTV travel where city-owned road segments abut neighboring municipalities that already permit recreational vehicles. Mayor Matt Sacker said the Public Works Committee reviewed the referral and that routes were identified Jan. 8 before being pulled for separate council consideration on Jan. 20.

Background: Sacker described a lengthy community debate and a prior referendum that did not pass; neighboring jurisdictions and the county have often moved to open shared roads, creating a patchwork of rules. He said county action opened approximately 600–625 feet of Griffith Avenue (a county highway) to connect both sides and the city then had to decide whether to match that opening.

Safety and age limits: The city ordinance that governs the newly opened stretches requires riders to be at least 16 on those segments, Sacker said, reflecting concerns raised during the referendum about younger, unlicensed riders. "The big one was the 12 to 15 — people who aren't licensed drivers," he said, noting the city did not want that practice on higher-traffic city streets.

Enforcement and signage: Sacker said there are currently no signs posted on many border streets and urged that signs and police monitoring be used so riders know which side of the road is legal. "You should have signs posted, and you should have the police on it," he said; where adjacent jurisdictions have differing ordinance language, the city will follow its own ordinance on its side of the road.

Why it matters: The change affects residents living on border roads and those who use ATVs/UTVs for recreation or to travel between parcels; it may reduce travel detours where one side of a road is open and the other closed but raises safety and enforcement questions.

Next steps: Sacker said the city will install signage and continue public communication as the ordinance is implemented, and that enforcement will follow city rules where borders differ. Specific signage locations and enforcement schedules were not provided in the interview.