Ask Mr. Answer Person: "Is it legal to ride an ATV on the streets of Decorah?"

Jason e-mails: What would we have to do to allow atv's to drive on the streets of Decorah? Is this something that has been discussed before?

Here's what City Code says about ATV operation:

A. No person shall operate a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle upon the sidewalks, streets and alleys and public grounds of this city, except as provided in this chapter.

B. A snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle may make a direct crossing of a street or alley from one parcel of private property to another provided it is made at an angle of ninety degrees to the centerline and at a place where no obstruction prevents a quick and safe crossing, and provided that the operator yields the right-of-way to all oncoming traffic.

C.A snowmobile may operate on city streets and alleys during snow emergencies when streets have not been plowed at locations where snow upon the roadway renders travel by conventional motor vehicles impractical.

D. A snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle may operate on those portions of public park land which the board of park commissioners may from time to time by regulation designate as permitted snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle operating areas.

So, basically, it's not legal to drive an ATV on Decorah's streets.  In order to make it legal, the law would have to be changed, which means you would have to get a majority of the Decorah City Council (four out of seven
members) to agree to change the city's ordinance about ATVs.