Dirt bike riders need to respect speed limits

I am sure I have told this story before and for that I apologize if I sound like a broken record, but I do have a valid point to make. When I was a teenager I bought a brand new RM125 Suzuki motocross motorcycle. My sisters and I would ride three blocks from our home on paved roads to access open space. We could ride 26 miles to Poway, in San Diego County, before hitting another paved road.

Sometimes we would drive excessively down our three blocks of pavement and our neighbors would get mad and call the sheriff. When we would be on our way home from dirt bike riding, there they were, at the start of the pavement waiting for us. We'd have to shut off the bike and push it home and of course it was a steep 3 blocks uphill - thank goodness, not snow covered.

The sheriff would be in our driveway by the time we got there lecturing my father as to our "speeding" on paved roads. I would explain, I was just trying to clean out the carburetor, but he didn't buy it.

So here is my point, if you ride a dirt bike here in Johnson Lane, you need to be respectful of the speed limit. The Douglas County sheriff has been very good about allowing us to ride dirt bikes, quads and other non-street legal vehicles on the paved roads, but how much longer will they be tolerant if we abuse the privilege?

The past two weeks I have received several phone calls from residents asking me to address this problem, all saying they'll start calling the sheriff's office if this continues. I remember how I felt, so please slow down. There is plenty of room out in the Pine Nuts to show off. You don't need to do it by our houses.

Speaking of dirt bike riding, who put the gate up on Slater Mine Road? What happens if we have a lightning strike and the fire engines need to get up on the top of the mountain? This road has been an established road for more than 150 years, so I've been told. Is it legal to have a gate across it? Please call me if you have any information. This is also something I have received several calls about. Thanks for your calls. If you have a story to tell or an experience to share, feel free to give me a call.

Coffee connection at Piñon Hills Elementary School

Have you ever been to the Piñon Hills Elementary School coffee connection? It is a great time to ask the principal questions you may have and to get to know other parents.

The next one is next Wednesday, April 16 from 9:15-9:45 a.m. Hope to see you there.

Wandering Wheels meet Thursday

The Nevada Wandering Wheels Motorcycle club meets 6 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at Round Table Pizza in Gardnerville and for breakfast at 8:30 a.m. with a ride to follow on the fourth Saturday of the month at Jethro's Oven & Grill, 1281 Kimmerling.

Information, Norbert Monohan, 782-5802.

-- Johnson Lane resident Lisa Welch

can be reached at 267-9350.