ATVs On Sidney Streets Is A Go By Klark Byrd kbyrd@suntelegraph.com SIDNEY - On your mark ... get set ... go! Sidney residents will soon be seeing more than just cars and trucks on Sidney streets - they’ll also be seeing ATVs as well, that is after Sept. 15. The ordinance to allow the off-road vehicles on city streets passed unanimously at city council’s regular Tuesday session with the addition of the Sept. 15 start date. The ordinance also was amended to make it illegal for ATV operators to carry passengers on the vehicle while on city streets. The start date was chosen to allow time for the Sidney Police Department to locate and stock up on insurance decals that ATV operators will have to have before operating the vehicle on city streets. Police Chief Larry Cox said that the last time the department needed to order special decals it took three weeks for them to come in. “It’s going to be an enforcement nightmare,” Cox said at the meeting. Cox has been openly against the ATV ordinance, especially allowing ATVs on Old Post Road, which was not classified as a controlled access road since it is city-owned and not state-owned. ATV operators will be allowed on Old Post Road, but only in the far right lane. This means they will have to enter a driveway, turn around and cross Old Post Road to get to a business on the left-hand side of the street. ATV operators will be allowed to drive their ATVs from sunrise to sunset, as per state regulations. Sidney’s ordinance includes that a helmet must be worn, the driver must be 18 years old and possess a Class O license. It will be illegal to operate the vehicle on Illinois Street, but operators will be allowed to cross Illinois Street. However, crossing Link 17-J is illegal since it is a state-owned controlled access road. Highway 30 also is off limits from the underpass near Fort Sidney Road to Link 17-J. Anyone wishing to visit downtown from Fort Sidney Road will have to cross to 10th Avenue via Toledo Street. Local insurance salesman John Eshelman approached council before the ordinance passed to inform them that insurance rate cards for off-road and on-road use of ATVs are not different. That would give law enforcement a hard time determining if the ATV operator has the appropriate insurance. Eshelman’s advice was to develop a stamp for insurance companies to use that would show an ATV insurance rate card is rated properly for on-road use. The ordinance will be published in The Sun-Telegraph and a copy will be available at city offices.