Mode 5: Uncommon Cruisers investigates some of the less common vehicles you may find in rural communities.
This mode covers a range of vehicles, which come with various challenges and abilities.
Some challenges for Uncommon Cruiser include:
Uncommon Cruisers such as ATVs and UTVs can access terrain that other vehicles cannot and are useful for farm/ranch chores and hunting, also as search and rescue vehicles for emergency management and wildfires.
Horse-and-buggies are used as transportation on roadways in Amish, Mennonite, and Plain communities. Like bicyclists and pedestrians, horse-and-buggy users are considered vulnerable road users. They are slow moving, hard to see at night, and are drawn by animals that may be startled by car horns.
The uniqueness of Alaska, including remoteness, size, geography, weather, and communities inaccessible by common modes, lends it to additional unique modes of travel including dog sleds, ATVs, snow machines, and bush planes. Another unique transportation characteristic of Alaska is the use of ice roads for travel.
Over #RRSAW2026, we have explored ways to implement road safety strategies for all rural modes, particularly those that can reduce fatalities and serious injuries and get everyone home safely.
Safety is a shared responsibility and that includes all road users staying alert, not driving/riding/walking distracted, remembering that different modes have different requirements for safety, and watching for changing conditions.
To keep everyone safe, make sure to slow down and maintain space when approaching a slow moving vehicle (SMV). Pass when it is safe to do so, ensuring there are no oncoming vehicles, that the slow moving vehicle is not turning left as you pass, and providing them with adequate space as you pass.
Just like cars, these uncommon cruisers have rules for operation and equipment that must be followed. As these rules can vary by state, it is important to know your local rules. This website from the Consumer Product Safety Commission provides links for each state’s ATV rules and available training.
It is always important towear appropriate safety gear for your mode of travel including seat belts, helmets, and winter gear. Safety features are not just for cars, you can add additional safety features to many modes of travel like rollover protection systems, additional lighting, and slow-moving vehicle placards.
