US land use issues

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WRocks
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US land use issues

Post by WRocks »

This note came from Slaven's Racing.
We certainly have our own issues to contend with here, but their battle appears to be much tougher.
However, there are some common theme's...
Hello Fellow Dirt Bikers, Dual Sport and Adventure Riders:

Our sport is under attack like never before. The liberal tree huggers have become emboldened by our liberal administration, they are well funded and their agenda is to close every trail, jeep road, and forest service road they can. I've been actively involved in motorized land access issues for 30 years and I've never seen our sport under attack like it is today.

My home state of Colorado is a battleground state, always has been, always will be. There are more tree huggers per capita in this state than any other and radical anti-motorized access groups from all over the nation focus on Colorado. Although their current focus is motorized use, mountain bikers beware, you are on their radar.

In Colorado we are currently involved in 3 major land access legal battles. One of which is just 10 minutes away from my office. This latest litigation involves the Bear Creek trail system, otherwise known as Captain Jacks. There are over 100 hiking and mtn. bike trails in this county (Colorado's largest county) and only one motorcycle trail, which is now closed until further notice. The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) from Arizona has sued the U.S. Forest Service and the Colorado Springs Utilities to protect an allegedly rare and endangered green back cutthroat trout located in Bear Creek. They contend that trail erosion and the resulting sediment caused by motorcycles (not by the mtn. bikers, hikers, or horses that use the trail) are killing the fish.

Our local motorcycle club, CMTRA, has spent over $160,000 to build bridges over the stream, has trail maintenance days to mitigate trail damage, has done re-routes for sustainability, and general maintenance. Reports show that the fish are thriving, yet we are still under attack.

Why should you care, especially if you don't even live in Colorado??? Well, every summer Colorado is overrun with all types of motorcycle and ATV enthusiast and groups from EVERY STATE in the union. It is the national playground. The internet is destroying our state and many other Rocky Mtn. states by generating increased traffic. Everyone comes or wants to come "ride Colorado". They use and abuse our vast network of trails, jeep roads, and dirt roads then go home without ever donating a dime or lifting a finger to help, leaving us with the mess.

By the numbers, the pathetic numbers; Let's just use Colorado as an example as I'm sure it's a reflection of many other states. There are over 200,000 people that should care and participate and donate to land access issues. Over 200,000 registered off-road vehicles, and this does not include the 1000s of unregistered motorcycles, ATVs, and UTVs. There are 30,000 motorcycles, 100,000 ATVs, 50,000 4x4s, and 30,000 snowmobiles. One of the 2 organizations that fights for all of these groups, the guys that bust their butts every day for little or no pay, the Colorado Off Highway Vehicle Coalition (COHVCO), struggles to keep 2000 members. 2000!!! That is pathetic. 1% of the users give a damn. 1%!!! Think about it. Only 1% will give $30 stinkin bucks to be a member of the organization that fights for their right to ride.

More numbers; It cost an easy $100,000 to fight every lawsuit and we are currently in 3, that makes $300K that we don't have. The Bear Creek litigation has barely begun and the legal fees are already $14,000 and the donations are $11,000. That $11K has come from a relatively small amount of riders. Many riders have called me to complain about Jacks being closed, but few have donated to the legal defense fund.

Even more numbers; The majority of off-highway vehicle users drive a $40,000 to $70,000 truck, have $5000 to $50,000 worth of toys in the garage, live in a $200,000 to $500,000 house, and spend $1000s every year on those toys. Seems like a bare minimum of $30, for a membership or donation, should be part of those numbers.

How can you help? Get involved! Join COHVCO, http://www.cohvco.org and donate to the legal defense fund of COHVCO and the legal defense fund of the Colorado Trails Preservation Alliance,www.coloradotpa.org. These are the 2 organizations that fight all of our battles in Colorado. They work together on ALL land access issues in this state and assist in legal defense for Utah and New Mexico.

Note: This email is not intended to offend anyone. It's just an honest, factual report on the state of our sport. If more riders don't get involved, we won't have anywhere to ride in just a few years. We need help....NOW!
RMDRA lifetime member
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2015 450 SXF with Timbersled MHLT

timbruce
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Re: US land use issues

Post by timbruce »

thanks for reposting Aaron. It sure sounds familuar.

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Dakota_c69
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Re: US land use issues

Post by Dakota_c69 »

Thanks for the info! I sent a donation, every little bit helps... :cheers:

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WRocks
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Re: US land use issues

Post by WRocks »

It could be worse... It appears in Colorado the OHV community has to raise money and file a lawsuit to try and keep trails.
Although our model is far from ideal, fortunately we're not in that situation and hopefully never are...
Hello Fellow Trail Riders:

We need your help. As many of you already know, the Bear Creek/Captain Jacks trail system near Colorado Springs is officially CLOSED to motorcycle use!

CMTRA members and the Colorado Trails Preservation Alliance have been hard at work to get this re-opened. Your many donations (THANK YOU!) have been a huge help in the legal defense of our right to ride this great trail system.

To meet the terms of the lawsuit agreement, it currently looks like the trial will be re-routed out of the Bear Creek drainage to protect the alleged endangered trout. The USFS is asking for public input via mail/email by April 30th and they are asking for your attendance at an upcoming open house meeting. The meeting will be held this Thursday, April 4th, from 4:00-9:00PM at the Leon Young Service Center in Colorado Springs.

It's an open house, so you can stop by, learn more, and provide your input anytime during the 5 hours. Stay as short or as long as you wish.

For those of you that live nearby, I'm asking that you please come to this meeting. We need a HUGE attendance of motorcycle riders. Please wear attire that indicates you are a motorcyclist, such as motorcycle t-shirts, jersey, riding jacket, hats, etc. Hikers and mountain bikers will also attend so we need to show up in big numbers.

For more information about this meeting and requested public input, please visit this USFS website page,
http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOC ... 414578.pdf

We really need you at this meeting and we really need your written input to the Forest Service. Please be polite and considerate. The re-routing of this trail (out of the Bear Creek drainage) is the only viable option to get this trail system re-opened. The old route through Crankcase Alley will be permanently closed to ALL users.

Thank you.

Jeff Slavens
RMDRA lifetime member
2013 350 XCF
2015 450 SXF with Timbersled MHLT

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