A warning to AZ riders- and others

Posts: 466

I was actually wanting to head out to this area because it is close. It would have been real easy trail riding for him.

This is also a warning to everyone anywhere, whether here in Arizona or in other states.

http://www.azatvriders.org/files/2006/jg_pm10.pdf

Posts: 466

And yet another area Brick wall

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0220wvdust0220.html

Posts: 15 · Newbie Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 15 Pictures: 0

I was in AZ last week and found out that the river bottom under IH 10 is now closed... It was a favorite of mine because the truckstop was right there... The place we went to is supposed to be the new hotspot...

Posts: 182

Up here in Minnesota, alot of trails are being closed to all motorized vehcles as well, but it's not dust it's the 4 wheel drive quads in the spring tearing every thing up, theres thousands of snomobile trails that used to be open for riding on in the summer but aren't any more.
There is one in particular that is troubling...The SOO LINE TRAIL
It is an abandoned rail road bed that used to run from th st. croix river to St. Cloud...That was donated to the off road community now over half of it is closed to us...A really freightening closure is the one of a major Paper and lumber companies lands,in north cenrtal MN. these lands have tens of thousand of miles of old logging roads and trails, I logged there as a kid growing up...All they asked was take your garbage with you and to stay on the trails, and don't damage the trees.
Garbage and vandalism closed all that down about 10 years ago...
The 2 attachments that Bugspray posted are helpfull, These Tips may help...
Be curteous to the people that own the land around a riding area, smile ...wave ... I even stop and talk to some.
Try to keep the noise level down..When the land your riding meets private property don't do a bunch of wide open runs and make a bunch of noise and dust...
Take your garbage with you, I know that it is a pain in the butt to pick up other peoples trash... but if you see trash stop and pick it up if you can...I see lots of old tires and refridgerators obviously I can't haul them on my buggy..
Lastly,I think joining clubs and stuff is great, clubs cleaning up a riding area, and making an effort to educate and communicate with the community are huge benefits...But I've droned on too long already..

Posts: 3572

Well said, R. If we take care of our riding areas and are respectful to the locals it might keep these areas open for our kids to enjoy some day. There's not much you can do in the case of city people, retirees, etc who buy a house next to a trail and then try to change everything to their own liking. Hopefully by being courteous we can keep those complainers in the minority.

Posts: 944

Posts: 182

Vanet,
You do have a good point ... But if you have the hearts of the locals they are a lot less likely to vote against you...
There is another method to getting more land to ride on lease tracts of land but that does take organization, and a healthy membership, of participants...We leased 20 acres of unused farmland, for 5 years but had to fence it off at the end due to non-members coming out and tearing up the track, I costs money... I'm currently trying to put a league back together after washing my hands of the politics in the past, I'm no politition, but see a need for motor enthusiasts to unite, and work together..Ya know...I don't see the tree huggers as evil...Misguided is a better term, I see the self important YUPPIE's as a bigger threat...One thing I would like to address, Is in dusty conditions such as the ones that closed down the trails in AZ, Is there no local clubs or orginization there?Personally I would have gone to the municipality and asked about renting one of they're tankers to put some water down...
You'd be surprised how willing some cities and townships are to help you out especially if you portray a proffessional manner and try to involve the community in events/charity things,mowing an old person's grass...Having a food drive for the food shelf...I know (used to work) of a HUGE multi national company that voilates noiselaws,side steps the EPA and OSHA, But...they donate thousands and thousands of dollars to the local schools/food shelf/boy scouts/ and unicef why do they get away with it? Cuz they give back to the community that they are operating in...Saving the riding areas...It can be done but it is not an overnight thing...And it won't be cheap...I will have a place to ride until I'm to old to drive, but I keep the track watered,and the noise reasonable and only operate at reasonable times... It's not much but a 1/8 mile oval and 1 mile closed course, But it is in the family and will stay that way...A JUDGE ONCE TOLD ME...Before he tossed me in jail for speeding....
DRIVING IS A PRIVLEDGE IN THIS COUNTRY...NOT A RIGHT...
At 18 years old I did'nt get it but I do now...
But I'm from Minnesota It's prolly different where you live

Posts: 944

You make good points. But unfortunatly people arnt as fair as you might think. We own 640 sections of land here and recently the Forrest service banned us from riding on our own land. This was not even for recreation but to work cattle. Over 80% of land that is closed to off road riding is done with out a vote of any kind. That figure goes up to near 100% when it comes to public land. PUBLIC land. The goverenment thinks they own public land. They do not. We the people do. But because everyone thinks they do they get away with alot. Unless we wake up and stand up and look at the laws and realize the US government is breaking laws every day then we will continue to loose more and more rights until we have none. Including our RIGHT to ride on public land. Our RIGHT to drive is not a privilage that is just what they want you to think so they can govern it. I am not some crazy trying to start a revolution I just think its time for us to stand up. Check out our local organization [url]www.cmlua.com [/url]and then contribute to, join or start one near you. This can be fought but we have to organize just like the opposition. You have alot of friends to help you just have to get together. The hunters, fisherman, ranchers etc are all fealling the problems brought on by the different groups who are using money and influence to skirt the laws. We now have several law suits that we are prepared to take to the surpreme court to fight this, but the only way to get permanent change is to let the polaticians know that the common man does not want his libertys and rights taken away. This seams like it ought to be common sense. But there are to many out there that support things like communism and socialism in our society. I have talked to many people who feel the same way as I do but the few radicals who want to control every thing are winning right now. Do something.

Posts: 333

dust isn't the problem, i live in mohave county arizona where 75-80% of all public roads are county maintained dirt roads, the only paved roads are the main streets and the new home tracts,

Posts: 529

Closing land to public access has nothing do with OHV use it's a political movement by the environmentalist to control the populous. You guys should try living in California where everyday we are threatened with closures. Lately the tide has been toward the OHV side as become better organized and aware.

You should write/call/email every government rep in your respective states and tell them how you feel. The more we are heard the more we have a voice.

The environmentalist will show only the bad side of OHV use to push there agenda. When's the last time they should a family sitting around a campfire cooking smores and have quality time. Instead they show the damage from the .02% of the OHV crowd and cry about the damage they've done.

OHV is a legimate outdoor sport recognized by the USFS, the BLM and most states yet the environmentalist control our sport not us. In California the OHVMR division is headed by environmentalist who must approve every or disapprove OHV parks, trails and grant money. Most of the grant money is used to close down trails and restoration.

I could go on and on but I'm getting too mad as I write.

SP