As enthusiasts we see advertisments from Tread Lightly and Blue Ribbon Coalition in the magazines we read. Articles and editorials concerning proper trail use are also available in the magazines we read, but what about the general public, are they aware of the importance of Treading Lightly on public land? I think we all know that the answer to that is no.

So what can be done to raise the awareness of the general public? What if we could get our local fourwheel supply shops to contribute to a fund, possibly managed by state four wheel drive associations. This fund would then be used to buy print ads in local newspapers.

The ads would be aimed at the "average Joe", people who have no idea that our access to public land is in danger. You know most of the people I have personally witnessed screwing around are young and driving stock 4x4s. They do not seem to be the type who would pick up a 4x4 magazine looking for ideas for modifications.

Local offroad shops have a lot to lose if we lose access to public land. I would hope they would respond favorably to a plan like this.

What do you think, and do you have any other suggestions which would help expand upon this idea?

Rick, I think its a great Idea. I would say that it needs to be done by a National organization (BRC, TL, UFWDA) as opposed to a state organization though. This would show a greater unity and the representation, I feel, would be a much broader range. For example BRC has members from all sorts of recreation (equestriain, motorcycle,mountain bike, snowmobile, hiking, etc), where as most state orgs. are targeted at specific groups. Many of the trails and areas we use are designated as multi-use, so I think the key would be to promote unity and show that different user groups can work together.

I think the greatest thing would be one colaborative "educational program" of some sort endorsed and promoted by all the National Orgs... like a "Elighten America Program" or "People For Multiple Use Saving America" (PFMUSA) or something -- all the Nat. Orgs. could promote it and help fund the ads and such, maybe a couple of conventions a year with seminars and how to get involved. Then maybe state orgs that are members of the Nat Orgs could have monthly clinics on letter writing and how to get involved in local processes, as well as keep people informed on the latest battles...

I just don't know how to go about doing it...

:usa:

I've been working on this some from a local standpoint. We recently put together a trifold brochure for our local club and passed it out at a booth we put up at a local mall in conjunction with a health fair they were sponsoring. The brochure had a brief description of our club with contact info, info on Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, United, and Blue Ribbion (our club is a member of each orginization). On the last page, I listed a short list of Off-Road tips (including Tread Lightly principels).

I got to thanking a couple of weeks ago that with a little work this brochure would be good to pass out to new 4x4 owners. I plan to approach the local Jeep dealer and see if they would be willing to include them in the packets they give all new Jeep owners (mainly focusing there as the company I work for used to be owned by Chrysler).

Robert

Peter, I believe it should be kept local to minimize the administration costs. I want 100% of the money to go to the fund, not into peoples pockets whose full time job it is to administer a national fund.

Robert, that's a good idea. Getting the brochures to those who are buying new vehicles would be great.

Good point Rick, I hadn't though too deeply on funding it and people running it and such, I was still trying to find a way to implement it :) - I guess I figured it was a perfect world and people like us would just take the "stuff" from BRC and U4WDA and volunteer our time to teach others and hand out pamphlets... somewhere along the line someone will need to get paid though or they will simply stop doing it - then the money will be used to pay someone to collect donations/fees and so on - Kinda like the Adventure pass:mad:

Robert thats great. I think you're on the right track, we need a way to inform people that is easy and relatively inexpensive, a tri-fold pamphlet seems to fit the bill.... What type of turnout did you get of people that actually seemed interested and willing to learn how they can help and how they can become responsible four wheelers?

Also does your pamphlet specificly cater to 4x4 owners or to all types of back country recreatioists?


:usa:

Peter,

We had a good turnout (I missed the event, but got good feedback). We had alot of interest as we had one of the club member's Hybrid on display. They handed out almost all of the brochures and didn't see many thrown away around the mall ;)

The Brochure was more of an introduction to the various orginizations with contact info and some real basic tips for responsiable wheeling.

We introduced ourselves on the front, then Southern, United, and Blue Ribbion. On the back, I listed 10-15 "Offroad tips" including staying on trails, using treesaver straps, basic recovery gear, etc.

Around here we have tons of folks with 4x4 vehicles and they aren't members of any of the clubs. Most folks just go to ride where they have seen others ride without regard of whether the land is public access or not (hey it's Alabama and there are lots of "rednecks";) ). Ideas of what constitute "Wheeling" vary too. My wife worked with a girl who liked to go "pigging" with her boyfriend. They would find a mud hole and keep hitting it until they got stuck and covered with mud. If it was in an area for that no problem, but most often these are logging/hunting trails and not everyone that uses them appreciate the huge mudpits (especially the land owners in most cases).

Robert