Ok, I've been doing some thinking about land use, responsibility and what do WE as a collective want to see. Now I can't speak for you that's why I started this thread. So what SHOULD OUR GOALS be? What common ground of ALL of US is there.

My take is this.

I would like to see access to the lands we currently have access to, not be in peril of closure.

I would like to see responsible opening up of new areas. How new areas would be opened, I have no idea how that could be done.

I would like to see education programs available for people new to the sport or just would like some insight. Education would include responsible land use, environmental concerns and how to tread lightly.

Now I know others want something different and using DRM as an example, would like to see completely lawless use of land. Although I hear what DRM is saying and I do understand his point of view I think that total unrestricted access would encourage far too many new braids on trails. That would allow joe smuck to blaze a new trail around the hard stuff (how many blaze a trail for harder stuff) and make even more people get on the trails.

Now this is where a duality exists in me. Yes I want to be able to go out and enjoy the environment. Yes, I want to be able to drive the trails as they exist. Yet I do not want to see a bunch of newly blazed trails all over the place allowing everyone in a Hyundai access to the sluice box.

So what is your idea of a goal for land use?

What you've listed pretty much covers it for me.

Keeping the trails that we have and opening up some of the closed trails again. Especially the ones with a rich history.

Same here keeping the current trails open and cared for. Also some sort of punishment for those who abuse the trail via...Leaving trash and trail blazing off of the trail. I know that this is most likely already is happening there just needs to be more bite to the bark...

I agree with your ideas. There needs to be a system for keeping the trails open. The system has to include some sort of general rules for each trail, how to tread lightly effectively, and some way to enforce sanitation rules. I think the key to keeping our trails open and the possibility of new/old trails opening relies alot on the environmental reponsibilities for each user.

Trash removal and responsible cleanup of spilled fluids are a good start. I understand the fact that we all may spill something (ie-gear lube, etc) at some point, but we should also take a minute to clean it up the best we can. The stains that are so common on most tough parts of the trails should be dealt with when they happen. I know when I spill oil, etc on my garage floor at home I clean it up immediately, so why not take the same care on the trail.

I know this is only part of the solution of how to keep things open, but it is a start. As for the duality, I think the people with less capable rigs should take the time to research the trails before they get out there and get into trouble or blaze new trails around obstacles. Again, this will be an educational process for all of us especially the new breed of SUV wheelers.

Overall, this is a tough question with many different answers and no one right one. We all have to work together no matter what!

i have thought about this some and think that a possible solution is to license people to drive offroad. To obtain this licence you would have to take a class on the proper way to behave yourself out there and the licence could be revoked.

-Steve

Originally posted by Stephen D Hallock
i have thought about this some and think that a possible solution is to license people to drive offroad. To obtain this licence you would have to take a class on the proper way to behave yourself out there and the licence could be revoked.

-Steve

Steve, I agree with this. I have been thinking a lot about this myself. Yes it will be an inconvenience for the mature, repsonsible wheelers, but I will gladly sit thru a two hour class so that others will be forced to be responsible.

SeanP

Educate yourself on proper trail conduct.
Educate yourself on land and trail designations and classifications.
Participate with Clubs, Volunteer groups, and the managing land agencies, and talk to other land users.
Learn the differences between Wilderness Area and Backcountry Recreation Area land designations.
Talk to your political representitives.

Make yourself available to talk to others, both to help them on the trail, and to coach them when they do something wrong (either at the time, or later, at camp or even in court).

We need to change the perception of motorized recreation. This change will not happen overnight, be patient and persistant. Motorized trails are not the outlet for unrestricted use of the land (unless designated), but they have been percieved this way for decades. This will take time to change.

Learn about the various motorized land-use designations. Open-use, limited-access, and closed area designations.

Learn that unrestricted motorized use is both appropriate and legal in designated "open use" areas. These are areas like portions of Johnson Valley and state SVRA's, where land has been set aside for folks like DRM to blaze new trails (something DRM will never experience if he continues to believe motorized recreation on public land is obsolete). The somewhat surprising thing about open-areas is most drivers stay on established trails (why go off on your own when an established off-road race course or hammer-style trails are available). Understand the SC & CWC will falsely use pictures of true open-use areas (saying the photos are from limited access areas) to try to make everyone believe all trail systems are in danger of the same visual impact. Do not fall for this misleading attack on motorized recreation, sometimes it is legal to bushwhack a new trail (something you can tell the off-trail adventurers on the Rubicon -- go to Stoddard Valley, the ISDRA, or portions of another open-area if that is what they want to do).

Not every area can sustain open-use, and most motorized recreation enthusiasts do not want every opportunity to be an open-area. Most off-road (dirt-road) enthusiasts understand this, but the SC wants Wilderness without compromise. The extreme Wildlands folks fear an "open unless posted closed" Backcountry Recreation Area designation choice (more than any other) because it protects the habitat without closure. This is important to understand, because the SC will try to convince everyone that the land-use issue is open-areas (anything goes) or Wilderness (nothing goes).

A backcountry Recreation Area designation choice (designation by Congress) is probably the most effective method to protect existing trails from closure. Learn about this designation at the Blue Ribbon Coalition website (www.sharetrails.org) and sent your Congressmen letters to learn about it as well.

Learn that an open-use area designation is different from open-use road or trail travel classification. Areas are designated for use, roads and trails are assigned travel classifications.

Learn that the majority of motorized recreation is on dirt roads and trails, traveling through already protected Backcountry habitat, on routes that have not been assigned with travel classifications. Many roads are classified for street-legal vehicle use only, and very few are classified for OHV use.

Open-use OHV roads and trails support the widest opportunity of recreation travel of any trail system (green sticker license vehicles, equestrians & motorcycles, street-legal vehicles, and even hikers). We want more roads and trails assigned open-use OHV travel classifications, to gain the most motorized recreation opportunity. An open-use OHV route does not reduce the protections assigned to the areas on either side of the road or trail, beyond fifteen feet. Protection for habitat still applies on either side of an OHV route, the same as applied to areas on the side of street legal roads (or in Sensitive Areas and Areas of Critical Environmental Concern).

Education is available from UFWDA and Cal4Wheel in 4x4 safety courses. You can also learn by teaching (participating). Joining a club is a good way to learn. Many Forests have Volunteer programs that can educate you on resource and recreation issues specific to the area (something that can be started on the Rubicon). Be aware that USFS Wilderness Volunteers and OHV Volunteers do not always read the rule books the same way (we need more OHV Volunteer programs nationwide).

The best way to learn good trail manners is talking to other recreation enthusiasts. Hikers drive to the trailhead so we share a common access interest (even if they do not see it immediately). The equestrians have been around a long time with a need for large staging areas and good dirt road access (and they police thier trails fairly well, something to learn from). Motorcycle enthusiasts have shared interests (as do mountain bicycle enthusiasts), because OHV and double-track trails provide access to their single-track routes. We need to stick together, so be polite even when these folks get in your face.

I hope this helps?

Happy Trails!