Help keep OHV use LEGAL on public land

Anyone who rides an OHV, motocross, enduro, an atv, etc needs to read this!

ARRA has teamed up with several national OHV organizations to develop a survey designed to help get a better understanding of how the Travel Management process is unfolding on the Forests you access with your OHV. Even if you are unaware of this process please proceed with the survey, as that information is useful as well. To take the survey, use the below link.

http://online.svia.org/survey/cgi-bin/qweb.cgi?4YXM42B

ARRA, American Council of Snowmobile Associations, American Motorcyclist Association, BlueRibbon Coalition, Motorcycle Industry Council, National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council, Off-Road Business Association, Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, Tread Lightly!, and United Four Wheel Drive Associations worked together to develop this survey and your participation will help these organizations get a clearer picture of the process on your Forest(s) and will ultimately help the groups focus advocacy campaigns.

Background:

The U.S. Forest Service finalized its Travel Management Rule in November 2005. The rule requires each Forest to designate roads, trails and areas open to OHV use and to publish a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) indicating those decisions. After the MVUM is published, any use of OHVs on routes or areas not identified on the map will be illegal. While there was no deadline for Forests to publish an MVUM in the rule, the Forest Chief directed Forests to complete work on travel management by December 2009.

Virtually every Forest in the nation is currently implementing the rule, and the survey will help us get a better understanding of how you believe the process is unfolding on the Forests you access with your OHV.

Your participation in the travel management process is critical.

We encourage you to attend meetings, write comments and to stay involved. Completing this survey will help us have a better understanding of the process on your Forest, and we are here to help, but your involvement will be crucial to ensuring continued responsible access for OHVs on your National Forest.

Let your friends know about this by clicking here.

Sign up for Americans For Responsible Recreational Access HERE

OHV Riding Trails in SC

A new OHV trail in South Carolina could be coming in the future! It could be any where between 45-70 miles long. I went to the meeting at the Chesterfield County Courthouse today (March 17th) which was intended to test the interest in the OHV trail. I estimate their were 30+ people in attendance. Chesterfield county together with the US forestry Service have come together for the first time to try and make this OHV trail reality. They are applying for a grant by this weekend and should get an answer sometime this summer (June-July). The other factor that could hinder this project is a woodpecker that is protected by an endangered species act that inhabits the area. The grant seems to be a pretty sure bet. The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service has to study and approve the site for the OHV Trail. This could be a problem because of the Red Cockaded Woodpecker.There are trails where this bird lives so it is possible, we just need to figure out a way for the two things to exist together. OHV riding will be a boost to the local economy as well as provide a good family recreational activity. SCORE , an organization promoting OHV use and rights in S.C, is working with the different levels of government on this project. I encourage any riders in SC or elsewhere to contact the local officials and SCORE to show your support! The proposed site for the trail is The Carolina Sandhills Refuge in Chesterfield County, S.C. If anyone has any ideas or wants to help with the project contact one of the sources I have listed or I will point you in the right direction if you have a question.

LinkBackLink- blog.

Update: Noise Ordinance Law

I posted earlier about a noise ordinance issue and a motocross track. I researched laws and spoke to a few people about this problem. I have owned two motocross tracks personally, and have never had a problem with neighbors and noise. My last track in Cheraw, SC was actually in a developed neighborhood. The picture to the left is of me on track. The kids and their parents would actually come across the street and watch us ride, never complain. I ask anyone who may read this post if you ever have a problem with motorcycles, by that I mean off-road not Harley's, to please talk with the riders before making a huge fuss with the local government. In most cases riders will probably try and accommodate you in some way: if its dusty, put in an irrigation system; if it is too loud, put up a fence, or make sure the bikes meet the state dB level. The final verdict, for now, on DirtDreamsmx is opening again soon. The counties noise ordinance law is basically unenforceable. "Once i put my silt fences into place, and get a state business license i am good to go. then i will be bulletproof legally...." quote from track forum. The track hours are going to be adjusted some and he is going to install a fence to cut down on noise. I don't know this for sure, but I bet if the neighbor had of asked for something to be done to cut down the noise he may have willingly put up a fence in the first place. Don't let anyone take your right to ride away, don't let legal threats scare you, if threatened with a ticket take it because then you have the right to contest it in court.
My "thumbs up!" Maybe now I can actually get a chance to ride this track I have talked about much.

Noise Ordinance Law

If I could be doing anything 99 percent of the time I would want to be riding my motorcycle. I started racing motocross when I was eleven years old and have been addicted to motocross, enduro, and any other form of riding that involves me on a bike since. The sport is not an easy one to be involved in because its expensive, there is a lack of riding areas, and on top of that many people view the sport and its participants as second class. Many people see the sport only as loud and dangerous. Motocross is one of the most physical, mental, and self defining sports I have ever been involved in. I have been looking for a track to ride around the Clemson, SC area for a year now and finally found one last weekend. I arrived to be told that the police had just shut the track down because of a noise ordinance. This track is not in a city limit and the closest house to it couldn't see you peeing in the front yard. The sport requires that there be tracks or designated places to ride, just like a football team requires a stadium. People will donate money to football teams to build bigger, louder stadiums, and only complain when the home team loses. The law that governs noise in Oconee County does not even have a dB limit so therefore your blow dryer or lawn mower are in violation as I understand it. I do not think it is fair that the sport of motocross is picked on. I have a ktm 450 exc and it is street legal and tagged in the state of South Carolina. My motorcycle meets every states requirements, including California. If I understand this right this means on a state road I can ride back and fourth all day long and I am not breaking any law, but if I ride on private property with permission I am in violation of a noise ordinance. I do not know everything about this counties laws or the owner of the track, but if anyone has any advice about Oconee county sc noise ordinance laws and this situation please let me know. I have been told I can't ride public land because of environmental issues, when horses, bicycles, and hunters can use the land "with out impact." I have been forced to drive my truck two or more hours to a good riding area for the last year. I think it is time for an ORV system that works for both the rider and all others.