The following is an Honda's riders club web page article..... Check out the NY website in the article. Sure hope all the NY riders can take advantage of this and support the State's efforts.


<For 12 years, OHV riders in the State of New York fought to reestablish their registration-based trail fund that was abolished in 1990. Their efforts have finally netted support of the development and maintenance of trails for ATVs and off-road motorcycles.
On April 12, 2005, Governor George E. Pataki signed the 2005-2006 state budget into law. The budget includes a dedicated ATV trail development, enforcement, and stewardship fund. To get things rolling, the state has restored a portion of "lost" revenues by making a one-time appropriation of $850,000 to the Department of Environmental Conservation, the overseeing agency. And effective July 11, 2005, the ATV registration fee increased from $10 to $25 annually, with the $15 increase dedicated to the new ATV fund.
Still, much work remains to be done. Most implementation details were purposefully excluded, leaving many issues up in the air and contingent upon a different bill yet to be written and passed, and New York's OHV community is redoubling its effort to develop and preserve OHV riding areas for many years to come. To learn more about how to help, visit http://www.nysorva.org.
<B>Another kind of success</B>
Despite the roadblocks, innovative approaches have created new riding areas. TrailPass is a private trail network catering to ATV enthusiasts throughout New York and the surrounding region. TrailPass offers discounted memberships and family discounts to the members of nearly 100 riding clubs in New York and the bordering states. Hundreds of miles of riding trails, located primarily on private land, offer a variety of terrain for riders of all abilities. Some of the trailheads provide additional services such as camping, supplies, secure parking and wash-down areas.
One of the newest areas lies north of Camden in Oneida County. Tim Kelley, a founder of 46 Corners OHV Club and the owner of Honda dealership Kelleys Dutch Hill Sport Shop, explained. "With the challenge of riding on public lands in New York, we knew that a private riding area was the answer. We have 150 acres with scores of miles of trails on private property. The owner donated it for our use, and TrailPass provides the insurance. This effort to secure the site and maintain the trails is an example of our 180 members pulling together. We know we have something special and we're not taking it for granted. In fact, we have plans to expand."
Nestled in the heart of farm country, the family-friendly riding area caters to beginners and experienced riders alike. Groomed trails wind across gentle slopes, rolling fields and through the woods. A few mud holes attract more spirited riders. For more information, visit http://46corners.com or http://northeast.trailpass.com/trail_camden.php

 

It's a step, and a baby one at that, in the right direction. Personally, the state is just looking for an excuse to raise funds through atv reggies. Originally they wanted to raise our reg. to $50.00 w/ $10 or $15 going to a trail fund and the difference going to state coffers. Also in '86 they promised the same thing with the $10 fee but never developed any trail systems. Pataki also just announced he will not run for reelection, and the Governors job will likely end up back in Democrats hands soon. While I will watch for any positive developements, I'm not holding my breath up here in NY.

 

The interesting point you need to keep watching is if they apply for and use Federal funds in any of their projects. A little known fact is that 1) there are literally millions of federal funds available.. and 2) if Federal funding is used to build a trail system, by law, they cannot close that system for any reason unless the state pays the federal government back every red cent. Let's hope this leads to something good.

Now is the time for state residents to get involved with the processes, as this is when the most positive results will occur.

 

Gov Pataxes is a joke for ATV'ers. He is going to take millions of $$$ out of our pockets and throw a few pennies back our way, by way of the $850,000 appropriation whose mission is to "examine if there is a need for ATV trails". Yes there is and that didn't cost $850,000. The true mission of that money is to fill a handful of patronage positions. Just my opinion.

Trailpass is OK, but depending where you live in NYS, it's a long drive to ride some where

Lastly, the role of the DEC is only to come down on ATV'ers, and I had a DEC officer tell me that 1-2 months ago. He told me they are not interested in opening any areas, only citing ATV riders

 

Well, it takes concerned citizens to get involved in making a positive change. Instead of standing with the crowd bitching about it, why not take the offensive and get involved with the process?

 

NY raised registrations for snowmobiles and now there are more trails (due to agreements with private land owners). Maybe we will get just as lucky.

 

Don't count on it. There are too many enviromental extremists in New York State. Most of them have never even been in the Adirondacks, but love to dictate how we native northerners can use the land.

New York State is in a financial crisis, due in part to all the land the state has been purchasing to convert to "forever wild" to pacify the the enviromentalists. New York could never manage it's land in the past and they sure as heck aren't going to do it in the future. The DEC has said in public meetings that "There is very little room in the Adirondack Park for ATVs" (turns out that includes all state land in or out of the park).

Gov.Pataki and his cronies have made a mess out of New York financially and are looking for any way to come up with some cash, hence the increase in registration fees. As in the past, they are saying maybe we will start up a trail system. LIES AGAIN! I am totally disgusted with this state and it's politics. I work for a state agency and I see what goes on every day in regards to how the leaders of New York operate. I firmly believe that NY has the most inept and corrupt people in power of any other state. MONEY IS POWER and that's what the enviromental extremists use to buy the politicians.

Sorry to be so negative, but ATVs are beginning to be dirty word in this state (except as a money raiser thru mandatory registrations and insurance). [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/img]

 

Strongly urge someone to get involved with an organization like the blueribboncoalition and make contact with the State's attorney's office. It will probably come down to a lawsuit, but one that can be one. You see, if funds are collected and earmarked for a certain program.. In this case, they come out and state that funds will be used for trail building, they are obligated by law to spend those funds on trail building. Soemone needs to call their attention to that.... and hold their feet to the fire.
It would be interesting to see if any of the funding went to the land purchase program you mentioned. Wouldn't it be ironic if some federal judge ordered the state to build trails on "THEIR" turf because of it?

 

take a look at the thread that reports on a CA audit results of trail funds that highlights many misuses of funds. Looks like someone is keeping tabs, and now people are being asked to explain why. My guess is the illegally used funds are going to be demanded back along with forced progress on projects... in this case building of trails.

The system works.. we need to learn how to use it more.