Anyone following this thread interested in a response to any of the items duplicated above by Stears, I mean anyone besides Stears?
Serious question, if anyone is, please either quote or rephrase what you would like to see a response to.
I believe most of the above was just a cut and paste from earlier, already answered, posts; if you don't see it that way please speak up.

 

Jeramey,
After I read the entire last post from BB,I was thinking EXACTLY the same thing as you.

Im with you a 100%.

 

Gotta disagree with you on your statement above. It was just about 1 year ago to the day, on the TT site, that the same discussions were being made. And TT is a public site also.

 

We fight, we all lose. There is certainly animosity between 2 and 4 wheeled patrons, however with the growth of the atv market over the last few years I have seen it decline drastically. Most pronounced is the secrecy surrounding it, 4 wheelers who dont like 2 wheelers and vice versa rarely publically admit their positions except to close friends and others they feel will join them in thier opinion. In public they claim to be a friend to both, which is the vast majority of Michigan riders will say these days.

I personally have not inherent dislike for either, I grew up on bikes and now spend my time on atvs. I have loved the time spent on both and if finances permitted I'd have a bike next to my atv. However, I have observed a higher number, as a percentage of the total, of reckless riders on 2 wheels than four. My prime example is at Bull Gap hill, where it's not uncommon to see a handful of 2 wheeled riders blasting down the hill and jumping the start lines and entrance points, although there certainly is the occasional 4 wheeled rider doing the same. When this happens, most 2 and 4 wheeled riders alike express their discontent regardless of the type of machine causing the havoc.

As for legislation I have mixed feelings. I have not had much time in my life to devote to my sport, and even less availible to devote to keeping it alive and prosperous. Because of this most here will simply ignore my comments because I'm not worthy of their attention. It's obvious to me though that the current methods and plans of action are not working, whether it be from poor design or just a lack of sufficient numbers. Muddy touched on an important point, that a united orv and even ohv lobby would be a force to be reckoned with. While I see successes, I also see pronounced shortcomings. Gladwin has been "going to open tomorrow" for just over a year now. Bull Gap hill sits in disrepair, while it's routes are chopped, closed and cut down. Old riding areas like the Turtle ponds in Midland county remain closed to even equestrian purposes. We're losing what we have, and what we have left is under constant attack.

People are selfish by nature, while you have many that arent, the vast majority dont get off their butt unless they feel it's going to affect their common personal activities on a regular basis. There is a reason why political candidates try to scare the public, appealing to thier generosity doesnt work on a large scale. Part of the reason turnout for these types of political actions has been low in number is the fact that the general public is not exposed to it. If someone wants to get involved, it takes a lot of time and effort. This brings me to another revelation, the public is lazy. Unless you put something in their lap, chances are they arent going to do much about it and even then it's far from a sure thing.

I appreciate and applaud those working for the future of recreational motorsports in the state of Michigan, and I also thank those who take the time to examine and question them. While I cant decidedly say that any of the opinions expressed so far in this thread are completely in line with mine, I am intrigued by almost all of it. Dialogue is important and I feel that threads like this one, while inflammitory, are a step in the right direction. The more communication we have, the better off I feel we'll all be.

 

maddog56,
I have to disagree with your feelings that your comments may be ignored or that you may not be worthy of attention. Everything you stated was you opinion and you are entitled to that. I for one agree with a lot of what you said and look forward to reading more of your posts in the near future. Please come back with more because I think you have much more you would like to add and believe me, Lots will listen. That is what this is all about.....

 

Maddog, Gladwin was heavily discussed at the last ORV Board meeting and the minutes will reflect that. There is action being taken within the Department to resolve things. We may or may not like them, but the Department will be making some decisions and presumably, annoucements. Have no clue when.

 

After cleaning up all of my initial responses (above) to the first half of the first thread thread in this topic; I finally realized two things.
The first being that I haven't even got half-way through responding to Busy Rider's original claims in his first post ...and the second being that just about all of my responses don't formally demand answers to any one particular question in the first place.
Like Chairman Dick's insistence that he(they) will "never reveal" who even so much as speaks for us on Michigan orv issues....my responses have taken on more of a "this is what actually happened/now kindly be man enough to own up to it" tone that I should have realized these characters would simply ignore (witness my signature below and how that subject has become almost like 'kryptonite').
Since I know of no other way to respond and believe that simply giving any original poster the opportunity to know what I am referring to by quoting him directly...here is my view on the 2nd half of Chairman Dick's original 'state-of-the-Michigan-orv-union' address:

Originally posted by: BusyRider (The Chairman of our Michigan Orv Advisory Board speaking to the new members of 'his' board that were just recently installed):

"...Three members are ORV orientated, other four, may not have ever rode an ORV. Some good people on there at the moment, have had one meeting together, not sure how they will jell in the future...."

About all I can say about the "good people" on this board at the moment is that one guy gets a pass as being the Sherrif of Antrim County(in my opinion, these guys have always been there to help; yet have received little of the dollars needed to do their job <U>effectively</U>)..and the other 6 have some kind of wierd aversion to simply responding to even the simplest of questions when asked.
As far as how they will "gell"...you have to realize that I've been <U>attending</U> these board meeting for many years now and have been <U>waiting</U> for any one of them (original members) to jump up with anything 'profound' to say about the very system and/or people that they represent!
Enter the "I'm Dick and you're not" show put on at every gathering...and you've got to understand that this is all somewhat like Dick's statement in my signature below....we've already made the decisions we're forcing you peons to swallow and alter your prepared statements regarding...and by gosh, we don't even have to formally address any one of them; when you're finished having your say!

And If you think the DNR is "untouchable"...see Blackballed's signature on Atv Connection!

Ran out of time....

 

He made it.

 

Dick,
If the ORV Advisory Board is suppose to represent the riders of Michigan,than exactly WHY is it that the DNR pick/choose WHO sits on this board?Should'nt ''WE'' the paying customers who ride and support the trails in this State have this priviledge to vote on WHO represents us?

Im a little ''baffled'' at some of those that were chosen to the ORV advisory board by the DNR and what their ''qualifications'' actually were,if any?

I dont agree with alot of what BB says,but I'll give the guy credit when I think credit is due.

I'll have to check back a little later.My son just completed 17 weeks at the Police Academy and graduates this morning at 10:30am.

Yep,im a proud father!

 

Congradulations to your son[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] and you should be[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

rescue