This sounds all very unconstutional!I mean PUBLIC land is just that public land payed for by you an me w our hard earned taxes.I know the same aholes that run the peoples republic of Kalifornia have the same mindset in NJ.West virgina has the right attitude create riding and revenue.Unlike NJ so much for forward thinking.sigghhh.Then again look at communist Russia an China,its gonna happen here,or ya lock up caged animals for long enough an watch out.

 

buckaroo 50, Chicklips01, Tass, Muddy4life, I understand where you all are coming from but living in a large city ( Columbus Oh ) and being to busy to ride as much as I want to, getting physically involved is difficult at least, but if there is a way I can help with this particular issue please let me know. Our National Forest for riding here is Wayne and from talking to some of my friends that ride down there the money that the state makes from registrations will probably keep the closing issue on the back burner for a while, plus the law authorities ( Game Wardens, Sheriffs etc. ) are pretty active in keeping the idiots ( can I say that on here ) in control. Also we are only about 4 to 6 hours from the Hatfield and McCoy Trail system in West Virginia and talk about a place that embraces ATV's, heck there are times you can even see the Govenor of West Virginia riding the system. So if the good riders can keep the bad riders under control maybe the old saying " Money talks and BS walks " will come into play because ATVers can spend alot of money for a good time.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: DietMtDew

buckaroo 50, Chicklips01, Tass, Muddy4life, I understand where you all are coming from but living in a large city ( Columbus Oh ) and being to busy to ride as much as I want to, getting physically involved is difficult at least, but if there is a way I can help with this particular issue please let me know. Our National Forest for riding here is Wayne and from talking to some of my friends that ride down there the money that the state makes from registrations will probably keep the closing issue on the back burner for a while, plus the law authorities ( Game Wardens, Sheriffs etc. ) are pretty active in keeping the idiots ( can I say that on here ) in control. Also we are only about 4 to 6 hours from the Hatfield and McCoy Trail system in West Virginia and talk about a place that embraces ATV's, heck there are times you can even see the Govenor of West Virginia riding the system. So if the good riders can keep the bad riders under control maybe the old saying " Money talks and BS walks " will come into play because ATVers can spend alot of money for a good time.</end quote></div>

I am sorry you can't se what is going to happen. Evnviromentalists want the forests closed down to all motor vehicles. Thats going to happen. Go and read the laws that have been passed. Or just keep on sitting there beleaving it's all OK. I wish it was.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Chickenlips01





I am sorry you can't se what is going to happen. Evnviromentalists want the forests closed down to all motor vehicles. Thats going to happen. Go and read the laws that have been passed. Or just keep on sitting there beleaving it's all OK. I wish it was.</end quote></div>

And just what are you doing about it? Alot of people are joining clubs and contacting forrest services and government officals to get this stuff stopped.Mabe you should focus some of this energy on trying to help out. If you are I am sorry I didnt know.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: ozarkhunter

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Chickenlips01











I am sorry you can't se what is going to happen. Evnviromentalists want the forests closed down to all motor vehicles. Thats going to happen. Go and read the laws that have been passed. Or just keep on sitting there beleaving it's all OK. I wish it was.</end quote></div>



And just what are you doing about it? Alot of people are joining clubs and contacting forrest services and government officals to get this stuff stopped.Mabe you should focus some of this energy on trying to help out. If you are I am sorry I didnt know.</end quote></div>

That is what I am doing. I did join the club here in Central Oregon. I do write my letters and send my emails. I would love to get some people togther and jam some fax machines. YOU????

 

There are activities taking place on the Wallowa-Whitman in LaGrande, Enterprise, and Baker City. The USFS offered 2 public meetings in each city. They were well attended and the forest service was given notice the shutdown of 5000 miles of road was not acceptable. 2 weeks ago several of us put together a public meeting, we rented the Armory and 300 folks showed up to receive information on the road closures from 7 different individuals. Kerry White from Montanna is involved in the fight in that state and provided many insights for us. We will have several more of these meetings. We are contacting every Senator and Representative we can, we are posting letters in the local papers, we are spreading the word everywhere and every way we can that this is closure to ALL MOTORIZED USE. The group in Enterprise, Oregon has taken the Forest Supervisor, Steve Ellis on a day long ATV trip. In LaGrande in two weeks we have a 6 hour trip planned for him. I have met with the LaGrande/Union County Chamber of Commerce and they have sent a very strong letter of opposition to the USFS. I meet with the Union County Commissioners in 2 weeks to help put together a plan to stop the Feds. Everyone that reads this can help by sending input to the USFS "team" in charge of the Forest Service planning. YOU CAN HELP US IF YOU WILL.
Please send comments opposing the ML1, ML2 road closures to: wwnf_travel_mgt_plan@fs.fed.us
That e-mail address can be used to request a copy of their proposal and the 24 maps they created of the forest road closures. Anyone in the nation can provide input to this plan.....The environmentalists are already doing so in large numbers. They see the opportunity to basically create a 2.4 million acre wilderness in Eastern Oregon. Want to ride? Want to help keep the forest open to all? This closure is for all motorized use. Not just ATV...........Tass

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: MUDDY4LIFE

We will always have places to ride in Michigan as long as we fight the greenies and their sister tree huggers. WE MUST ALSO POLICE OUR OWN AND MAKE SURE THEY DO THE RIGHT THINGS WHEN RIDING.If you sit around and WATCH your area's get closed down, your part of the PROBLEM. Get out and get INVOLVED--END OF QUOTE*





Now what part of my original post dont you understand?</end quote></div>

I do not quite understand your opening sentence............The Ottowa National forest just shut the riders in Michigan out of 95% of that forest. The USFS used the same process in Michigan as they are now Using in NE Oregon. It would seem that the right to ride has already been dealt a terrible blow in your state.....Tass

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Tass
I do not quite understand your opening sentence............The Ottowa National forest just shut the riders in Michigan out of 95% of that forest. The USFS used the same process in Michigan as they are now Using in NE Oregon. It would seem that the right to ride has already been dealt a terrible blow in your state.....Tass</end quote></div>

It has.
We couldn't even get orv leadership locally or nationally to hold community sponsored workshops until often well after these decisions were already basically being made. Worse than that; I contacted some of these same leaders to point out the fact that these workshops weren't even being announced on the DNR website (our only official source for Michigan orv info) and was treated very rudely for bothering to do so. We even tried to point out the fact that the registration date for these events were listed as closing far earlier than should be...and got treated rudely yet again for our trouble.

Despite orv leadership's attempt to paint it as such; this whole travel management fiasco that is now leading to massive land closures did NOT just appear out of 'nowhere'. We decided that it was "O.K" for decades to remain divided in this community and simply allowed each individual non-profit to employ individuals whose sole job it was to keep it divided that way....period. (as the housecleaning required for us to finally get us all under one roof and professionally led would have thrown a whole bunch of them out on the streets where many of them frankly belong).

But hey, at least the suburban Detroit riders were able to waste our resources during this USFS process by arguing a big city slicker riding area closer to their homes; a tripling of the training subsidies going directly to their non-profits and the completion of a wholesale shepherding of every single important orv issue that we have had during that recent critical time period behind RUDELY closed doors.

Our leaders that many of you send money into would like to convince both current or potential member that all of this just 'happened'; that NOW we need them more than ever and that yet even more money poured into these same ratholes is indeed our only salvation.

I just don't believe in throwing good money after bad and not think but know that is time for a change in this 'divided is better' thought process.(these leaders have been covering each other's ***** for years now and it has to stop; or we'll just see more of the same, I'm afraid).

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Tass
Want to ride? Want to help keep the forest open to all? This closure is for all motorized use. Not just ATV...........Tass</end quote></div>


What is the USFS asking in terms of increased monies to manage these areas; what do we think it will cost over time and are continually increasing fees (most likely needed) designed to effectively cover any/all of these concerns part of the process in our (now) desperate presentations?

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: buckaroo50

Here is what I do and I don't care what anyone thinks. If I see an irresponsible rider, riding without a baffel or off a designated trail or tearing up property needlessly, or an under aged child on a trail unsupervised by a guardian, I write down there registration and send it to the Warden Service.

Is it squealing - damn straight it is. And I don't give a rats-*** what people think of that. These irrespnsibles have ruined my sport thus far and I am fighting back and telling them that they are not going to continue to ruin it. And if I can get their sorry butts off the trails then I will. I don't go looking for it but if I run across it I just don't say to myself "It is none of my business what they do", because it is my business. They are ruining my sport and I will ruin their day if I can.

And when the Game Warden visits their house and gives them a written warning, a ticket or impounds their machine or has a little talk with a guardian - guess what - makes them stop and think next time as to who is watching. And it is not just a 'hide and go seek' game with the authorities.

You irrisponsibles have ruined it for me and now it is my turn to take a 'wack' at you. And I am not going to sit idle and allow you to ruin it any more than you already have. So if you can't ride responsible and safely then don't let me see it, because I will turn your sorry butt in. Because I am not going to cry about it later, and complain that government has issued more mandates and taken my sport away.</end quote></div>

Its too little too late, by doing this, you are further embedding their restrictions, you are actually nailing your own coffin, you are bringing ORV's to the forefront in a negative way, its like a drug dealer turning in another drug dealer, although, I back your cause first and foremost, but to a degree. This is 2007, whats going on has been going on forever, since I can remember, I have rode since I was six, I am 31. I ride illegally all the time, northern New Jersey has NO PLACE TO RIDE, but every body on my block and so on owns an ORV. If I or we from where I am from get caught the penalties are serious. My suggestion to you is fine pick your apples and handle them yourself, be a roll model, not a snitch, teach right from wrong, you are mostly talking about young kids that use and abuse private land. Dont shake the whole tree, this you speak of should have been done back in the late 80's, that time is over.


As for them to stop people from ORV'in, in any state, it will never happen, the import revenue is TOO HIGH, and as for the fine Americans who ride, then are told not to, well that just makes us want to do it even more, Tell them to post these laws, and I like thousands of others will break them, showing them I DO NOT BEND OVER, I am part of clubs and lobbies to gain legal ground to ride on, but that simply isn't working. I has been over ten years since I have been "involved" where were you people then?