SHOW ME THE SIGN – SxS SAFETY

FS Trail Marker with Vehicle Types Allowed - Mendocino NF

SHOW ME THE SIGN – SxS SAFETY

  

In August 2022, the CA State Parks OHMVR Division – in partnership with Tread Lightly! and the CA Outdoor Recreation Foundation -  hosted a safety summit at their McClellan Training Center in Sacramento.  For many it was their first in-person major conference in 2.5 years due to COVID restrictions.  It was attended by various key state and federal agency representatives, powersports industry leads, major OHV organizations, ROV/UTV trainers, motorized media outlets, law enforcement, competition event organizers, and educational non-profits.

FS Route Marker with Vehicle Types Allowed - Mendocino NF

 

The primary focus was on improving/updating safety efforts to address the rapid growth of ROV/UTV/SxS use on public lands.  The summit was successful since it planted the “safety standard” in the ground to mark this effort and to recognize the commitment by those in attendance to improve safety and reduce impacts to natural resources and other user groups.

August 2022 CA State Parks Safety Conference

 

What makes this SxS-related safety program important is that many owners of these vehicles have very little if any experience in motorized backcountry recreation on public lands.  Often they are not aware of the various land management agencies or their efforts to manage travel on legal routes.

End of Combined-Use County OHV Connector Route

 

Having just got back from doing a trail management survey at the Stonyford OHV Area on the Mendocino National Forest, I remain convinced one of the most important travel management tools is a quality trail signing program.

 

In my opinion, the most effective signing program uses a combination of positive and negative reinforcement strategies to inform the rider/driver on what routes are open or closed for their specific vehicle type.

OHV "50-inch" Trail for Motorcycles and ATVs - No SxSs Allowed

 

As this new safety initiative continues to build capacity to address SxS-related management needs, it is important for the greater OHV community to increase efforts to share our responsible use message and one good source comes from our friends at Tread Lightly!  and their RESPECTED ACCESS campaign.

 

https://treadlightly.org/campaigns/respected-access/

 

 Thanks for your interest in managed OHV recreation!

 

 

 

"Encouraged" ROV Use on Public Lands Requires Partnership

Colusa County Road Combined-Use Designation

(County Road Provides OHV/ROV Access to Federal Route Network)

As the popularity of Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle (ROV) -- which is sometimes called a Side x Side (SxS) or Utility Trail Vehicle (UTV) -- recreation continues to grow in the country, it creates a need for land managers to ensure (on units that have potential ROV opportunities) their OHV program includes ROV-related travel management information and legal access to designated roads and trails where said use is appropriate.

In addition, travel management has become highly complex and even political since many federal OHV route networks depend on city, county, or state roads (both paved and natural surface) for campground/staging area access or connectivity.

Plumas County Non-Highway Designation for OHV/ROVs

(County Dirt Roads Provide Connectivity between Federal Route Network)

Some states have laws that classify ROVs via a legal description which then dictates which routes are open based on vehicle type.  Helmet law requirements for ROV use can also differ from state to state.

ROV/ATV Helmet Law Sign

(Mendocino National Forest in California)

QWR understands that public land agencies often don’t have the fiscal or human resources to construct new ROV specific trail opportunities.

However in the meantime, OHV program managers can review their route network and camping opportunities to see where road/trail reclassifications or designations can be made to create legal ROV opportunities.

New ROV Access Route from Campground

(Hull Creek Campground, Stanislaus National Forest)

ROV users also have a role to play in helping enhance the functionality of the existing route network.  They can help identify where a road/trail segment needs to be reclassified or redesignated for ROV use (i.e. level 3 road to level 2 road or road to primitive road, etc.) ROVers can also suggest where appropriate loop or destination opportunities might exist.   Those opportunities could be part of an “encouraged” ROV route network.

Discovery Point Along OHV/ROV Tour Route

(BLM's Chappie Shasta OHV Area)

Local ROVers have an important role in helping create political support in areas where county or state roads provide connectivity between federal recreation facilities such as trails and campgrounds.

QWR commends the land managers and local ROV groups who have created partnerships to designate fun and exciting opportunities.

Backcountry ROV Adventure

(BLM's Carson City Field Office - Pine Nut Mountains, NV)

QWR believes that current and future high quality ROV recreation on public lands will rely on a substantive working relationship/partnership between the public and private sectors.

SxS Training/Education Added to Trail Program

Chief Instructor Andrea Beach with DriverCoach Cadet

QWR wants to thank the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA), Chief Instructor – Andrea Beach, and American Honda for their respective roles in last week’s ROHVA DriverCoach Preparation Workshop.  The training was held over 4 days at Honda’s Rider Education Center located in Colton, CA.

Andrea Beach (C) with DriverCoach Graduates

According to the ROHVA website, the association was formed to promote the safe and responsible use of recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs) manufactured or distributed in North America. ROHVA is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to develop a standard for the equipment, configuration and performance requirements of ROVs. Based in Irvine, Calif., the not-for-profit trade association is sponsored by Arctic Cat, BRP, Honda, John Deere, Kawasaki, Polaris, Textron, and Yamaha.

Open Trail Experience - Driving on Rocky Terrain

Andrea Beach did a great job helping our class of six ROV DriverCoach candidates learn about  teaching the various closed range exercises and the open trail experience.  Her many years in off-road racing, driver/rider training, and general OHV recreation added a great deal of depth and richness to the course work.

QWR also appreciates that American Honda hosted the event at their popular training center and for loaning our class the use of three Pioneer 500 SxSs.

Open Trail Experience - Driving Near Trees

Don Amador, President of Quiet Warrior Racing/Consulting, states, “I feel the training received from Andrea at the Honda facility will enhance my ongoing efforts to champion responsible use of OHVs on public lands. SxS use is an important and growing recreational activity.  I think it is critical for trail-based recreation professionals to aid in the education of both the public and private sector communities.”

“I look forward to doing my part in helping train agency staff and other users in the safe operation of SxS.  Over the next few weeks, I will be busy working to site a number of strategically placed ROHVA-approved ranges,” Amador concludes.

LINK TO ROHVA (Go ahead and take the free online ROHVA E-Course)

http://www.rohva.org/

*If you are interested in having Don teach a ROHVA BasicDriver Course, contact him at: damador@quietwarriorracing.com