BREAKING NEWS - Governor Newsom Appoints New Deputy Director to the CA OHV Program

New Deputy Director of CA OHMVR Program, Sarah Miggins, at 2019 OHV 

Commission Tour of the Famous Rubicon Trail

Governor Newsom Appoints New Deputy Directory of the OHV Program

QWR would like to be among the first to congratulate Sarah Miggins on her appointment today by Governor Gavin Newsom to be the new deputy director of the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division at the Department of Parks and Recreation.

LINK TO GOVERNOR NEWSOM’S NEWS RELEASE ON MIGGINS APPOINTMENT

https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/07/28/governor-newsom-announces-appointments-7-28-20/

Don Amador, former chairman of the CA OHV Commission and spokesman for sustainable OHV recreation, states, “I have known and worked with Sarah for a number of years during her tenure on the CA OHV Commission.  Her strong commitment to sustainable recreation management, volunteer programs, and conservation efforts will serve the OHMVR Division well as it seeks to provide continued public access to high-quality and environmentally responsible motorized recreation or motorized access to non-motorized opportunities.”

“I also think her significant experience in managing conservation-oriented non-profit volunteer organizations will add an important element to the CA OHV program.  In addition, I believe her appointment will help bring stability, transparency, and accountability to the OHMVR Division and Program,” Amador continues.

“QWR thanks the Governor’s office for this critical appointment and looks forward to working with deputy director Miggins in her new role as the lead for the OHMVR Division,” Amador concludes.

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OHV SALES SPIKE HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR DIRT BIKE TRAINING

New Rider Taking MSF Dirt Bike School Class

OHV Workshop on the Tahoe NF

It’s no secret that families are spending more time recreating on public lands where they can escape for a few days from the COVID-19 chaos.  Data from the Motorcycle Industry Council supports that observation by showing off-highway motorcycle sales shot up 18.9 percent in the first quarter of the year.  Those sales figures and related training information are contained in the NOHVCC news release below.

LINK TO DIRT BIKE SALES FIGURES AND SAFETY TRAINING INFORMATION

https://www.nohvcc.org/as-dirt-bike-sales-jump-motorcycle-safety-foundation-offers-tips-resources/

Land agencies are also noticing a spike in the demand by the public for access to high quality outdoor trail-based recreation and camping both at developed and dispersed sites.

Rider in Youth Class Competition Event Learns about OHV Policies

Shasta Dam GP Tech Station at BLM's Chappie-Shasta OHV Area

QWR believes safety training for youth and new riders is critically important and recommends they should take training classes offered by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation through its DirtBike School program.

Rider on Youth Model Dirt Bike at Competition Event

Shasta Dam GP at BLM's Chappie Shasta OHV Area

Don Amador, QWR president and CA NOHVCC partner, states, “I believe that safety training for beginning riders of all ages is important.  We always try and incorporate OHV safety training at our annual interagency workshops so that new dirt-bikers can learn proper riding techniques.”

“It appears that COVID-19 has inspired outdoor enthusiasts to purchase dirt-bikes and other OHVs as part of their family strategy to recreate close to home at local or regional recreation sites. I think this new local-based recreation paradigm will be with us for the foreseeable future so it is important for OHV to retain and/or increase its capacity to train beginning riders,” Amador concludes.

LINK TO MSF DIRT BIKE TRAINING BROCHURE

 https://dirtbikeschool.org/Downloads/Parents_Youngsters_OHV.pdf

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