OP-ED for MLK DAY - MY DREAM COMING TRUE

                                                        Don Amador is The Quiet Warrior

OP-ED

By Don Amador

Contact: damador@cwo.com

Phone: 925-783-1834

1/15/23

 

MY DREAM COMING TRUE

 

In 2001, I wrote an op-ed entitled; I Have a [Trail] Dream.   My dream back then was that someday all trail users would respect each other's personal choice of recreational activity and work in a collaborative manner on important trail stewardship projects, travel planning, and forest health efforts.

 Shortly after that missive was written, a number of stakeholder meetings were convened by the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division in an effort to bring diverse outdoor recreation interests together.  The theme for those meetings was based on the new concept of collaboration. 

 OHMVR Division’s collaborative process was a strategy to bring OHV groups, conservation organizations, and the non-motorized trail community together to discuss how they can work together to provide high-quality outdoor recreation opportunities for the public while protecting cultural and natural resources.

 Embracing that collaborative spirit, OHV worked with conservation groups and Congressman Mike Thompson in 2005 on a final version of the legislation that became the North Coast Wilderness Bill (HR233).  After a lot of hard work by both sides, the bill recognized OHV and mountain-bike use as legitimate recreational activities on federal lands and also codified OHV use in statute on designated routes.

 Collaboration between conservation groups and OHV continued in a process that led to the 2016 Dedication Ceremony of the Berryessa -Snow Mountain National Monument held at a popular BLM recreation site just a few miles east of Clearlake, California.

 The dedication event was unique because OHV recreation was featured as a key partner in development of the plan to enhance both conservation efforts and existing/ future non-motorized and motorized recreational opportunities within the Monument boundary. 

 Another stellar example of collaboration is being carried out by the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship in their Connected Communities Project where their vision is to partner with the Forest Service, local communities, and other motorized and non-motorized trail groups to connect 15 mountain communities via a 600-mile route.  

 As the country celebrates Martin Luther King Day this year, I believe the outdoor recreation and conservation groups should continue to participate in solution-oriented collaborative efforts where finding common ground is the goal so our public lands can be enjoyed by current and future generations.

 

# # #

 

Don Amador has been in the trail advocacy and recreation management profession for 30 years. Don is President of Quiet Warrior Racing/Consulting. Don served as a chairman and member on the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission from 1994-2000. He has won numerous awards including being a 2016 Inductee into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame and the 2018 Friend of the AMA Award. Don currently serves as the government affairs lead for AMA District 36 in Northern California. Don writes on recreation and conservation issues from his office near Cottonwood, CA.  

SHARE THE ROAD – Slow Down on Blind Corners!

Share the Road Sign

Shasta-Trinity National Forest

As the popularity of summer motorized recreation continues to grow on public lands in the USA, QWR wants to remind new owners of SxSs, ATVs, Dirt-Bikes, and Dual-Sport Motorcycles to be aware of oncoming traffic you may encounter when touring on backcountry Forest Service and BLM roads.

What is coming around that corner?

It is important for newcomers to OHV to be aware that two-way traffic occurs on federal dirt roads.  During the summer it is not uncommon for OHVers to encounter oncoming traffic when riding on native dirt or gravel roads.

Oncoming traffic and vehicles that you need to watch for include hunters in pickups or jeep-type vehicles, other OHVs, emergency vehicles such as Forest Service crew buggies or fire engines, logging trucks, or the general public just out enjoying scenic vistas.

QWR encourages OHV club leaders to discuss the topic of two-way traffic with their riding networks to help them understand an old driving rule that many rural OHVers embrace and that is: “SLOW DOWN when riding or driving your OHV on public land dirt roads.  When approaching a blind corner or bend in the road ALWAYS assume there is a vehicle coming towards you and reduce your speed accordingly.”

Drive safe and have a great summer!

Engaged Users and Agency Staff is Good "Sign" for eBike Recreation

eBike Decal from ROCKART

QWR continues its series of eBike articles based on efforts last month by the CA OHV Commission, staff, and electric vehicle manufacturers to present various vehicles and discuss the growing popularity of eBikes/motorcycles/UTVs and just where they fit into the land-use equation.

In addition, there have been a lot of trail-use related bicycle articles and discussions related to an ongoing campaign led by Ted Stroll and his Sustainable Bike Coalition to have Congress via H.R. 1349 end the blanket ban of bikes in Wilderness.

Multi-Use OHV/MTB (legal for eBike too) Single Track Trail - Eldorado NF

Meanwhile, QWR has been contacting various local and regional park agencies to ascertain their position and/or policy on allowing eBike (Type 1 and 2) use on paved paths and trails.

Although California and a number of other states and the Consumer Product Safety Commission have basically reclassified Type 1 and 2 eBikes as non-motorized vehicles, often local/regional/state agencies interpret those new definitions and make the final decision on where to allow eBike use on paths or trails.

Don Amador Taking non-eBike Ride on East Bay Regional Park Trail

(tracking speed on GPS)

Based on feedback from those agencies, QWR believes there are two important takeaways or action items for both users and the agencies.

One – It is vital for individuals and clubs interested in eBike access to contact their local agency and ask them to plan for enhanced access for eBike use on both pathways and appropriate trails.  Many agencies are in pre or early scoping periods where your input is highly valued.  Be assured, your input can show support for increased legal eBike recreation.  Your comments can help the decision-makers when they craft subsequent proposed actions and/or create management alternatives.

Two – It is also important for the agencies to identify legal eBike opportunities with a quality signing program.   QWR believes the quality of the signing (eBike in this case) program is directly proportional to the agency’s commitment to provide the public with a high quality recreation experience.

Just as there continues to be a healthy discussion on the merits or detractions of H.R. 1349, QWR believes there should be similar discussions on just where eBike (Type 1 and 2) use is appropriate on

public land mechanized trails that currently allow use of non-eBike MTBs.

QWR continues to believe it is important for both the OHV and traditional mountain bike communities to work with eBike enthusiasts, legislators, regulators, manufacturers, and other stakeholders to try and find common ground on joint trail use where appropriate.

Stay tuned for more updates.  Feedback is always welcome.  Either post feedback in the comment section or send them directly to:  damador@quietwarriorracing.com

Also, watch for an upcoming announcement about the launch of QWR’s e-vehicle module for 2018.