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.
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.
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.
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.
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/
