[RhinofromWA]

Hey guys just thought I would put this out there...........

4x4, ATV, dirt bikes, etc fighting for the right to recreate for everyone.

Story from The Olympian
http://www.theolympian.com/home/news/20050326/southsound/113203.shtml

Email I received via my club about organizing the ORV voter base:

From: "Dave Hiatt" <dhiatt@hpgmc.com>
To: <stumpjumpers@comcast.net>
Cc: <dhiatt@hpgmc.com>
Subject: ORV Rally Next Step - Operation CLOUT
Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2005 23:16:39 +0000

The ORV Rally yesterday was a huge success thanks to you! Those of you that were there obviously got your riding friends to attend. Those of you that could not attend obviously got others to attend for you. The Seattle TV News stations are reporting that the ORV users “gridlocked Olympia.”
One of the most amazing aspects was the speech by Senator Sheldon where he apologized to all the ORV users for ever putting the language in SB5089 which would have made it illegal to operate one’s own ORV within 600 feet of your own property line! He assured all of us that no anti-ORV legislation will become law this session.

Many of the speakers at yesterday’s Rally implored us to build on the activist base we have established with the Rally and to channel that energy into specific actions with the legislature, now and in the future. I have volunteered to work with the sign-up lists, the contact information we obtained via the active-offroader@lycos.com email, and every ORV contact from all the organizations involved in yesterday’s Rally to compile one database of the ORV user’s that have demonstrated a willingness to do something. There really are a lot of us!

I intend to work on the creation and maintenance of a database containing active ORV users by their respective representative(s) and senator. That way we will be able notify the specific constituents of the involved representatives, in both the House and the Senate, of our ORV related desires and concerns directly through their own personal constituents as we continue to watch the legislative actions in Olympia on a daily basis.

Senator Sheldon’s speech yesterday, making a direct and sincere apology to the entire off road community, was probably the most astounding thing I have ever seen happen in Olympia. It happened because his ORV user constituents spent the time to educate him! We all owe John Eaton, his friends and customers for this one!

I know that many of us do not have the time to review everything that is happening in Olympia every day the Legislature is in session. However, some ORV users and I already watch this every day as closely as we can by subscribing to the WA Legislative Responder Lists that show almost all the daily activity.

Just think how effective it would be to have a database of active ORV users indexed by Representative and Senator that could quickly be contacted via email or telephone, be informed of exactly what is happening, who is doing it and be given the suggested information for provision to their personal elected representative. We will hold real power in Olympia if we can build and maintain this type of network!

Email calls to action for people on this network will be limited to legislative ORV issues. Separate sub-categories for other common interests will be established for other non-ORV related issues as they come up which would include only those who desire to also be involved in those issues.

I have started work on this project but need your help to make it happen. I also know that many of us, me included, are reluctant to provide personal information to others via the internet. However, even I am willing to provide my email address – dhiatt@hpgmc.com, name – Dave Hiatt, and home (voting) zip code – 98443, to just about anyone.

Your preferred email address, name and home (voting) zip code are all we need to make this Constituent Legislative Online User Target (CLOUT) system work! We need CLOUT in Olympia!

Please take one easy step to help us do this.

Just reply to this email and type in your name and home (voting) zip code as text in your response.

Those of us working on this will then work to get this system up and running.

Thank you,

Dave Hiatt – NMA Volunteer, TMC member, Blue Ribbon Coalition life member, NOC steering committee member and most importantly an active off road user who is sick and tired of us getting our butts kicked by those who want to destroy our sport!

Tacoma, WA

 

[BuddhaRoadkill]

Too bad there isn't a feasible way to just divide the forest into thirds. One third for everybody, one third for non-motorized, and one third for feet. That would rock ... but, as the population explodes - so do our restrictions. I'm always torn on these issues. Like the other thread about a MTB park in Seattle - we have a group trying to get recognized for their numbers [and to increase their numbers], when the real bottom line issue IS the numbers. The environment can only handle so much. Roll back a decade or two and access wasn't nearly the issue it is today. It's this toss up between wanting to share what you love, and keeping it a secret so it doesn't come to this [at least not as quickly]. Almost like the best thing for a sport is to kill it.
But, barring a plague or some such great population reduction, all sports will grow and so "managed parks" [however antithetical] seem the best option. So I get both and when I see such enthusiasm. Kuddo's to your boys fro stepping up Rhino.




"We need to drive in to experience the solitude of the backcountry," Briggs said to cheers that echoed off the state Supreme Court building.
I don't want to derail or bag on ORV ... but this line cracked me up.

 

[PsychO!1]

Too bad there isn't a feasible way to just divide the forest into thirds. One third for everybody, one third for non-motorized, and one third for feet. That would rock ...

I believe that's how Capitol Forest is.....maybe not quite to those proportions, but close.

You have the 'Moto' trails, which have no restrictions. The 'horse' trails, which restrict only motorized vehicles. And the 'hiker' trails, which restrict all but foot traffic. I think it's a good layout, seems to work and keep everybody happy.

 

[oly]

I believe that's how Capitol Forest is.....maybe not quite to those proportions, but close.

You have the 'Moto' trails, which have no restrictions. The 'horse' trails, which restrict only motorized vehicles. And the 'hiker' trails, which restrict all but foot traffic. I think it's a good layout, seems to work and keep everybody happy.

well, moto trail = no horses, and horse trail = no moto. Bikes are free on either, but not on foot trails. hiker trails are hiker trails... but theres only a very small number of trails that are really foot only.

 

[thesacrifice]

I believe that's how Capitol Forest is.....maybe not quite to those proportions, but close.

You have the 'Moto' trails, which have no restrictions. The 'horse' trails, which restrict only motorized vehicles. And the 'hiker' trails, which restrict all but foot traffic. I think it's a good layout, seems to work and keep everybody happy.

meh, In Capitol Forest you're either dodging Horse **** or Ruts from ORV's, although the ruts are damn fun with 7" upfront now

 

[RhinofromWA]

It is amazing how much ORV $$$ goes to building and maintaining non-ORV accessible trails.

NOVA funds (a small % of the gas tax) Non-highway Offroad Vehicle Activities program used to build and maintain off highway recreation (for everyone) and yet the Jeepers, ATV, dirtbikes, horseman get the shaft. (I know cry me a river )