Land Access Issues
Additional Resources

Promotion and Protection of Responsible Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation

WORK WITH CONGRESS AND FEDERAL LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCIES:

  • U.S. Forest Service OHV Route Designation Rule - On November 2, 2005 the U.S. Forest Service released its Off-Highway Vehicle Route Designation Final Rule, requiring each National Forest to designate routes and areas for OHV use. Once designated and mapped, OHV use will only be permitted on these routes. SVIA is very involved in trying to ensure successful implementation of the rule. We are also working to involve riders in the process, as their participation is critical. Since September 2006, SVIA has sponsored over 20 Route Designation workshops for OHV riders and U.S. Forest Service personnel aimed at helping Forest managers understand the needs of the OHV community, trail system development, and facilitating cooperation and involvement with the OHV community and to help OHV riders involved in the process in a constructive way that will result in high quality opportunities.
  • Established Americans for Responsible Recreational Access (ARRA), a broad-based coalition to protect access to public lands for recreation www.ARRA-access.com.
  • Initiated the Trail Act in the U.S. Congress to amend the public land management statutes to provide for consistent penalties for all recreationists who act irresponsibly and willfully break the law. The Trail Act will help keep lands open for OHV recreation.

WORK WITH STATE LEGISLATURES AND RIDER GROUPS:

  • OHV Organization Support Program - provides grants to national, state, and local OHV organizations to foster OHV recreation.
  • Advocate enactment of state OHV trails programs.
  • Supported development of the Hatfield-McCoy trails system and supporting expansion into Kentucky and Virginia.

PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH:

  • Support of Tread Lightly!, to further education and stewardship in support of responsible and ethical recreation.
  • Publication and distribution of RightRider brochures.
  • Charter member of U.S. Department of Interior's Take Pride in America.