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November 22, 2000
OHV Enthusiasts Influence Roadless Lands Issue

Thousands of motorcyclists, ATV enthusiasts and others interested in motorized recreation mobilized this year in response to President Clinton's plan to manage so-called roadless areas within the national forest system. And the results of their efforts can be seen in the final draft of the roadless plan, released in mid-November, reports the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA).

The U.S. Forest Service reportedly received more than 1.6 million comments on the controversial proposal, which threatened to shut off access by many Americans to nearly 60 million acres of public land, an area nearly equal in size to the state of Wyoming. And thousands of those comments came from off-highway motorcyclists and ATV riders, who attended public hearings and sent in letters, faxes and e-mails.

Although the lands involved are designated as roadless, the AMA pointed out from the beginning that they contain thousands of miles of trails now open to motorcycles and ATVs, along with a network of dirt roads that serve as feeders and connectors for those trails. Those roads also provide access to locations and trails used by hunters, fishermen, campers, four-wheel-drive enthusiasts, mountain bikers, equestrians and hikers.

Clinton's initial proposal for management of these lands included options that would have shut out nearly all types of recreation, and a draft plan released in the spring still appeared likely to choke off access to these lands over a period of years. But comments from recreation groups clearly had an impact on the final draft, notes the AMA.

Although the final draft, which is expected to be approved by Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman in mid-December, still calls for a ban on construction of new roads on these lands, it specifically allows for maintenance and even reconstruction of existing roads under some circumstances. And it also allows for reconstruction of existing trails and construction of new trails for a variety of purposes, including motorized recreation.

"Nothing in this rule is intended to prohibit the authorized construction or maintenance of motorized or non-motorized trails," the final draft states.

"Getting recognition of motorized recreation as a legitimate use of these lands is a vital step for motorcycle and ATV riders," said Ed Moreland, Washington representative for the AMA. "When this proposal was first introduced, it looked as though we could be left out entirely. Now, we have a clear place in the plan to manage these lands."

The AMA cautioned, however, that the full impact of the roadless plan won't be known until two other initiatives being developed by the Forest Service are finalized. The agency recently released its Planning Regulations for managing federal lands, and it is expected to release a Forest Road Management plan soon. Together, those proposals will determine the future of motorized recreation, as well as other recreational activities, on national forest land. 

In addition, the roadless plan remains highly controversial, particularly because of restrictions placed on timber harvests in the affected areas and the Forest Service's last-minute decision to apply the rules to the Tongass National Forest in Alaska beginning in April 2004. Those provisions could result in legal and legislative challenges to the plan.

But when it comes to recreation interests, involvement in the public-comment process clearly had an impact. 

"Without the input of recreation groups," said Moreland, "the regulations imposed on vast roadless areas of our national forests could have been much more restrictive.

"We know that thousands of motorcyclists participated in the process," he said, "and they were joined by snowmobile riders, mountain bikers, hikers, four-wheel-drive enthusiasts, rock climbers, equestrians, people who enjoy public waterways, and others.

"Together, we all made a difference."

For more information, see the January issue of American Motorcyclist magazine.

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