Organized Group to meet about OHV areas (MODS PLEASE MAKE STICKY)

[Eworm]

As you all know, we have some serious issues with OHV areas getting shut down in S. Florida. As our sport grows we must fight the battle and demand something to be done. If not, at this rate, we will be forced to sell our QUADS and find another hobby. A group of us are trying to get a feel for what we need to do in order to better our overall riding situation in S. Florida. I have contacted several other groups in other states that have done the things we all talk about and dream of. The feedback has been to basically "GET ORGANIZED AND DONT STOP UNTIL WE GET WHAT WE WANT"!!!! WE pay the guys that make these decisions; in essence WE should be the ones making the decisions since they directly affect us and our sport. Getting organized is the first step in order to determine exactly what needs to be done. I have a lot of ideas and from I have seen we have enough people interested. So, I propose we get a committee together and begin to research what steps need to be taken. I think once we have a goal and a road map we have many members on here and other sites that IMO just need a date and a place to meet in order to show our strength in numbers. Ideally, it would be best to get some people from...let's say:

Miami
Ft Lauderdale
Naples
Ft. Myers
West Palm

This way we can gather the groups from different areas and be a stronger force.

WHO IS INTERESTED IN MEETING AND BECOMING A PART OF THE COMMITTEE AND FRONT RUNNERS?

EWORM

[Eworm]

SkyHighT100?
themensh?
AintSkeered?
dirty2?
OviedoRaptor?
hh-sportsman?
team_quad_green?
Ida_Mann?
Honda328i?

Should I put you down? LET ME KNOW GUYS!!!

[Chillinthemost]

Something must be done, I would help if I can.

[GSPKurt]

Also, contact Florida Trail Riders for input.

[z400stunter]

I'm from Naples.  Maybe we can ride sometime and discuss it.

[Eworm]

I thought more would respond by now. I am amazed! If we dont want it bad enough we will never have it.
Come on people, who else??

Chillin, where are you located?

[Eworm]

Also, contact Florida Trail Riders for input.

Yep, I did. Sent email and no response

[Eworm]

I would be interested but your area is way to far for me, sorry.

The idea would be the entire state. I will drive but Ocala can get old after 100 times. We new areas and representation everywhere

[big-daddy]

Worm, I'm in 

[Eworm]

Worm, I'm in 

On list

[Honda328i]

SkyHighT100?
themensh?
AintSkeered?
dirty2?
OviedoRaptor?
hh-sportsman?
team_quad_green?
Ida_Mann?
Honda328i

Should I put you down? LET ME KNOW GUYS!!!

I will help whenever I can, I have a pretty busy job and family, but I can make time if meetings are planned in advance.  Glad to see someone starting this. 

[Eworm]

SkyHighT100?
themensh?
AintSkeered?
dirty2?
OviedoRaptor?
hh-sportsman?
team_quad_green?
Ida_Mann?
Honda328i

Should I put you down? LET ME KNOW GUYS!!!

I will help whenever I can, I have a pretty busy job and family, but I can make time if meetings are planned in advance.  Glad to see someone starting this. 

I to have the same responsibilities but if we dedicate some time i think we do something here. What area are you in Honda328i?

[Chillinthemost]

I'm in Manattee county. West central.

[Eworm]

I'm in Manattee county. West central.

Ok, the list is building. I am in the process of setting a date for a meeting with the appropriate parties. It may a little bit of time but we need to be prepared. I am sending emails, letters and making calls.

Things like this piss me off and need to change:
Why isn't OHV on this list?:

http://myfwc.com/recreation/Activity.html


We need to find things like this to better present our case while meeting (preparation is going to be huge here).

Other examples to keep in mind

-Recent ATV Sales (skyrocketing)
-Where is the tax money going (who is in charge of disbursment of funds? Does this person own an OHV?)
-Why does government continue to take land away and increase the chances of kids having accidents on streets because of no areas to ride
-?
-?

OPEN to ideas guys! We need to do this together if not we are sh*t out of luck!

[jwscroll]

I'll help when I can.

[jwscroll]

For those of you interested, an OHV Committee is in the begining stages. We need more members of different riding groups to join up so we can put some pressure on the decision makers. Persistance and badgering officials seem to get results, the squeakiest wheel recieves the most attention.
The system being set up in Ocala is proof to me that OHV groups had little say in how the recreation area would be set up. The forestry department did not do very good homework here. An interconnecting trail sys. is okay(I guess), but 60" wide two way trails, that sounds more like a means to an end. What I mean is the first head on collision the USFS gets sued the trails get shut down, because it's cheaper to shut them down than to keep goin to court.

[Eworm]

For those of you interested, an OHV Committee is in the begining stages. We need more members of different riding groups to join up so we can put some pressure on the decision makers. Persistance and badgering officials seem to get results, the squeakiest wheel recieves the most attention.
The system being set up in Ocala is proof to me that OHV groups had little say in how the recreation area would be set up. The forestry department did not do very good homework here. An interconnecting trail sys. is okay(I guess), but 60" wide two way trails, that sounds more like a means to an end. What I mean is the first head on collision the USFS gets sued the trails get shut down, because it's cheaper to shut them down than to keep goin to court.

JW: Do you know who is leading this effort in Ocala? if so, please Pm me the information.

[Eworm]

I knew I would get a good response. Anyone with any additional info that can be in any way helpful, please feel free to post up here. I can use all the help I can get. MAKE YOUR CALLS GUYS, SEND YOUR EMAILS!!!

[themensh]

  I live near Daytona. I ain't no public speaker......I can write letters good though.    (LOL)
   I just bought an ATV and already getting frustrated there are no readily available areas to ride.

  What can I do to help?

                                     Chuck

[bftclub]

i'm in there e-worm!!!let me know when and where

[Dr.Dirt]

What exactly do we do? I am in Cape Coral (Ft.Myers) and might be able to make it to Fort Myers, it would just depend on what you need me to do and the time that it would be done.

[themensh]

OK.....In spite of the lack of planning/organization and leadership......
here is what I have done recently.

I have written a letter to Mr. Bill Gardner, head of Land Acquisition Management , Volusia County, Fl.
  I asked him to research the viability of acquiring land, in the amount of approximately 80 acres in Volusia County Florida, using the ECHO (ecological-cultural-heritage-outdoors) grants available.
  I suggested the area could contain walking trails, atv trails and hopefully if the land could be located near a river  (Tomoka River for an example....)Canoeing).  Run by Volusia County as the beach in Daytona is, daily or yearly passes could be sold to offset operating expenses.
  By purchasing the land and allowing use by hikers/atv'ers/canoers.....the area could still maintain the beauty of Florida but allow people access to it.
  I said that atv's are a growing hobby in Florida, as it is around the country and by having a first rate trail system would invite people from all over to come and enjoy Volusia County.

   Does that sound about right?
   Anyhow......lets get some things started.
Lets throw out some ideas.....here.   (I just put a 2" lift on my quad. I NEED PLACES TO RIDE!!!   LOL)

      Chuck  (themensh)

[Eworm]

The letter looks great and will take us a long way. We need to nag and nag and continue nagging!!! Send letters and call them:

Once we have their attention we want a scheduled meeting to dicuss available areas already in existance and new areas to make OHV and Camping areas/parks.

So start researching your general areas so that when we have a date we can go through each and every viable option.

IE:

NAPLES: Picayune State Forest

MIAMI: HUMPS and Surrounding areas (not that big, but an organized trail system may work there)

FT MYERS: Yucapan

ORLANDO: River Ranch and surrounding areas

[Dr.Dirt]

The Yucapan is in Cape Coral.

[Eworm]

The Yucapan is in Cape Coral.

Sorry about that.