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The Coalition for Recreational Trails needs your help to ensure the Recreational Trails Program is included in the next authorization. Visit our Recreational Trails Program page to sign on to a letter in support of preserving and growing this program, and visit our on reauthorization of transportation funding area to learn more about these vital programs.

"What will happen in your state if RTP disappears? Now is the time to think about it."

http://americantrails.org/resources/opinion/state-trail-programs-funding-federal%20recreational-macdonald.html

Prairie Master - to answer your question yes it does matter, the instructors of the course go by AMA standards. Off hand I don't recall what they are exactly, what the AMA standards are. I know there are three age groups. 5 - 8 50 - 125cc 8 - 12 is 125 - 200 12 - 16 225 - 250. Something like that.

Written by The Source Editorial Board     
Sunday, 01 July 2007 
(From: The Source Weekly)

Bend Oregon - If you head out to your favorite campground in one of Oregon's National Forests this summer, you may well discover it's no longer there.

For the past two years the U.S. Forest Service has been engaged in a process called Recreation Site Facility Master Planning (RSFMP). The bureaucratic rationale is complicated, but it all boils down to this: Each of the more than 16,000 National Forest recreation sites in the country – more than 2,600 of them in Oregon and Washington – has to demonstrate that it can pay for itself or it will be closed.

Oregon National Forests were among the first in the country to begin the RSFMP process, and the tangible results are now starting to appear. For example, the Curry Coastal Pilot reported on Saturday that the Rogue-Siskyou National Forest has closed 24 campgrounds and three picnic sites. Can the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests be far behind?

Not only are facilities being closed, but drastic budget cuts, including a 46% cut in funding for maintenance over the past two years, are forcing National Forests to reduce or eliminate services – such as providing toilets – at those that aren't.

The National Forest shutdown is being justified by the need to pour money into President Bush's "Healthy Forests Initiative," which aims to make forests healthy by cutting down the trees. Philosophically, it dovetails perfectly with the administration's broad aim of starving all government services – or at least those that benefit average Americans rather than big corporations and their major stockholders.

Critics, such as Scott Silver of Bend-based Wild Wilderness, see an even deeper and darker motive: They believe the funding cuts and the RSFMP process are steps toward the "Disneyfication" of recreation facilities on federal lands – turning them into money-making enterprises, or maybe even handing them over to private corporations to operate as concessions.

Even if you don't buy that sinister theory, it's not hard to see why the present policy is short-sighted and destructive. Closing facilities, making them prohibitively expensive or making them difficult or impossible to enjoy because of a lack of basic amenities shuts off access to the only recreation many working people can afford. It also has a negative impact on communities near National Forests whose economies depend largely or partly on the dollars that visitors to those forests spend.

It's ironic that an administration that likes to attack "environmental elitists" for wanting to "lock up" public lands has turned out to be the biggest locker-upper of such lands in American history.

When the U.S. Forest Service was founded more than a hundred years ago during the Theodore Roosevelt administration, its first chief, Gifford Pinchot, summed up its job as "to provide the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people in the long run." The administration's approach seems designed to provide the greatest number of dollars to a handful of people in the short run.

It's a lousy way to run our National Forests – but it's an excellent way to earn THE BOOT.

[Fee Demonstration and the Recreation Enhancement Act were written by and for the motorized-recreation industry. There was no Congressional or public involvement. Both RAT laws were slipped through as midnight riders tacked to appropriation bills because the industry knew they couldn't survive open debate.]

Thanks for the info ida man. That has been on the discussion table for quite a while. Here are two inserts that might also be of interest.

Americans were used to paying entrance fees at national parks and wildlife refuges. But after Fee Demo was extended through 2001 they expressed outrage about what they came to call the Recreation Access Tax (RAT) on national forests and BLM land. Late in 2004 RAT was extended yet again — this time for 10 years — when Fee Demo was replaced with the Recreation Enhancement Act, a law that empowers the four agencies to charge even more access fees.


Fee Demonstration and the Recreation Enhancement Act were written by and for the motorized-recreation industry. There was no Congressional or public involvement. Both RAT laws were slipped through as midnight riders tacked to appropriation bills because the industry knew they couldn't survive open debate.

The other interseting point in this article is this:

Scott Silver, director of the Bend, Oregon-based Wild Wilderness — one of the very few environmental groups that has sounded the alarm — lives two blocks from the Deschutes River, world famous for its steelhead. "At the end of town the Deschutes National Forest begins," he says. "Upriver for maybe five miles is what the Forest Service now calls a High Impact Recreation Area, and I cannot go anywhere there in a car without having paid. An access road runs parallel to the river, and there are about three perpendicular roads to it. You may be a mile away, but as soon as you enter one of those perpendicular roads you're confronted by a sign that says 'Entering Fee Area.' I use a kayak. You're not going to carry a kayak a mile."

Will Fee Area's happen in all the National Forests

Currently legal, I need some of you guys on the trail.

I am looking for pictures of atv riders in the ONF on legal trails.. how about it anyone have any that I can have..

Decal: http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/html/OHVGuide.pdf

Titling: http://www.floridatrailriders.org/OHV_Title_procedures.pdf

ONF Forest OHV: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/recreation/oca-OHV/index_OHV.shtml

Suggestion is to print out the decal information and bring it with you to the tag office.

Here are two links one for decal the other for titling.

Decal: http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/html/OHVGuide.pdf

Titling: http://www.floridatrailriders.org/OHV_Title_procedures.pdf

ONF OHV Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/recreation/oca-OHV/index_OHV.shtml

It comes from both. All the registration money from your OHV goes to the Mark T. Schmidt fund, and I believe 10 - 20 percent from fuel tax goes to the fund. An interesting point is if a certain amount of money from the fund doesn't get used, the government is looking to get it back.

Here is the agenda for the April 16th Meeting:

AGENDA
SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
WATER RESOURCES ADVISORY COMMISSION (WRAC)

Recreation Issues Workshop

Monday, April 16, 2007, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Ann Kolb Nature Center

751 Sheridan Street, Hollywood, FL



1. Welcome and Introductions – David Lithgow, Chair, Recreation Issues 5m

2. Meeting Purpose and Groundrules – Rick Smith, WRAC Facilitator 5m

3. Status of Fishing Opportunities – SFWMD Lands – Rick Smith 15p30d

4. Accomplishments – B.J. Kattel, Sr. Recreation Planner, SFWMD: 10p10d

• Kissimmee Expedition
• Tick Island Slough Bridge
• 2006 – 2007 Hunting

5. Recreation Facilities Update:
• Acceler8 and CERP Projects – Jerry Krenz, Sr. Planner, SFWMD: 10p10d

• Land Stewardship – Dan Cotter, Sr. Supervising Rec. Plan: 10p10d
o Lake Kissimmee Boat Ramp
o Taylor Creek Trailhead
o Hickory Hammock Road
o Istokpoga Canal Boat Ramp
o Bird Rookery Trailhead and Access

6. Land Stewardship Management Issues – Fred Davis, Director, Land


Stewardship Div., SFWMD: 15p30d

• DuPuis Forestry Management
• Deer Hunter Access
• All Terrain Vehicles
• Drought Impacts
• Hunting in Stormwater Management Areas
• Recreation Management and Partnership Plan

7. Upcoming Events – Bill Helfferich, Sr. Supervising Env. Scientist, SFWMD 10p10d

• Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Stakeholders Meeting
• Kissimmee River Stakeholders Meeting
• DuPuis Earth Day, April 21, 2007
• Stormwater Treatment Area 3-4 Grand Opening

Adjourn: 8:00 p.m.

[everyone]

Scooter - The question is is everyone informed, not just the public is everyone on the same page?? When the ONF goes to a sticker for riding that is another sticker you will have to place on the bike or something else you will have to carry with you.

Simple solution - all stickers should be renewed when you renew your license, and the sticker should be placed on your license. The quad is registered your carrying one license and everyone should be happy.

The picture ID is what ties everything together. Without that they have no way of knowing who you are. You would think they could use a database to list state registration numbers, with a name, and the only thing you would have to carry is a photo id. Much like the tag offices do.

I truly apologize if you all think that my posts are meant as negatives - it was not meant to be that way. It was meant to give you another pair of eyes, hind sight 20/20. I have as much to lose on this rally as every in this sport, I want to see it come off also, we don't need a black eye.

[If you have not crossed all your i's and dotted all your T's for this rally, if anything whatsoever goes wrong, all of you might as well sell your ATV's because there will not be a place to ride. I will emphasis that again no place to ride.]

Hey Dreth and everyone else this message is for all of you.

I have been reading some of the posts about your rally. Dreth by locking that post, you have admitted that some of the allegations that were being made is true.

You can read this and take my comments or you can bury your head in the sand.

If you have not crossed all your i's and dotted all your T's for this rally, if anything whatsoever goes wrong, all of you might as well sell your ATV's because there will not be a place to ride. I will emphasis that again no place to ride.

As I look at this now it looks like your i's are not dotted and your T's are not crossed.

One of the items taken off one of the message boards -

Uh-oh. No helmets, riding two up, no eye protection, etc. The intro says the rally is to show the State reps and news reporters how much you care about riding ATV's, but I think there is a very good chance it's going to backfire and create the wrong impression.

Hopefully no one gets hurt or killed riding with no helmet, two up on an ATV made for one person, while wearing shorts and flip flops. The media will eat that up, and the rally will harm the sport more than help it.

That is only a part of what I am finding on message boards. If I am finding this on message boards, don't you think the news media can get a hold of it, how about the environmentalist, they have already closed part of the forest due to messages as this on board. Don't you think they will use this video and anything else on the message boards against you?

Chuck - it does not make a difference whether they are dirt bikers or not, yes it makes a difference it makes a difference to everyone. It is that kind of attitude that is going to sink this ship. It makes a difference to the whole OHV world.

You keep telling everyone you put hard work into it, well maybe you did, but your hard work will be naught if the news media gets a hold of that video. News media doesn't like ATV's anyway, you are just fueling their fire.

There are other indications that you and your organization are not on top of this rally and or your sport.

Example - it was crazy how that rhino just plowed through that wall of vines and tree's. should of got a picture of that.  I hear Chillin's going to be giving lessons on how to truly go fast during the Rally.

The news media will pick this up about Chillins and eat it alive. The environmentalist will love what was said about vines and trees. There are ways to cut trails, there are tools to cut trails. Whether you were joking about this or not, it won't be taken as a joke, it will be used against you as it has in the past.

One last comment - if you Dreth can't fight Lisa and Viper what is going to happen when you have to face the environmentalist face to face, or the water management people face to face, my guess is you will send in Aorginal, alot of times if you are going to fight for your cause, they don't want to hear from a lawyer. They will probably turn their backs.

If you don't start to dot your i's and cross your t's, this rally is going to be a black eye for your sport. If this post offends anyone I apologize for that it was not meant to offend.

Joan
Stewards

I am only the messenger for this, please do not pm me I have no clue about this. For questions email: www.thedirtygirls.net or ATVGIRL@THEDIRTYGIRLS.NET

Thanks..

SO HERE IS THE DEAL



WE ARE NOW LOOKING FOR THE BIGGEST, BADDEST BIKES IN THE LAND!



YOU WILL NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE YOUR BIKES OUTSIDE

ORLANDO AROUND THE MIDDLE TO END OF JUNE.

IF YOU ARE ABLE TO DO THAT AND YOUR BIKE IS PICKED IT WILL

BE PUT IN OUR FIRST ANNUAL PHOTO SHOOT/ CALENDAR

WE ARE IN THE NEED FOR SPONSORS ALSO

WE HAVE IT SET UP SO THAT EACH BIKE CHOSEN WILL HAVE THE

OWNERS NAME ON THE PAGE IT APPEARS AND WE ARE WORKING

VERY HARD SO THAT HALF THE PROCEEDS MADE OFF THE CALENDAR

WILL BE DONATED TO CHARITY!

IF THIS IS SOMETHING YOU ARE INTERESTED IN

EMAIL ME YOUR BIKES INFO AND A PICTURE TO

ATVGIRL@THEDIRTYGIRLS.NET

IF YOU ARE NOT CHOSEN FOR THE SHOOT YOU MAY BE

IN THE RUNNING TO HAVE YOUR BIKE AND YOUR INFO ADDED TO OUR NEW UPCOMING WEB PAGE! 

good luck


Stewards is just the messanger on this.

Stewards
Joan

Hi Everyone:

I have been to quite a few black bear corridor meetings - interesting I must say. The last meeting there was a wildlife biologist there to speak to us regarding common types of wildlife structures. What seems to be happening is when the FDOT widens SR 40 the USFS says there will be a problem with wildlife getting killed due to the increased traffic, especially the black bear. When FDOT and the committee widen SR 40 they are looking at placing between 20 - 35 structures for wildlife crossing. Structures could mean concrete walls, bridges, both land and bridges that span, fencing both electric and invisible. What they are trying to do is get the animal into a culvert under the road, or on a land bridge over the road, by fencing the area off.

The specialist seemed to like the idea of either invisible fencing or electric fencing. The electric fence idea is to me crazy -- I don't even use that on my dog.

Just some information for you.

Maybe you can help them out -- you know the area down there probably better than he does. Especially if he rides in the ONF. Make a few suggestions on where they might come up with land for a park. You might see something they are missing.

Hey All.

Well I am looking for 10 bikes to volunteer for a photo shoot for our next project.   They would have to be ready in about 6-8weeks and you would have to be able to bring them to the shoot outside Orlando.  Your names will appear as the owners on each page so shine em' up and show em' off!  The bikes that were in the Show and Shine I would love to have again.  Send pics to me if you are interested of your bikes and i will have the 10 finalists in about a month.  I am working on the finishing touches of some of the props for the shoot.  Also, if anyone  is interested in sponsorships let me know i will get you more info.  you can email me here or on our myspace.. which ever is easier for ya.  Talk to you soon.


ATVgirl


(no bikes will be hurt in the making of this project!  lol )

www.myspace.com/eastcoastdirtygirls


www.thedirtygirls.net

Make sure you stay on the trails and remember if you don't see a corosite (brown post) with stickers, it is not a legal trail. If it is not signed it is closed trail.

Happy trails - I ride a daul sport both on the road and in the forest a 250 , a 650 on the road.

[not state for off highway use only]

It looks like the ONF can do anything they want. Are they giving one a ticket for not having a registration, or for not having a green sticker. Or are they giving you the ticket for both? In theory the sticker is used to prevent theft that is it, nothing else. What they seem to be doing is matching the green sticker number to a registration number a piece of paper.

As far as dual sports, you better make sure it is a daul sport motorcycle - daul sport meaning plate, title, registration. On the manufacture certificate of orgin it should not state for off highway use only.

Besides you weenies wouldn't know how to ride a daul sport.

Joan

According to the Law no, the sticker is enough. But from what I can read on some of the previous threads according to the ONF you better have both.

Gatorback Pictures are at:

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r242/ida_mann/Gatorback/

Joan
Stewards

Grizz:

Let see if I can help you out a little bit here. Jack did a pretty good job, but not all the facts are there.

The OHV advisory board:

Effective July 1, 2003, the Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Advisory Committee is created within the Division of Forestry and consists of nine members, all of whom are appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture. The appointees shall include one representative of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, one representative of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, one representative of the Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Greenways and Trails, one representative of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, one citizen with scientific expertise in disciplines relating to ecology, wildlife biology, or other environmental sciences, one representative of a licensed off-highway vehicle dealer, and three representatives of off-highway vehicle recreation groups. In making these appointments, the commissioner shall consider the places of residence of the members to ensure statewide representation.

Mark T Shcmidt Bill - 261.12  Designated off-highway vehicle funds within the Incidental Trust Fund of the Division of Forestry of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.--

(1)  The designated off-highway vehicle funds of the trust fund shall consist of deposits from the following sources:

(a)  Fees paid to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for the titling of off-highway vehicles.

(b)  Revenues and income from any other sources required by law or as appropriated by the Legislature to be deposited into the trust fund as designated off-highway vehicle funds.

(c)  Donations from private sources that are designated as off-highway vehicle funds.

(d)  Interest earned on designated off-highway vehicle funds on deposit in the trust fund.

(2)  Designated off-highway vehicle funds in the trust fund shall be available for recommended allocation by the Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Advisory Committee and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and upon annual appropriation by the Legislature, exclusively for the following:

(a)  Implementation of the Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Program by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which includes personnel and other related expenses; administrative and operating expenses; expenses related to safety, training, rider education programs, management, maintenance, and rehabilitation of lands in the Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Program's system of lands and trails; and, if funds are available, acquisition of lands to be included in the system and the management, maintenance, and rehabilitation of such lands.

(b)  Approved grants to governmental agencies or entities or nongovernmental entities that wish to provide or improve off-highway vehicle recreation areas or trails for public use on public lands, provide environmental protection and restoration to affected natural areas in the system, provide enforcement of applicable regulations related to the system and off-highway vehicle activities, or provide education in the operation of off-highway vehicles.

(c)  Matching funds to be used to match grant funds available from other sources.

(3)  Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance of designated off-highway vehicle funds in the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain therein and shall be available for the purposes set out in this section and as otherwise provided by law.

Now if you go to this link and read the rest of the law, you might want to quit complaining. Jack has made some vaild points, so has the link below.

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0261/SEC20.HTM&Title=->2006->Ch0261->Section%2020#0261.20

Joan
Stewards

Yes, we all know how dangerous some of the kids are on the smaller machines. I agree 100%, and I believe there is legislation to change that law. I am not for sure about that. As far as the forest goes, it is just the training class that they are put on these machines. The USFS is just trying to comply by the law.

If I were you guys I would not complain a whole lot about this - if you read the current law, you will be glad that, that is all they are checking for.

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0261/SEC20.HTM&Title=->2006->Ch0261->Section%2020#0261.20

Check the link out.

Joan
Stewards