Pardon me if this riles anyone.

I'm sure this probably is one of the most important issues that we all think about regularly and feel like we're losing ground daily.

I'm sure there are more than enough anti-dirtbike attitudes out there, but realistically, they are one of our main allies, or could be if we pursue the same goals together. There are clubs all over the country that have dedicated members maintaining trails, and diligently working at efforts to keep trails from being closed. I've met retired riders on the trails that go out one to two times a week repairing, brushing, limbing, and removing dead-fall from a lot of forest land. They do this on a volunteer basis strictly for the love of trail riding. I realize that the occasional encounter with 'weekend motocross posers' isn't very well appreciated, but the core group of true trail riders are usually well organized and typically belong to the local clubs. These people are the ones that are fighting dearly to keep the trails that we all share, or at least try to.

I read a post not long ago about the size of the Sierra Club.............how about making an attempt to work along side your local motorcycle club?

Different areas have different issues, and I don't know if an anti dirtbike attitude is in effect everywhere, or should be.

Moutain bikers and dirt bikers and hiking clubs and equestrians all have the same goal. To have areas that we can enjoy.

If our areas happen to overlap can help to create alliances, or conflict.

I don't believe that we can say in a blanket statement that we should align with the motor crowd, or hikers, or equestrians. I think that local clubs should look to work with groups that make sense in their locality.

For a position for IMBA - personally, (as in this is my OWN position only), I believe that they should not advocate aligning with any group except on individual projects. All these groups have their own agendas, including us, and even within just IMBA not all of us have the same level of love or hatred towards hiking or motorized users.

We have to be smart, organize, and fight OUR own good fight. If that means locally working with a motorized group or a hiking group, I have no problems with that.

JmZ

Pardon me if this riles anyone.

I'm sure this probably is one of the most important issues that we all think about regularly and feel like we're losing ground daily.

I'm sure there are more than enough anti-dirtbike attitudes out there, but realistically, they are one of our main allies, or could be if we pursue the same goals together. There are clubs all over the country that have dedicated members maintaining trails, and diligently working at efforts to keep trails from being closed. I've met retired riders on the trails that go out one to two times a week repairing, brushing, limbing, and removing dead-fall from a lot of forest land. They do this on a volunteer basis strictly for the love of trail riding. I realize that the occasional encounter with 'weekend motocross posers' isn't very well appreciated, but the core group of true trail riders are usually well organized and typically belong to the local clubs. These people are the ones that are fighting dearly to keep the trails that we all share, or at least try to.

I read a post not long ago about the size of the Sierra Club.............how about making an attempt to work along side your local motorcycle club?

Oops - Delete Double Post

I've seen it work (Idaho). I've seen it not work (South Carolina).

Idaho has relatively few people per trail mile. It gets alot less rain per year and has a rockier and better draining soil. Idaho has "millions" of miles of trails compared to my home state...South Carolina.

If we opened our trails to OHV use, we have no more singletrack at all to ride. It would all become 4-wheeler width. I think even if we made it only 2 wheeled bikes, our loomy soils couldn't take the constant pounding from the motorcycles doing 15 minute laps on our short and disconnected trails.

I think we could make it work. But it would take hundreds of miles of inter-connected trails that would be used by educated riders (read: not used when wet). The idea being to allow the motorcylce rider enuff miles to ride all weekend without "doing laps" and just beating the loomy soil into a trench.

Oh yea, I am a member of our state OHV group. I'll never ride one, but I believe in their rights to trails as well. I pay my dues to show my support for the right of motorized access to trails on public property.