Post by Woody Williams on Nov 3, 2005 12:21:22 GMT -5
National forests to restrict off-road vehicles
By Traci Watson, USA TODAY
Americans who ride all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes and four-wheel-drive trucks will face new limits on where they can travel in some of the nation's biggest and wildest natural areas.
Bob Roach rides his ATV in Ohio's Wayne National Forest.
Off-road vehicles no longer will be able to travel freely through national forests, the U.S. Forest Service said Wednesday. Instead, motorists will be limited to trails selected by forest officials. The restrictions do not apply to snowmobiles, which don't do as much damage as other off-road vehicles.
The nation's 193 million acres of national forest are some of the most popular playgrounds for the growing number of Americans who ride off-road vehicles. These types of vehicles can erode the land and disturb wildlife, and their engines and exhaust draw complaints from others visiting the forest for recreation.
Half of the 175 national forests now permit motorized vehicles to roam without any restriction across wide swaths of land. These forests will see the biggest change, because motorized use will be cut back to specific roads and trails. Other national forests already confine riders to well-defined routes, said Dale Bosworth, the Forest Service chief.
The agency said the restriction would curb damage from motorized vehicles — one of the biggest problems for the forests — while allowing the nation's 51 million off-road drivers to enjoy their sport.
"This is going to help us do a better job of caring for the land and serving people," said the service's Jack Troyer, who helped write the new rule.
Clark Collins of the BlueRibbon Coalition, which represents riders of motorized vehicles, said the regulation will "give us some leverage" in forests that have resisted giving access to vehicles. "We feel this is going to be a very positive thing for our users."
Jim Furnish, a consultant to the Natural Trails and Waters Coalition, an environmental group, said the rule will do little to curb illegal use of motorized vehicles in the forests. And "renegade routes" already carved out by unsanctioned vehicle use could be designated as trails.
"I fear the worst, that the forest supervisors will drag their feet on implementing this regulation," he said. "Then illegal use ... just gets worse and worse."
The Forest Service said the rule does not stiffen penalties for illegal use, nor will the agency beef up patrols to enforce the restrictions. Bosworth said the agency should map out the usable routes within four years, but no deadline is set. The limits won't apply until routes are set and published.
By Traci Watson, USA TODAY
Americans who ride all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes and four-wheel-drive trucks will face new limits on where they can travel in some of the nation's biggest and wildest natural areas.
Bob Roach rides his ATV in Ohio's Wayne National Forest.
Off-road vehicles no longer will be able to travel freely through national forests, the U.S. Forest Service said Wednesday. Instead, motorists will be limited to trails selected by forest officials. The restrictions do not apply to snowmobiles, which don't do as much damage as other off-road vehicles.
The nation's 193 million acres of national forest are some of the most popular playgrounds for the growing number of Americans who ride off-road vehicles. These types of vehicles can erode the land and disturb wildlife, and their engines and exhaust draw complaints from others visiting the forest for recreation.
Half of the 175 national forests now permit motorized vehicles to roam without any restriction across wide swaths of land. These forests will see the biggest change, because motorized use will be cut back to specific roads and trails. Other national forests already confine riders to well-defined routes, said Dale Bosworth, the Forest Service chief.
The agency said the restriction would curb damage from motorized vehicles — one of the biggest problems for the forests — while allowing the nation's 51 million off-road drivers to enjoy their sport.
"This is going to help us do a better job of caring for the land and serving people," said the service's Jack Troyer, who helped write the new rule.
Clark Collins of the BlueRibbon Coalition, which represents riders of motorized vehicles, said the regulation will "give us some leverage" in forests that have resisted giving access to vehicles. "We feel this is going to be a very positive thing for our users."
Jim Furnish, a consultant to the Natural Trails and Waters Coalition, an environmental group, said the rule will do little to curb illegal use of motorized vehicles in the forests. And "renegade routes" already carved out by unsanctioned vehicle use could be designated as trails.
"I fear the worst, that the forest supervisors will drag their feet on implementing this regulation," he said. "Then illegal use ... just gets worse and worse."
The Forest Service said the rule does not stiffen penalties for illegal use, nor will the agency beef up patrols to enforce the restrictions. Bosworth said the agency should map out the usable routes within four years, but no deadline is set. The limits won't apply until routes are set and published.