The enjoyment of riding ATVs on public land is at risk.  In some cases the poor decisions of a few individuals have reflected poorly on all recreational ATV riders.  This is not right, nor is it fair, but it is the way it is.  Some of our fellow countrymen would have us lock up all public lands so that only those who are able to access public lands by foot would be allowed the privilege of doing so.  This is a travesty of justice.  As one elderly access activist put it "We are the public in public lands, it does not belong to the government, the land belongs to the people".

Unfortunately those who would stop ATV use on public lands are well funded and well organized.  They are actively seeking to stop all efforts of regular citizens to access lands which have been available to access for centuries.

In one aspect I will agree our opponents have a point.  The point is that no single citizen has the right to abuse or destroy public lands.  On that we all agree.  It is for this reason that we as responsible ATV riders should go out of our way to be extremely responsible in the way we use the opportunities "granted" to us by the managers of public and private lands and property.

Any and all support and participation that you can lend toward making your opinions on keeping roads and trails open for ATV use known, will be a great advantage.   Do not sit back quietly and suppose that someone somewhere will protect you from the aggressive activities of the motorized use closure advocates.

If you don't speak up, you will soon find yourself with a machine that is no longer legal to ride anywhere in the State.   Your family will have lost opportunities to see things and places where they have not the physical stamina and  prowess to hike to. Take the opportunity to write to the Forest Manager in your local areas and inform them of your desire to have access to the properties under their management, and specifically with the concern of allowing access with ATV and OHV's.

My very first experience on an OHV was in taking a ride on a tote goat at the age of 10 from Millcreek Canyon to Big Cottonwood Canyon in Salt Lake County.  That was over 40 years ago. This same trail is no longer open to OHV travel.  It is "protected" now only for hikers, horses and bicyclists.  It is a loss, a serious loss.  Our opinions can not remain silent.  We must speak out and make our leaders and land managers know that the cost of access is not as great as the closure advocates would suggest.

You can join me now by becoming personally involved.  Here are three organizations that aid in the protection of our opportunities and rights to ride.  Please visit their sites and participate to the degree you are able.

    United Four Wheel Drive
    Blue Ribbon Coalition
    Utah Shared Access Alliance

Thanks

Robert Birkinshaw
Citizen

For more on what you can do to retain your opportunity to access the great out doors click here