Quad Riders Association of British Columbia

National Off Highway Vehicle Conservation Council Annual Conference & The National Association of OHV Programs Managers Annual Conference

Albuquerque, New Mexico, March 25 - 30, 2008

MEMBERS UPDATE

On behalf of ATV/BC your President Bev Felske and I attended this conference in Albuquerque New Mexico on March 25 to 30. Their agenda was intense and we were borderline information overload.  To keep this update to a reasonable level I will give you my impressions that were gained during the various sessions and from my perspective what ATV/BC needs to either do or improve if we are to meet the expectations of not only our members but the expectations of the ATV enthusiast in general.

TREAD LIGHTLY

On March 25 I took the Trainers course for the "Tread Lightly" program and am now a certified trainer.

"Tread Lightly" is an educational program dedicated to increasing awareness of how to enjoy the great outdoors whirl minimizing impacts.  It emphasizes responsible use of off-highway vehicles, other forms of travel and low impact principles related to outdoor activities.  It is along-term information program to increase the public's awareness that receptionists must exercise special care of the outdoors if opportunities to recreate are to continue with the quality of experience maintained and enhanced.  Tread Lightly is a not for profit organization headquartered in Utah.  Their web site is www.treadlightly.org.

The program is recognized throughout North America though predominantly in the States.  In my opinion it provides a good base to work from and can be of real value to our organization in getting the message out on environmentally responsible recreation.  As we move down the road I will come out with more on this program.

IMPRESSIONS

I feel the best way to convey what we learned down south is to give you my impressions resulting from the various seminars and workshops attended.

THE ISSUES FACING MOTORIZED SPORTS ARE THE SAME ON BOTH SIDE OF THE LINE.

Motorized sports are facing constant encroachments on riding areas and restriction on riding opportunities.  It is essential we all work together if this trend is to be reversed.

WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT RIGHT IF THE ASSOCIATION AND OUR CLUBS WORK TOGETHER.

We have to learn from the mistakes of others.  One of the constant messages that were given out by both Organizations and Government Land Managers is that there has to be a united front.  We can have differences and we can have our own biases but we have to work together to deal with the attitudes and perceptions that exist in the more exclusive non motorized sectors and to be able to respond to the negative attitudes of the more vocal preservationists.

THERE ARE RESOURCES THAT CAN HELP US IN OUR ISSUES FOR EXAMPLE THE BLUE RIBBON COALITION

The American motorized recreation sports have been at this a lot longer than we have and as such organizations such as the Blue Ribbon Coalition have evolved.  At this time I am not sure how they will be able to help but I do know as they become more successful in combating those who want to exclude motorized sports, the preservationists will move north where they have little organized opposition.

WE NEED TO GET THE "BIG" SPONSORS ON BOARD.

In order to fight those organizations who wish to exclude motorized sports we have to be able to play on the same playing field.  The preservationist have big organizations and big money on their side.  If we as group are to be successful we need the same resources they do to be able to fight on a level playing field.  This is where the American motorized sports have it over us.  They have big sponsors including governments that provide the resources to counteract these forces we are facing.

MANAGED PROPERLY, WE CAN AVOID OHV PARKS EXCEPT IN ISOLATED CASES WHERE MOTORIZED SPORTS ARE ADVOCATING THEM.

In the states circumstances have forced motorized sports into organized Off Highway Vehicle Parks.  These areas are designed with trails that support all types of motorized sports be it 4X4, motor bikes or ATV's.  This has occurred for a variety of reasons.  Some do to the lack of available public ground, Closures as a result of pressure from preservationists, conflicting Government agencies and a variety of other reasons.  What make it worse is the sport is now working hard to keep these parks as moves are afoot to shut some of them down for environmental reasons both real and perceived.  Another big problem with these parks is the cost for upkeep and maintenance.  Millions of dollars a year are spent by Governments as well as the user.  Bottom line is that we don't want to go down that road and be contained but also we can't afford it.

It is very obvious to me that if we work with Government and show sound environmental stewardship we will not have to go down that road.  But if as a sport we feel one would beneficial in specific areas we need to take the lead so we control what happens in a responsible way.  The secret is we have to work together.

CONVERSELY IF WE DON'T MANAGE PROPERLY WE WILL BE RESTRICTED TO OHV PARKS.

We need to find ways to work with the non motorized groups that will benefit the recreational opportunities for all.  Fortunately we have started down this road with our involvement in the provincial trails strategy, our current negotiations with the Government on a Memorandum of Understanding, our involvement in the Licensing and Registration Coalition and with the Grasslands Council.  Our involvement with the Outdoor recreation council and the various local initiatives.  We can be self righteous make a stand that it is our right to ride and we don't want to play in any of these games but in my opinion this will only result in being contained in structured OHV Parks as they exist in the States.  We have to work together.

ORGANIZATION IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS

If I had to identify the most important message gained down there it would be this.  Every workshop, every seminar and the majority of the side conversations all said the same thing.  If you are not organized and talking with a common voice you are destined to be sidelined.  We need to have a healthy organization that shows responsibility and a desire to make our sport better.  One of the main components of a healthy organization is communications which we are working to improve.

WE HAVE TO SELL OUR SPORT

We have to market our sport to the public.  We have to show we are responsible and are committed to environmental stewardship.  It seems the only picture out there is a quad going into wetland blowing mud in every direction or on a hill climb throwing a rooster tail of dirt as they spin out.  This picture has to change and we are the ones to do it.  We have to show what the sport really is and what we believe in.

ALL MOTORIZED SPORTS MUST WORK TOGETHER REGARDLESS OF POLITICS.

This is what is happening in the States.  All motorized sports are working together to protect opportunities.  There still difference and good natured competitions but when it comes to the crunch they are all working together.  You know that saying "United we stand and divided we fall".  I know within our various organizations there are lot of politics but we all have a common purpose we all want to ride be it on two wheels, fours wheels or on a track it is all the same.  Just think about the power of such a united front.

MUTUAL RESPECT

If you want your right to enjoy your sport respected then you have to respect the rights of other recreationists to enjoy their sport as well.  This does not require any explanation.

CHANGES

During the course of the 5 days of intense listening some obvious change came to mind which will be governing my activities.

ON TRAIL DESIGNATIONS WE NEED TO TAKE THE APPROACH OF DESIGNATING ARTERIAL TRAILS COMPLIMENTED BY THE IDENTIFICATION OF DISPERSED RIDING AREAS LINKED TO THE NETWORK.

This is a different approach and I'm not sure how it will go over.  The concept is to identify and designate arterial trails that provide routes into riding areas then identify a dispersed riding area that is services by these arterial routes.  The dispersed riding areas would be comprised of the multitudes of small feeder trails that are used within a specified area.  This way we can reduce the workload of trail designation yet still preserve the diversification we all enjoy.

NEED TO GET A HANDLE ON ALL THE AREAS WITHIN THE PROVINCE THAT RESTRICT MOTORIZED RECREATION.

A constant comment when discussing opportunities is the statement we have got the entire province to ride in.  But when you think about the number of non motorized areas identified in the LRMP process and all the other closures that seem to be cropping up all over the place we need to get a handle on this which will give us another tool in our negotiations.  I do not think this has been quantified in the past.

NEED TO PROVIDE MORE DIRECTION TO INDIVIDUAL CLUBS ON DEALING WITH LAND ISSUES.

Nothing replaces local involvement in dealing with land issues and if we are going to be successful the clubs have to take an active role in participating in planning sessions.  This is the approach taken by the preservation groups and we have to do the same.

NEED TO INCREASE PRESENCE IN GOVERNMENT CIRCLES

Translated we need to increase our lobbying efforts.  We have good contacts now but we need to improve.

NEED TO BECOME LINKED WITH OHV ORGANIZATIONS IN THE STATES TO COUNTER ACT NON MOTORIZED SECTORS COMING NORTH.

A lot of the organizations pushing north trying to tie up our province are very sophisticated, highly financed and well organized.  This might be a way to help counter act this push.  Am not sure how to accomplish this.

There will be more as we progress in the development of our programs