We’ve added to our ATV Trails info. on our ATV trails page at http://www.kyorvpark.com/atv-trails.htm .   Go and check out the ATV riding areas.  Now onto the latest news, all of which can be read in more detail at OHV, ATV, and Off-Road Info.

• WA ATV Riders Look For New Regulations - At least one news organization feels that all of the ATV related injuries and deaths could lead to new laws banning ATV use by kids. As this article states “Richland emergency room doctor Steven Kincaid supports banning children from riding ATVs”. 
•  Another ATV Park for Kentucky? - Some southeastern Kentucky private land owners have been reported as having said that they want to organize the largest ATV park in the nation. We think they may be a little late! There is a group of 16 Kentucky counties looking to create a multi-county OHV trail system that would tie into the Black Mountain park as well as….would definitely become the largest ATV trail system in the nation.
• Its Like We Said, ATVs Are Good For The Economy! - As this article’s title says “ATVs are boosting small town economies”. In West Virginia they are reaping the benefits of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System. An economic impact study …… 
• OK Politician Says Forest Service Went To Far - The U.S. Forest Service’s recently adopted new policy limiting ATV use to 40 miles of designated trails in the Ouachita National Forest in LeFlore County drew some fire from Senator Kenneth Corn. The Senator was reported saying, “Hunters won’t be able to park their four-wheelers on the road and walk to a hunting location, and they won’t be able to use a four-wheeler to drag a kill if it isn’t on the designated trail. The new policy presents plenty of problems and no apparent benefits…..The fact that they didn’t allow the public to have input into this policy decision is just wrong…
•  Greene, RI May Get New ATV Park
• OHV Users Create Some Noise - If the anti’s want a say in how forest lands should be used then let them pay a fee as well! Every time they want money to manage the land they want to pass fees onto OHV users. As the article states we already pay fees. As the author puts it “Williams and other “recreation purists” are so blinded by their anti-motorized bias that they can’t fathom why Colorado’s motorheads would oppose new fee areas. The reason is because OHV users are already paying a fee…”  We say to the “purists” put up your money or shut up!
• Colorado BLM Area’s Proposed Travel Management (See Trail Closures) - Four travel management alternatives for surrounding Bureau of Land Management land, including one proposed option, were presented at a public meeting in Poncha Springs. The 3-year-in-the-making travel management plan outlines travel methods allowed on the 75 mile stretch of BLM land between Canon City and Buena Vista for motorized and non-motorized travel. The four alternatives range from no action (this is by far the one we favor!), a supposedly high-impact alternative (we could live with this one), a low impact (drastic trail reductions which we hate) and a between the two extremes option (which we hate but not as much as the low-impact one). The public is invited to provide written comment on the alternatives up to August 3, 2007. Let your voice be heard! Let’s put it this way in only one of the four alternatives do we not lose a significant amount of trails, and we’re not betting on that one!
• Oregon House Passes New ATV Regulations - The new set of regulations is set to go into effect in 2014. The regulations includes a permit process requiring adult ATV riders to pass a training course and obtain a user permit before riding on public land, unless they have at least five years experience and pass an equivalency test. The new regulations also will require riders under 16 to go through training and obtain a permit beginning in 2009. It also requires ATV riders under the age of 18 to fasten the chin straps on the helmets they are required to wear by existing law.
• Battle O ATV Use and Laws Wages On In Minnesota - As this article puts it “Contentious, might be the best word to describe ATV issues the past few years.” We agree. The Minnesota legislature has been busy this year battling over ways to control what ATV-antis have called runaway environmental abuse (what do you expect form these people? Everything is going to end the world! We ought to go out and by them signs that says “The End of the World is Near!”) by ATVs. The lawmakers made a new set of laws regarding ATV use, but just about everyone is unhappy with the end result.
• Finally A Journalist Sticks Up For Us! - Ray Grass writer for the Desert Morning News wrote a very good article, which points out the negative campaigns against OHV riders citing that there is no positive news about OHV enthusiast or clubs from those for conservation with “supposedly no ax to grind!” Mr. Grass may not be in our corner, but he at least has given us a fair chance for a change. As he puts it about the Wildlands (a conservation group based in Montana), “What struck me, too, was the whole report focused on what it called “lawless” riders, yet its very likely at least two of the Utah photos were taken where off-road riding is legal. What troubled me, too, were the disclaimers. That all of the information collected was by phone and that there was no on-the-ground follow-up, so some of the examples … may not be exactly indicative of conditions on the ground. …..Nowhere did I find a positive note with respect to the good work of off-road riders, like trail restoration, re-vegetation and self-policing.”

Go to Off-Road, ATV and OHV items of interest to read more!  

There are a ton of new items this week, some good, some bad and some just interesting.  To read about the topics in more detail go to ATV Parks and OHV Land Use Issues  .  We also have links posted to the original articles about the topics and to groups of interest.

• Odessa, WA Has A Push On To Become An “ORV Destination” - The plan, still in the early stages, would open former ranch roads – now horse and hiking trails – and a power line right-of-way on 13,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management property to ORVs.
• Polaris T.R.A.I.L.S. Program - Giving Back To Their Customers - Polaris Industries has announced the third round of ‘T.R.A.I.L.S.’ grant recipients, with grants totaling $105,320 for a grand total of $500,458 granted to national, state and local ATV clubs since the program was launched in 2006. We applaud Polaris for this program and want to thank them for the support! Great job Polaris.
• Laramie Peak (WY) Travel Plan In - We Lose Miles and Miles of Trails - Misty Hays, deputy district ranger for the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest’s Douglas Ranger District, issued her decision on the Laramie Peak travel management plan last week. The decision affects 180,454 acres of Forest Service land in Converse, Albany, Platte and Natrona counties. Folks will find major changes in the roads they can and can’t use. The Forest Service staff won’t begin implementing the changes in signs and barriers until after a 45-day appeal period expires, and they say they will be fairly lenient on violators until a new map is published in the spring of 2008.
• St. Anthony, ID Misses Out On ATV Parade Record - City officials in this eastern Idaho town (St. Anthony) were hoping to set a new ATV parade record by drawing over 2,000 participants to the St. Anthony ATV and Sand Rail Parade (June 16th). Unfortunately, they were unable to obtain that number and failed to achieve the record..We say to them “Good try and better luck next year!” Positive exposure like this is always good for all of us OHVers.
• July 10th Showdown in San Bernardino County - On July 10th the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisor’s will meet and the major topic of discussion will be the revision of Ordinance 3973. This ordinance is a ridiculously written and overstated law targeted at any and all OHVs! The Anti-Access / Anti-OHV crowd has had their way for far to long and we need to make a large showing at this Board meeting in opposition to the the anti-OHV people.
• Foresthill OHV Trails (CA) Face Budget Shortfall and Closure - The Foresthill OHV Trails recently reopened, but without more money they could close once again. 
• Kentucky ATV Deaths On The Increase - Last year Kentucky passed stricter laws calling for safer riding, yet ATV related deaths are on the rise in Kentucky: now labeled the nation’s leader in fatal ATV collisions!  What will lawmakers attempt next if the rise in deaths continue?
• Syracuse, KS To Open New Sand Dune Park! - More great news on the off-road park front: another new off road public riding area! This new park will be 1,300 acres containing some awesome sand dunes and ATV trails. Many think that it will quickly become a favorite spot for OHV enthusiasts throughout the Midwest.  
• Attempts At New ATV Safety Bill In Louisiana - Recent deaths have prompted an Acadiana lawmaker to reintroduce a bill “regulating” ORVs. State Rep Clara Baudoin feels that this calls for some regulation and safety requirements.
• Garfield County, Utah - Home To OHV Enthusiasts! - If you’re looking for a vacation destination might we suggest Garfield County Utah where, according to at least one angry and biased reporter, they favor ATVs. We say “congratulations Garfield County and Thank you!”
• BFGoodrich Awards Grant and Award To Redbird State Riding Area (IN) - We’re very glad that BFGoodrich has this type of program and are looking for more companies that make money off of the OHV sport to become involved in this manner.  We applaud BFGoodrich for this program!
• Ranting From An “Environmentalist” Wacko - Now ORV use on a larger area of Big Cypress in Florida will lead to the extinction of the Florida Panther! Will these frigging lunatics ever stop?

Stop back often or subscribe to our feed to stay up-to-date on ATV, OHV, 4×4 and Public Land Use Issues!

To read more in-depth about the topics below and to see other items go to OHV Public Land Use and ATV Parks

• St. Anthony, ID Shooting for ATV Parade Record - City officials in this eastern Idaho town (St. Anthony) are hoping to set a new ATV parade record by drawing at least 2,276 participants to the St. Anthony ATV and Sand Rail Parade next weekend (June 16th).  
• California Legislature Looking at Large Increase in Riding Fees at Oceano Dunes -California politicians are seriously considering a bill that would double entrance fees at all of California’s OHV parks to $10.00 for each vehicle and an additional $10.00 for a trailer. Under the bill, the new sticker fees for OHV vehicles would increase a whopping 228%! The fees would go form $25.00 every two years up to $82.00!  What we want to ask the politicians in this case is for a detailed accounting for the spending of the funds currently obtained from the current entrance fees and OHV stickers! The OHV community already commits a lot of money to fund these parks in the state gas tax, federal off-road grants funded by the federal gas excise tax, and the direct park and OHV sticker fees! We’d like to know where all of this money is going before we’re going to agree on a seemingly arbitrary increase!
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Council Claims Kazuma Meerkat 50 Youth ATV Is Unsafe - The United States government agency, US Consumer Product Safety Council, has stated that the Chinese-made all-terrain vehicle, the Kazuma Meerkat 50 Youth All-Terrain Vehicle, is unsafe.  The distributor, Kazuma Pacific Inc. (a Texas business) has refused to recall the vehicle, declined to make any type of settlement with the US Consumer Product Safety Council and continues to sell the ATV!
• You Tell ‘Em Jenny! - An OHVer Speaks Out - In her words “The anti-access groups have engaged in a propaganda campaign of false information, scare tactics and threats. They have been incapable of debating the OHV/ORV issue in a reasonable, fair and intelligent manner. Contrary to the anti-access propaganda, OHV families are actually pro-environment…OHV families generate tremendous revenues for state and local governments and our local businesses.”
• Finally, ORV Advocates Are Playing The Same Game! - Joe Scott, a wealthy ORV advocate, has hired a professional spokesman/consultant/lobbyist closely tied to the power players involved in a battle over land designation in the Boulder-White Cloud Mountains of Central Idaho. This is one of the few times that the ORV side has availed itself of the political ties so very important in winning these types of battles!

To read more in-depth about these issues and others please go to ATV Parks and OHV Land Use Issues

To read about these topics more completely and to have links to the original articles please go to Off Road and ATV Riding Areas Information 

 Collier  County FL Opening New OHV / ATV Park In July 2007! - Collier County commissioners unanymously voted to approve a contract to lease land from the South Florida Water Management District and will open a park three weekends a month for up to two years. The OHV park will be north of Immokalee just east of State Road 29 and south of County Road 830 (south of the Collier-Hendry border).

Wildlands CPR Targets Off-Road Vehicle Abuse Of Public Lands - The Wildlands CPR was formed in 1994 and is a clearinghouse and network designed to dramtically decrease the ecological impacts of wildland roads on public lands. In other words, they are about dramatically decreasing our access to public lands. As their web site states, “a vocal minority of off-road vehicle users are driving all over our public lands…”

ATV Related Accidents and Deaths On The Rise - As reported in this article there were more than 136,000 ATV-related emergency-room visits in 2005 with 748 of them resulting in deaths. These are not minor numbers folks. With t hese problems rising look for more legislation focusing on ATV use and safety around the country. 

ATV Problems Dogging Folks In Ohio and PA - This article is another in a long series of “make all ATV riders look bad” for the actions of the minority.   Its official folks.  The press is out to get us.  We’re seeing a ton more of these negative articles with very few positive ones in the press.  It appears they have chosen sides and are now out to paint us as negatively as possible!

Edwards Air Force Base May Close Off Riding If Problems Continue - According to base 0fficials ORV riders who stray from existing paths in the designated ORV areas and insist on making new trails put those areas at risk of closure to all riders!