Congress votes to close more than 2 million acres nationwide to off-
highway vehicles
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- By a 285-to-140 vote, U.S. House members on
March 25 approved a bill that closes more than 2 million acres of
public land nationwide to off-highway motorcycles, all-terrain
vehicles and all other motorized vehicles, the American Motorcyclist
Association (AMA) reports.
Following congressional maneuvering that breathed new life into the
measure after it was defeated just a couple weeks earlier, the
lawmakers approved H.R. 146, known as the Revolutionary War and War of
1812 Battlefield Acquisition Grant Program. This bill was formerly
known as S. 22, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009.
Congress' first attempt to pass this measure, S. 22, was defeated two
weeks ago in the House. However, following that defeat, the Senate
leadership brought H.R. 146 to the floor, inserted the language from
S. 22, and passed the bill on March 19 by a vote of 77 to 20.
It then went to the House for the March 25 vote.
"The measure unreasonably bans motorized recreation on 2.1 million
acres of public lands by inappropriately designating it as
Wilderness," said AMA Vice President for Government Relations Ed
Moreland. "This is a sad day not only for responsible motorized
recreation but also for a democratic process that is supposed to
welcome public input and the opportunity for congressional review.
"For example, House members never debated more than 70 of the bills
included in this package before the vote," he said.
The measure, which now goes to President Obama to be signed into law,
consists of a daunting collection of more than 160 pieces of
legislation and more than 1,300 pages of text.
Under the bill, areas where motorized vehicles won't be allowed
include parts of the Monogahela National Forest in West Virginia;
Jefferson National Forest in Virginia; Mount Hood, Badlands, Spring
Basin and Copper Salmon areas in Oregon; Sabinoso in New Mexico;
Riverside County in California; and Washington County in Utah.
U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) noted in a House floor speech on Feb. 9
that "there are recreation restrictions in this bill.
"These (the AMA and other responsible recreation) groups' members
include millions of off-highway enthusiasts, vacationing families, and
small businesses involved in the system. And what they have pleaded
with us to do is, quoting from the letter that many groups signed, 'It
is our sincere hope that this Congress will develop a thoughtful
approach to managing our public lands more than simply eliminating
public access and creating additional layers of bureaucracy. Continued
reasonable access to public lands is vitally important for current and
future generations.'
"So why the rush on this particular bill?" Bishop asked. "And who are
the losers, other than Americans who enjoy recreating on public land?"
Moreland warned that these kinds of threats aren't going to end.
"This land grab is just the latest effort by the federal government to
restrict recreational access to America's public lands," he said. "AMA
members responded to our calls to action and helped us shape the
debate of this legislation.
"Our voice must grow stronger if we are to head off these and other
threats in the future, and I encourage all motorcyclists to sign up
for AMA's legislative alerts," he said.
Through the AMA Government Relations Department's Action E-list,
riders can be notified by e-mail when they can make a difference on
important issues. To sign up, go to the AMA website at
www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com,
click on "Rights," then "Issues & Legislation," and then "Action E-
list."
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has promoted and protected the motorcycling
lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life and they navigate
many different routes on their journey to the same destination:
freedom on two wheels. As the world's largest motorcycle organization
with nearly 300,000 members, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists'
interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the
committees of international governing organizations and the court of
public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA
sanctions more motorsports competition events than any other
organization in the world. Through its Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum,
the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations.
For more information, visit www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com.
On Mar 26, 1:17 pm, edi...@mxnewsfeed.com wrote:
> Congress votes to close more than 2 million acres nationwide to off-
> highway vehicles
> PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- By a 285-to-140 vote, U.S. House members on
> March 25 approved a bill that closes more than 2 million acres of
> public land nationwide to off-highway motorcycles, all-terrain
> vehicles and all other motorized vehicles, the American Motorcyclist
> Association (AMA) reports.
> Following congressional maneuvering that breathed new life into the
> measure after it was defeated just a couple weeks earlier, the
> lawmakers approved H.R. 146, known as the Revolutionary War and War of
> 1812 Battlefield Acquisition Grant Program. This bill was formerly
> known as S. 22, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009.
> Congress' first attempt to pass this measure, S. 22, was defeated two
> weeks ago in the House. However, following that defeat, the Senate
> leadership brought H.R. 146 to the floor, inserted the language from
> S. 22, and passed the bill on March 19 by a vote of 77 to 20.
> It then went to the House for the March 25 vote.
> "The measure unreasonably bans motorized recreation on 2.1 million
> acres of public lands by inappropriately designating it as
> Wilderness," said AMA Vice President for Government Relations Ed
> Moreland. "This is a sad day not only for responsible motorized
> recreation but also for a democratic process that is supposed to
> welcome public input and the opportunity for congressional review.
> "For example, House members never debated more than 70 of the bills
> included in this package before the vote," he said.
> The measure, which now goes to President Obama to be signed into law,
> consists of a daunting collection of more than 160 pieces of
> legislation and more than 1,300 pages of text.
> Under the bill, areas where motorized vehicles won't be allowed
> include parts of the Monogahela National Forest in West Virginia;
> Jefferson National Forest in Virginia; Mount Hood, Badlands, Spring
> Basin and Copper Salmon areas in Oregon; Sabinoso in New Mexico;
> Riverside County in California; and Washington County in Utah.
> U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) noted in a House floor speech on Feb. 9
> that "there are recreation restrictions in this bill.
> "These (the AMA and other responsible recreation) groups' members
> include millions of off-highway enthusiasts, vacationing families, and
> small businesses involved in the system. And what they have pleaded
> with us to do is, quoting from the letter that many groups signed, 'It
> is our sincere hope that this Congress will develop a thoughtful
> approach to managing our public lands more than simply eliminating
> public access and creating additional layers of bureaucracy. Continued
> reasonable access to public lands is vitally important for current and
> future generations.'
> "So why the rush on this particular bill?" Bishop asked. "And who are
> the losers, other than Americans who enjoy recreating on public land?"
> Moreland warned that these kinds of threats aren't going to end.
> "This land grab is just the latest effort by the federal government to
> restrict recreational access to America's public lands," he said. "AMA
> members responded to our calls to action and helped us shape the
> debate of this legislation.
> "Our voice must grow stronger if we are to head off these and other
> threats in the future, and I encourage all motorcyclists to sign up
> for AMA's legislative alerts," he said.
> Through the AMA Government Relations Department's Action E-list,
> riders can be notified by e-mail when they can make a difference on
> important issues. To sign up, go to the AMA website atwww.AmericanMotorcyclist.com,
> click on "Rights," then "Issues & Legislation," and then "Action E-
> list."
> About the American Motorcyclist Association
> Since 1924, the AMA has promoted and protected the motorcycling
> lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life and they navigate
> many different routes on their journey to the same destination:
> freedom on two wheels. As the world's largest motorcycle organization
> with nearly 300,000 members, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists'
> interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the
> committees of international governing organizations and the court of
> public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA
> sanctions more motorsports competition events than any other
> organization in the world. Through its Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum,
> the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations.
> For more information, visitwww.AmericanMotorcyclist.com.
Better get used to it.
Tyranny of the majority, and tyranny of those with the bucks.
What we love to do is being legislated out of existence, and there is
no way to stop it.
No *legal* way, anyway.
For those that have legal places to ride that you have lost or will
soon be losing, my condolences.
Here in NY, this happened a long time ago.
Even CT has legal riding areas, fer chrissakes!
Dave
> Henry Thoreau claimed it is "moral to disobey an immoral law"
I still can't believe all y'all out-west guys pay any attention to the
'no-riding' rules. Sheesh - there's 10 billion acres out there - who
cares if you're "allowed" to ride there. What are the odds that
you'll run into any enforcement? 1000 to 1? And if you do happen to
get bagged, so what? Take the ticket and pay it. I know I write a
couple of tresspassing/no registration tickets into my annual budget -
it's cheaper than registration.
JayC
>> Henry Thoreau claimed it is "moral to disobey an immoral law"
> I still can't believe all y'all out-west guys pay any attention to the
> 'no-riding' rules. Sheesh - there's 10 billion acres out there - who
> cares if you're "allowed" to ride there. What are the odds that
> you'll run into any enforcement? 1000 to 1? And if you do happen to
> get bagged, so what? Take the ticket and pay it. I know I write a
> couple of tresspassing/no registration tickets into my annual budget -
> it's cheaper than registration.
Someone bought me a T-shirt that says "It's only illegal if you get caught"
As president and founder of our local club, it would be more than the
average penalty if I were to do something and get caught. Very hard to
claim ignorance when I have been involved in every USFS decision for the
last 15+ years. IF I were to engage in such questionable activities, I
would have to be very careful.
The USFS & BLM are already ramping up their penalties for these type of
things. Facing a federal offense with big fines & possible jail time are
not to be taken lightly. Precautions should be in proportion to the penalty
as well as the likelihood of encountering an enforcement officer.
Suggested precautions might include small group sizes, very quiet bikes,
riding during the week and/or riding very early in the day.
XML Sitemap
> highway vehicles
> PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- By a 285-to-140 vote, U.S. House members on
> March 25 approved a bill that closes more than 2 million acres of
> public land nationwide to off-highway motorcycles, all-terrain
> vehicles and all other motorized vehicles, the American Motorcyclist
> Association (AMA) reports.
> Following congressional maneuvering that breathed new life into the
> measure after it was defeated just a couple weeks earlier, the
> lawmakers approved H.R. 146, known as the Revolutionary War and War of
> 1812 Battlefield Acquisition Grant Program. This bill was formerly
> known as S. 22, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009.
> Congress' first attempt to pass this measure, S. 22, was defeated two
> weeks ago in the House. However, following that defeat, the Senate
> leadership brought H.R. 146 to the floor, inserted the language from
> S. 22, and passed the bill on March 19 by a vote of 77 to 20.
> It then went to the House for the March 25 vote.
> "The measure unreasonably bans motorized recreation on 2.1 million
> acres of public lands by inappropriately designating it as
> Wilderness," said AMA Vice President for Government Relations Ed
> Moreland. "This is a sad day not only for responsible motorized
> recreation but also for a democratic process that is supposed to
> welcome public input and the opportunity for congressional review.
> "For example, House members never debated more than 70 of the bills
> included in this package before the vote," he said.
> The measure, which now goes to President Obama to be signed into law,
> consists of a daunting collection of more than 160 pieces of
> legislation and more than 1,300 pages of text.
> Under the bill, areas where motorized vehicles won't be allowed
> include parts of the Monogahela National Forest in West Virginia;
> Jefferson National Forest in Virginia; Mount Hood, Badlands, Spring
> Basin and Copper Salmon areas in Oregon; Sabinoso in New Mexico;
> Riverside County in California; and Washington County in Utah.
> U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) noted in a House floor speech on Feb. 9
> that "there are recreation restrictions in this bill.
> "These (the AMA and other responsible recreation) groups' members
> include millions of off-highway enthusiasts, vacationing families, and
> small businesses involved in the system. And what they have pleaded
> with us to do is, quoting from the letter that many groups signed, 'It
> is our sincere hope that this Congress will develop a thoughtful
> approach to managing our public lands more than simply eliminating
> public access and creating additional layers of bureaucracy. Continued
> reasonable access to public lands is vitally important for current and
> future generations.'
> "So why the rush on this particular bill?" Bishop asked. "And who are
> the losers, other than Americans who enjoy recreating on public land?"
> Moreland warned that these kinds of threats aren't going to end.
> "This land grab is just the latest effort by the federal government to
> restrict recreational access to America's public lands," he said. "AMA
> members responded to our calls to action and helped us shape the
> debate of this legislation.
> "Our voice must grow stronger if we are to head off these and other
> threats in the future, and I encourage all motorcyclists to sign up
> for AMA's legislative alerts," he said.
> Through the AMA Government Relations Department's Action E-list,
> riders can be notified by e-mail when they can make a difference on
> important issues. To sign up, go to the AMA website atwww.AmericanMotorcyclist.com,
> click on "Rights," then "Issues & Legislation," and then "Action E-
> list."
> About the American Motorcyclist Association
> Since 1924, the AMA has promoted and protected the motorcycling
> lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life and they navigate
> many different routes on their journey to the same destination:
> freedom on two wheels. As the world's largest motorcycle organization
> with nearly 300,000 members, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists'
> interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the
> committees of international governing organizations and the court of
> public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA
> sanctions more motorsports competition events than any other
> organization in the world. Through its Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum,
> the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations.
> For more information, visitwww.AmericanMotorcyclist.com.