Yesterday, Ben and I had the opportunity to meet with agency leaders at the U.S. Forest Service.
And I walked out of that meeting feeling something I don’t always feel when we talk to federal agencies: They get it.
They understand that the motorized community is not just asking for access. We are doing the work to keep access possible.
Our clubs, our volunteers, our families, and our businesses are often the ones clearing trails, maintaining routes, hauling tools, moving trees, fixing damage, picking up trash, reporting problems, and showing up again and again because we believe these public lands belong to all of us.
That matters.
We had a really meaningful conversation about how to make volunteering easier, how to reduce some of the barriers that keep good people from helping, and how to breathe new life into programs like Adopt-a-Trail so the people who love these places can do more to care for them.
This Saturday, June 6, is National Trails Day.
Currently, this day has been organized mostly around the hiking community. And I’ll be honest — the motorized community is probably a day late and a dollar short in getting organized around it this year.
But after yesterday’s meeting, I don’t think we should sit it out. The people overseeing our National Forests believe that the motorized community belongs there.
The Forest Service wants to see people out on trails. They want to promote volunteerism. They want to show that Americans care about public lands. And I want them to see us.
So here’s what they’ve asked of the OHV community:
If you are out this Saturday, riding, driving, volunteering, clearing brush, picking up trash, maintaining a trail, helping with your club, or just recreating responsibly, please take a photo or video and share what you are doing.
Tag BlueRibbon Coalition. Tag your local forest agency if it makes sense. Use #NationalTrailsDay, #WeBelongHere, and #DefendYourGround.
Let’s show them what they already know: The motorized community belongs on public lands. And we are one of the reasons these trails stay open.
- Shannon Welch
Vice President, BlueRibbon Coalition
