ARRA Combines Forces With Other OHV Interests in an Effort to Help Ensure Successful Implementation of OHV Route Designation Rule

As ARRA has reported, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) published its Travel Management; Designated Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use rule on November 9, 2005.  The rule requires each National Forest or ranger district to designate those roads, trails, and areas that are open to motor vehicles.  This will be a massive undertaking that will require individual forests and districts to undergo an extensive process of route identification, evaluation, designation and mapping.  Many forests have already started the process and others will begin soon.  In an effort to help ensure that each forest hears and understands the needs of the OHV community ARRA has partnered with the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC), the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA), the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC), the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), United Four-Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA), and the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) to develop a land use database to collect and disseminate information regarding the USFS’ Travel Management Rule. 

ARRA members and members of the other associations will be able to input information about the rule, i.e. meeting times and locations, updates on status, concerns with the process etc. and ARRA and the other groups will be able to provide direction and assistance or help identify other off-highway enthusiasts in the area.  Representatives from each of the associations will review the collected data and work together to determine the most suitable course of action for each database submission.  This collaborative approach will allow the allied associations to pool resources and memberships and provide for a comprehensive approach to dealing with route designation. 

Please take this opportunity to review the Land Access Notification Database (LAND).  If you have been active at a National Forest in your area please let us know by completing a database submission.  If you are aware of upcoming meetings regarding OHV use or have a report about a recently completed meeting or hearing let us know.  Our groups are working together to do our best to ensure a successful implementation of the Travel Management rule but we cannot do this without your help.

Many Forests have outdated mailing lists and will provide little additional notification about their processes or upcoming meetings.  As such, it is crucial that all of our members become involved at the individual forest (and in some cases forest district) level.  Please stop by or call your local forest and ask to be placed on its mailing/email list for updates.  Ask how they intend to implement the Travel Management Rule then enter what you learned into the Land Access Notification Database.  With your involvement the OHV community will have our voice heard at Forests all across the country, without your involvement there will be an almost guaranteed loss of access to National Forest land for OHV use. 

A directory of National Forests with addresses and phone numbers can be found by clicking here.  Please get involved and help ARRA and the allied associations protect your right to access. 

Take Action!

Please visit the Land Access Notification Database and enter any information you have about your local forest’s implementation of the Travel Management Rule. 

What’s at Stake?

Each forest is undertaking an individual process to designate a system of routes, trails and areas where OHV use will be permitted.  Without input and participation from the OHV enthusiast community, Forests will almost assuredly restrict access and opportunities for a quality system. 

Visit or call your local Forest and ask to be placed on its mailing/email list.  Ask how they intend to implement the Travel Management Rule.  Then, visit the Land Access Notification Database and let us know what you learned.