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Here's a quick Land Use article I wrote a long time ago, before I knew about this forum. Just thought I'd post it here as well, for those who haven't seen it before:
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3 Things All Jeep Enthusiasts Should Do
We, the American People, collectively own well over 600 million acres of land, which by some estimates is nearly 40% of the total American land mass. These public lands are managed by:
• The U.S. Forest Service (FS)
• The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
• The U.S. National Park Service (NPS)
• and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
It is my belief, as well as that of those governmental management agencies, that no singular type of recreation is exclusively appropriate for all public land, but rather that there are many types of valid recreational activites, and that within the vast public land holdings there are at least SOME areas which are appropriate and legal for motorized recreational OHV use. But RECREATIONAL MANAGEMENT is a must! It‘s good for everyone because it specifies which of those areas are appropriate for what kinds of recreational use, minimizing user conflicts and ensuring that no one has their chosen recreational experience “ruined” by anyone else.
As Jeep 4x4 enthusiasts, we should be doing THREE (3) things to improve our public image, especially with the folks we share our trails with:
#1 — SELF-POLICE.
Make sure our image isn't dominated by the few “bad apples” out there. If you see someone doing something that’s wrong (for example, driving off the trail), TELL THEM! 9-times-out-of-10, they probably don’t even know it’s wrong!
And if YOU want to know what’s “right” and what’s “wrong”, consult your handy-dandy TreadLightly! guidebook, which you should carry in your Jeep. If you don't already have a TreadLightly! guidebook, go to their website and order one (or several, and give them out to your wheelin buddies and fellow club members); the guidebook is FREE and full of great info.
#2 — MINIMIZE USER CONFLICTS.
If you see other non 4x4 users on a trail, be as courteous as humanly possible.
Give them the right of way.
If they’re on horseback, shut off your engine so you don't scare the horses!
Basically, make sure that the NON-JEEPERS you meet on the trails have a POSITIVE experience dealing with us.
#3 — ADVOCATE FOR OUR RIGHTS.
That means support the organizations that support us.
If you haven’t already, join the Blue Ribbon Coalition. Join Tread Lighty. Join United 4WD. They only exist because of the MONEY they get from the membership dues we pay.
And for heaven’s sake, JOIN the ARRA (it’s free!) and take part in their email letter campaigns; because every letter you send counters a complaint letter that some other upset user or radical Environmentalist sent to try and close our trails.
ASSOCIATED LINKS:
BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC)
www.sharetrails.org
TreadLightly!
www.treadlightly.org
United Four Wheel Drive Association (UNITED)
www.ufwda.org
Americans for Responsible Recreational Access (ARRA)
www.arra-access.com
- Duane Smith
---------------------------------------------------------
3 Things All Jeep Enthusiasts Should Do
We, the American People, collectively own well over 600 million acres of land, which by some estimates is nearly 40% of the total American land mass. These public lands are managed by:
• The U.S. Forest Service (FS)
• The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
• The U.S. National Park Service (NPS)
• and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
It is my belief, as well as that of those governmental management agencies, that no singular type of recreation is exclusively appropriate for all public land, but rather that there are many types of valid recreational activites, and that within the vast public land holdings there are at least SOME areas which are appropriate and legal for motorized recreational OHV use. But RECREATIONAL MANAGEMENT is a must! It‘s good for everyone because it specifies which of those areas are appropriate for what kinds of recreational use, minimizing user conflicts and ensuring that no one has their chosen recreational experience “ruined” by anyone else.
As Jeep 4x4 enthusiasts, we should be doing THREE (3) things to improve our public image, especially with the folks we share our trails with:
#1 — SELF-POLICE.
Make sure our image isn't dominated by the few “bad apples” out there. If you see someone doing something that’s wrong (for example, driving off the trail), TELL THEM! 9-times-out-of-10, they probably don’t even know it’s wrong!
And if YOU want to know what’s “right” and what’s “wrong”, consult your handy-dandy TreadLightly! guidebook, which you should carry in your Jeep. If you don't already have a TreadLightly! guidebook, go to their website and order one (or several, and give them out to your wheelin buddies and fellow club members); the guidebook is FREE and full of great info.
#2 — MINIMIZE USER CONFLICTS.
If you see other non 4x4 users on a trail, be as courteous as humanly possible.
Give them the right of way.
If they’re on horseback, shut off your engine so you don't scare the horses!
Basically, make sure that the NON-JEEPERS you meet on the trails have a POSITIVE experience dealing with us.
#3 — ADVOCATE FOR OUR RIGHTS.
That means support the organizations that support us.
If you haven’t already, join the Blue Ribbon Coalition. Join Tread Lighty. Join United 4WD. They only exist because of the MONEY they get from the membership dues we pay.
And for heaven’s sake, JOIN the ARRA (it’s free!) and take part in their email letter campaigns; because every letter you send counters a complaint letter that some other upset user or radical Environmentalist sent to try and close our trails.
ASSOCIATED LINKS:
BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC)
www.sharetrails.org
TreadLightly!
www.treadlightly.org
United Four Wheel Drive Association (UNITED)
www.ufwda.org
Americans for Responsible Recreational Access (ARRA)
www.arra-access.com
- Duane Smith
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