NYSORVA News for 3/9/01
This
e-mail newsletter is distributed by:
New York State Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle Assn., Inc.
PO Box 305
Ravena, NY 12143-0305
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-
Editor: Alex Ernst, Alex@nysorva.org
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SUBJECTS
FOR THIS NEWSLETTER ARE:
1) Trail Funding Legislation Update
2) Reports on recent DEC landuse Meetings
3) EVENTS PAGE! Finally
4) AMA Announces Online Rapid Response Center
5) OHV Facts
6) NHTSA nominee not right for motorcyclists?
7) Letter of the Month (Mike Cayo)
8) Group buying land needs members
1) TRIAL FUNDING
LEGISLATION UPDATE
Since 1993, NYSORVA has
been continuously pursuing the enactment of Legislation to re-establish the NYS
ATV Trail Development and Maintenance Fund. The Fund originally was enacted by
State Law in 1986 but was abolished in 1990 by the NYS Legislature while the
State was in recession, to help balance the budget, to the tune of $500,000+ of
our registration money. In other words, it was stolen. And we continue to be
required to pay a registration fee for ATVs and off-highway motorcycles to this
day.
2001 holds exception
prospects for the Trail Funding Legislation because we have secured new
Legislative Sponsors in both the Senate and Assembly, to effectively move the
bills through their paces. Senator John A. DeFrancisco (R, D. 49, parts of
Onondaga Co.) and Assembly Member Joseph D. Morelle (D, District 132, parts of
Monroe Co.) have pledged their Sponsorship, and they both work together well
and have particular personal interest in our issue because they are the
Chairmen of the Tourism Committees in their respective houses of the
Legislature. This is a real bonus to help propel the bills forward.
As of this writing (March
9, 2001), the bills are in the process of being re-drafted by the Sponsors'
staff and have not been assigned bill numbers. As soon as we have been notified
of bill numbers, we will share them with you and make copies available
electronically through the web site.
And once the bills are
numbered, it will be time to go into full lobbying mode to get all Legislative
reps onboard to get the bills through Committee and to the floor for a
VOTE!
A Legislation Tracking Page
will be maintained at http://www.nysorva.org/legislation/.
2) REPORTS ON RECENT DEC
LANDUSE MEETINGS
a) Brasher State Forest Landuse Meeting 3/7/01
Tri Town ATV Riders Club
member, Warren Irwin reports:
"Attended the UMP
meeting in Brasher last night and from my view point, all went pretty well.
There was 250+ there and all had different concerns. I believe there were 20 or
so people that got up and had a say in what they would like to see happen with
the plan. The ATVers had more than enough concerns presented at the meeting,
along with the hikers and enviromentalish. I think that the meeting went very
well. Bob Gleason was one of the speakers and he did alright in getting our
message across to the DEC. There were others there from other clubs that had
their viewpoints and concerns about the forest and the trails in it. We even
had the Native Americans there with their concerns about the forest and their
needs for black ash. Like I said, all the concerns from all sides were
addressed at the meeting, now we have to wait and see what the final results
will be." Indeed we will.
It is time to send your
follow-up comments regarding Brasher SF landuse to:
Mike Perry, UMP Team Leader
NYSDEC, 6739 U.S. Highway 11,
Potsdam N.Y. 13678
FAX (315) 265-2513 (Phone
315-265-3090)
Or e-mail
mailto:r6ump@gw.dec.state.ny.us.
You can keep up-to-date on
the progress of this initiative at http://www.nysorva.org/documents/brasher_ump.htm.
- - - -
b) Saratoga County State Forest Landuse Meeting 2/28/01
NYSORVA Secretary, [name removed by request], reports that the 2/28 DEC meeting to discuss future uses of 3 state
forests in Saratoga County was very well attended, on the order of 120+ people.
He estimated 85% of the attendees were representing OHV interests of
snowmobiling, ATVing and off-highway motorcycling. Many made the effort to
express their interest in DEC accommodating OHV recreation within the state
forests.
Due to a shortness of time,
comments were cut short with many more attendees wishing to speak at the
closing of the meeting.
Anyone who could not
attend, or who attended but did not get a chance to speak, are encouraged to
submit comments your interests in the uses of these forests (pro-OHV or
whatever your interest) via mail, fax, or e-mail. Info to do so is provided
below.
John Hastings, Forester
NYS DEC
PO Box 220
232 Hudson St.
Warrensburg, NY 12885
Fax (518) 623-3603
mailto:jthastin@gw.dec.state.ny.us
- - - - -
THANK YOU to all who
attended these meeting, some of whom drove more that 4 hours one-way to do so!
3) EVENTS PAGE
Although it is still a
work-in-progress (send in your info, folks!), as a starting point we have
finally gotten a page up for the 2001 season to list organized events, in NY and
adjacent states, for ATV, and dual-sport and off-highway motorcycling. The page
also includes links to the Western NY Offroad Assn. and New England Trail Rider
Ass. Enduro/Hare Scramble schedules.
If you know of an event we
have not posted, bring it to our attention via email at
mailto:Alex@nysorva.org.
The page is http://www.nysorva.org/2001events.htm.
4) AMA Rapid Response
Center
The online application AMA
has made available to us, noted below, is not just for road riders; it benefits
ATV and off-road motorcycle riders too:
February 12, 2001 Phone: (614) 856-1900
For Immediate Release
Fax: (614) 856-1920
AMA Launches Rapid Response Center
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- A new service offered by the American
Motorcyclist Association (AMA) will put motorcyclists immediately in contact
with lawmakers, government officials and the media when important issues arise.
The AMA Rapid Response Center is designed to make sure the
voices of motorcyclists are heard when laws are being considered and
regulations are being written that could affect their future. It provides an
instantaneous link that targets a message directly to the people making
decisions.
The Rapid Response Center is a new part of the AMA's website
at www.AMADirectlink.com. By clicking the "AMA Rapid Response" logo,
motorcyclists are taken to a site where they can send e-mail messages on
current issues.
The AMA Rapid Response Center currently offers riders the
chance to file their objections to proposed federal rules that would have the
effect of legalizing health-insurance discrimination against motorcyclists. It
also includes a response to an unbalanced story in the USA Today newspaper
regarding the closure of a motorized-recreation area in Southern California.
"These are issues that simply can't wait," noted Ed
Moreland, vice president of government relations for the AMA. "If the
concerns of motorcyclists are going to be considered, we need to communicate
them immediately."
In the Rapid Response Center, motorcyclists will find
background on those vital issues, along with pre-written responses, already
directed toward officials in a position to make a difference. All the
motorcyclist needs to do is enter a name and contact information, then click a
button to send the message. In the case of issues before federal lawmakers, the
message can even be automatically directed to the representative and senators
for that motorcyclist.
The Rapid Response Center can also be used to help
motorcyclists quickly identify their representatives in Washington and get
background information on those officials, including the committees they sit on
and how to reach them by ordinary mail. The service even provides the names and
titles of key staff members, and identifies friends of motorcycling in
Congress.
"The ability to respond immediately when issues are on
the line is absolutely vital," Moreland said. "Thanks to increasing
technology, and the growing sophistication of the AMA's presence on the Internet,
we are able to provide that instantaneous link. It's as simple as point, click,
respond."
- - - end - - -
The American Motorcyclist Association is a 270,000-member
nonprofit organization. Established in 1924,
the Association's purpose is to pursue, protect and promote the interests of
motorcyclists, while serving the needs of its members. For more information,
visit the AMA website at http://www.AMADirectlink.com.
5) OHV FACTS
Submitted by Bill Durivage,
owner, Ballston Cycle & Truck, a KTM dealer (518-399-3939), member CATRA
and NYSORVA Supporter.
- - - - -
Current proposals to
restrict access to federal lands will affect users of off-highway and dual motorcycles,
all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, personal watercraft, bicycles (especially
mountain bikes), and 4-wheel drive vehicles – as well as horseback riders,
hunters, hikers, seniors and the disabled who currently use off-highway
vehicles, cars, trucks or vans to access park trails, facilities and
waterways.
Fully 90% of the federally
owned land in the U. S. is in the 11 Western states, excluding Alaska. In these 11 states, 40% of the land is
federally owned – and access to 50% of that land would be restricted under
these proposals.
OHV FACTS:
6) NHTSA Commissioner
nominee the wrong choice?
This nomination of takes us
by surprise considering the Bush administration would seem to be on the side of
recreational freedom. MRF is suggesting that this nominee would work against
the interests of our road-riding brethren. FYI and for your action if you feel
strongly about it.
-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Schwartz
[mailto:lschwartz@webramp.net]
Please take notice of the
following and take action right away. Thanks,
Larry Schwartz
President, AMA District III
Motorcycle Riders
Foundation -- MRF RIDERS’ ALERT!!!
PO BOX 1808, Washington, DC
20013-1808
202-546-0983 (voice)
202-546-0986 (fax)
wyld@mrf.org
(e-mail) http://www.mrf.org (website)
For a file of this news
release, reply to <MRF-NEWS@mrf.org> and request by file name:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tom Wyld
February, 16, 2001 #01-05
Phone: 202-546-0983
01NR05 - CHP Commissioner
Maurice Hannigan Recommended to Head NHTSA
The Los Angeles Times
reported yesterday that the National Safety Council is advancing the name of a
staunch anti-rider-rights advocate to head the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration.
This development requires a
vigorous response from the American motorcyclists’ rights movement.
Our membership in
California and motorcyclists generally have gone on alert at the prospect of
former Commissioner Maurice Hannigan being considered as the next NHTSA
Administrator. Pushed by the National
Safety Council who has opposed the freedom agenda of motorcyclists, former
Commissioner Hannigan championed California’s mandatory helmet law. His opposition to motorcyclists and their
rights over the years has been staunch, vocal, and consistent.
Some of the Motorcycle
Riders Foundation’s most prominent members in California have personal
knowledge of former Commissioner Hannigan’s resentment of riders and the
motorcyclists’ rights movement in America. Sources in California indicate that
Mr. Hannigan has made stereotypical and disparaging remarks about motorcycle
riders, especially those who actively work to protect their rights.
Call to action:
First: Call the White House at 202-456-1414. Politely but firmly explain your opposition
to former Commissioner Hannigan and any official for NHTSA’s top job that is
not respectful of motorcyclists, our rights and our freedom. If you can’t get through on the phone, send
an email to the following: mailto:President@whitehouse.gov.
Second: Reach at least 3 other riders NOW and urge
them to make the same call.
Third: Call your U.S. Senators at 202-224-3121 and
explain your opposition to any official for NHTSA’s top job that is not
respectful of our rights. Also, you can
find your senators’ email addresses at http://www.senate.gov/.
Thank you for your
continuing commitment to our safety and freedom.
Yours for the right to
ride,
Thomas C. Wyld
Vice President for
Government Relations
Motorcycle Riders
Foundation
<<30>>
The first motorcyclists’
rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, the
Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted exclusively
to the street rider. MRF established MRFPAC
in the early 1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion
the cause of rider safety and rider freedom.
MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists’ rights organizations and the
very founders of the American rider rights movement among its leading
members. Motorcyclists worldwide can
thumb-start their search for rider rights and safety on the web at www.mrf.org.
MRF: My Ride is Freedom. For further information
contact Tom Wyld at 202-546-0983 or by e-mail at wyld@mrf.org
© All information contained
in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation,
incorporated in 1987, is a membership based national motorcyclists' rights
organization headquartered in Washington D.C.
The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and regulations,
motorcycling safety education, training, licensing and public awareness. The MRF provides members and state
motorcyclists' rights organizations with direction and information to protect
motorcyclists' rights and motorcycling.
The MRF
sponsors annual regional
and national educational seminars for motorcyclists' rights activists and
publishes a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS. Voice: 202-546-0983, Fax: 202-546-0986, E-Mail: wyld@mrf.org, website: http://www.mrf.org/
7) LETTER OF THE MONTH
This was written to DEC
after the 2/28 public meeting regarding uses of the State Forests in Saratoga
County. It is one of the most articulate letters demonstrating our interests
we've seen in a while. We hope you can find some inspiration in it to make your
own commentary to DEC on the several opportunities we will have this year to
LET DEC know we would like some access to our public lands
[Addressed to Forester John
Hastings, NYS DEC, PO Box 220, 232 Hudson St., Warrensburg, NY 12885, Fax (518)
623-3603, mailto:jthastin@gw.dec.state.ny.us.]
[To Forester Hastings]
As I wasn't able to attend the DEC meeting this week in
Greenfield regarding state land resource planning in Saratoga County, I'd like
to forward you my comments electronically.
As a resident of Saratoga County (T. of Malta) and an avid ATVer (both
quad and enduro), I would certainly recommend and support that DEC include some
component designating multi-use areas of state land in this County. Actually, I would encourage similar planning
in many nearby counties as well, as I feel there are many potential areas
available. A neighbor and I, who also
rides enduros, often travel to Pittsfield State Forest in Mass. to ride the
legal ATV trail system there. During
our hour plus ride there, we always discuss how frustrating it is that NY
cannot provide a similar system that offers legal areas for ATV use. Why has this been so difficult for DEC to
establish in this state? I fully
understand there are many different groups of people having their own interests
and opinions, but I don't see where off road vehicle users have been
accommodated at all.
As a xc skier, I also enjoy being able to ski where no
motorized vehicles are allowed. But I
have plenty of choices, both locally and distant, where I can go and have that
offered. On the other hand, there are
times when snow conditions are poor and the best skiing is on a trail that has
been "groomed" by snowmobiles.
This was the case last Monday as I traveled to Lake Desolation and found
numerous snowmobile trails and enjoyed a wonderful ski. I knew in going there that I may come across
sledders and had no problem with that.
But even in the 3 hours that I skied there, I never came across anyone.
At 39 years old, I've been riding motorcycles since I was
14. Throughout this time, I've seen more
and more tracts of land become posted or developed. There is basically little or no areas left for us to ride. We desperately need DEC to take action and
become responsible for opening up some of "our" land for
multi-use. I'm convinced that other
concerned groups will find that ATVers, in general, will not only use these
lands responsibly, but will build trail systems that will accommodate and
benefit all. Just the creation of a
trail, for whatever use, opens up the opportunity for anyone to venture farther
into the woods and "use" the state lands where they may not have
before. This includes hikers, xc
skiers, snowshoers, mountain bicyclists, etc.
I feel strongly that if DEC cannot meet the requests of off
road vehicle users, then I would like to ask that the state stop requiring me
to pay yearly registration fees on these vehicles. As I understand it, these monies were supposed to be set aside
for the development of multi-use areas.
Thank you for considering my comments as part your planning
efforts and I hope they offer some support with our effort in this cause.
Mike Cayo
209 Rhule Rd South
Ballston Lake, NY 12019
8) GROUP BUYING LAND NEEDS
MEMBERS
Canton is located in one of
New York's hottest counties for sporting and OHV recreation, St. Lawrence. A
group has formed in Canton that is looking for members, dues to which will help
finance the purchase of a piece of land for riding and sporting. The following
was requested to be distributed to the List from the group's leader:
- - - - - -
We are buying 3300 acres in
the Adirondack Park. I'd be interested
in getting info to your members. You
can check out our website www.adirondackdiamond.com. There are over 15 miles of roads and trails for ATV use. Please respond if you can help us. It's a great opportunity, but limited.
Richard Todd, President
mailto:richtodd@northnet.org
Diamond Sportsmen's Club
Inc.
1287 Old Dekalb Rd
Canton, NY 13617
315-386-4073
- - - - - -
Their web site states,
"Hunting club memberships, camps, building sites, and camper sites will be
available on a first come first served basis. Act quickly so you don’t miss out
on a great opportunity. Many have been
spoken for already." While there is a significant stated upfront buy-in
transferable membership fee of $5000, plus annual dues (sounds sort of like a
condominium association), it looks like a great opportunity to take communal
ownership in a significant chuck of Adirondack land that will not be in danger
of being scooped away by the state and where recreation would not be
unreasonably restricted, without having to buy a whole chunk of land yourself.