NYSORVA News for
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This e-mail newsletter is distributed by:
New York State Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle Assn., Inc.
PO Box 305
Ravena, NY 12143-0305
Please copy and distribute to all interested parties. Your participation affects the quality of this newsletter: Please submit your pertinent material for inclusion in subsequent issues.
Editor: Alex Ernst, Alex@nysorva.org
Our Official Homepage is located at http://www.nysorva.org
An index of past newsletter issues is available at http://www.nysorva.org/news/newslist.htm
To request an addition to or removal from the list, e-mail Alex@nysorva.org listing name and e-mail address.
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SUBJECTS FOR THIS NEWSLETTER ARE:
1: Lobby Day Success
2: Free Sticker
3: A letter from the President Regarding Lobby Day
4: Trail Funding Bill Update- A1060 Attention Needed
5: Mud Drags Announced
6: State Ed. Blows-off MC Safety Training Info
7: Recreational Trails Fund Grant Applications Available
8: Ride the Great White North
9: Why OHV Trails on Private Lands?
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1) LOBBY DAY SUCCESS
See an article by NYSORVA’s president located further on, detailing his impressions of the day.
The road motorcyclists were very complimentary and welcoming of our participation in the rally, and I was encouraged to address the crowd from the Capitol steps regarding our issues. Honored guest, Terry Lee Cook travelling from Ohio on behalf of the American Motorcyclist Association, exclaimed that to his knowledge, this was the first-ever instance of a road motorcycle group coordinating with an ATV/OHM group to rally for motorcyclist rights issues. We are proud to set this president and hope that the coalition we developed that day will last and be an example for groups in other states.
2) FREE NYSORVA STICKER
We have created a 4" round, eye-stabbing green sticker that says " I am a NYS Trail Rider and I Vote! Pass ATV Trail Bills S632/A1060." A NYSORVA logo is featured as the centerpiece of this creation. This sticker really catches your eye when placed on the back window of your vehicle, or on your bike or ATV.
If you would like a free copy of the sticker, please send us a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:
NYSORVA Sticker
We will provide one sticker per SASE. Clubs may request multiple copies for
distribution to members. Please contact me at
3) "CHAINSAW" WRITES . . .
To follow is an open letter to all
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Dear NYSORVA members and friends,
During the last two months or so, the NYSORVA staff has put forth many long
hours working on preparations for the first annual ATV/DIRTBIKE Lobby day at
the capital in
Representatives from many clubs and organizations came from across the state
to show their support for motorized trail use and a dedicated ATV trail fund in
NY. Represented were NYTRO of Western, Central and
It is apparent the road riders from ABATE of
I was fortunate enough to bring along my new Honda Shadow Spirit to join in the ride to the capitol. I was invited to ride beside the upper crust of the road riding community. ABATE of NY State Coordinator Tom Duffee and Legislative Coordinator Dave Kipp, AMA District 3 president Larry Schwartz, AMA Club Relations Specialist Terry Lee Cook of Ohio (a guest speaker) and representatives of many regional and local ABATE chapters. It was an honor for me to take part in this event, and these road riders treated us off roaders with the utmost respect and admiration for our participation and support.
During this event a strange thing happened. A bond between on and off road motorcyclists became prevalent. When asked why we ATV’ers were there, we answered whole heartedly, "Motorcyclist Solidarity." They thought that was cool. They offered support for our bills and asked what they could do. We handed them NYSORVA stickers to wear and they gladly affixed them to their leathers, bikes, helmets and T-shirts. They then rode into the capitol in all their helmetless splendor, with fluorescent green NYSORVA stickers standing out loud and proud for all to see.
When we reached the capitol, both on and off road motorcyclists were led into town by police escort and treated to up front parking on both sides of the closed off street at the foot of the capitol building. What a presence this was. People were lined up on both sides of the street rubbernecking to see what all the commotion was all about. Children and adults alike waved; motorists honked their horns in support. Police looked on as this peaceful demonstration rolled into town.
Speeches were next as all the top dogs in motorcycling in NY took their turns. Each speech as important as the next, all in different formats and styles, but none the less important. Each speaker was met with a loud round of applause on this hot and sticky day. Even when we spoke the bikers stayed and listened in support of our cause. They cheered us on as they did for their own and made us feel not only welcome but also at ease.
After the festivities were done, we all departed to seek out our legislators and drop off letters asking for their support for our specific bills. It is an amazing place. People everywhere. Unfortunately we did not get to see our representatives but none the less, we stopped in and delivered the goods. I felt like I really did something positive for once. It has empowered me to do more, to achieve higher standards for myself and of those I work with. I am proud to say that I was a part of Lobby Day 1999.
You too can do your part if you just make up your mind to do something. A letter, a phone call, a fax or just stopping by to help out will make a world of difference in your life and those who you assist. Don’t say to yourself, "I won’t be missed, I’m just one person. What difference could I make?" I’ve heard that so many times I can’t count. Please take the time to become a part of this great sport, not just as a rider but that of a true enthusiast. As the commercial says, "be all that you can be."
Sincerely,
Al "Chainsaw" MacKenzie
NYSORVA President
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4) ATV TRAIL FUND LEGISLATION UPDATE
Considering the efforts of all whom have contacted their legislative members and the work done by NYSORVA, the bills remain in a holding pattern. Time is running short to get anything accomplished in the current Legislative session, which ends on June 16 in yet another NY "Budget Debacle" year.
The Senate version S.632 was amended and submitted to the Senate Transportation Committee for review earlier this month, an action that was gratifying to see occur. At this point, the bill now needs to be quickly taken up by the committee to get it on an agenda for a full Senate vote. We need to keep positive input going to the Senate Committee Chairman, Sen. Caesar Trunzo, and committee members as well for this to happen.
There also needs to be a great deal of attention place right now on the Assembly version of the bill, A.1060. To date, bill sponsor Assemblymember Michael Bragman has deferred accepting the amendment proposed by NYSORVA already accepted by the Senate Sponsor, Michael Nozzolio. Mr. Bragman’s staff is waiting for the approval of a Transportation Committee staff attorney before the amendment will be accepted. The sponsor must encourage the committee attorney to move this bill up to the top of the pile if it ever to get a chance for consideration during this waning legislative session.
For this reason, we are asking anyone who is a resident of Assemblymember Bragman’s district to contact his office at least by letter, e-mail and phone. And if possible we would like to facilitate a meeting with a rider from his district to put a voter’s face to this issue at this critical time. The Assemblyman will be more likely to get the process moving if he knows one of his constituents is watching his actions.
Please contact
Here is the information to contact the Sponsor’s offices:
The Hon. Michael Bragman
E-mail: bragman@assembly.state.ny.us
Local office-
5) MUD DRAGS
The Lewis County-based Highmarket Wheelers ATV
Club Inc. would like us to share with you the announcement of their 4-Wheeler
Mud Drag Races on
(Highmarket Wheelers ATV Club Inc.,
6) MOTORCYCLE SAFETY TRAINING INFO BLOW-OFF
Recently AMA D3 President, Larry Schwartz, attempted to contact the New York State Department of Education to ask them to consider providing materials to high schools regarding the DMV-sponsored motorcycle safety training courses. He was met with discourteous disinterest and was unable to speak with staff or schedule a meeting regarding the matter.
A coalition of staff from AMA-NY, ABATE-NY, and NYSORVA contends that a certain number of youngsters will always be attracted to motorcycling and that keeping safety training information from such riders could potentially result in unnecessary injury and death, which would otherwise be avoided by the well-informed youth rider.
The coalition would appreciate your participation in getting attention drawn to this important issue. Below is a draft letter for you to copy, edit and send to the Department, which asks for reconsideration of the matter:
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Hon. Roseanne DeFabio
Assistant Commissioner
State Education Department
681
<Put date here>
Dear Ms. DeFabio:
It has come to my attention that you have declined to meet with Larry Schwartz, president of District III of the American Motorcyclist Association on a matter of great importance that would save some teenagers' lives.
I sincerely regret your unwillingness to discuss this topic, which deals with educational materials that should be available to every high schooler who is considering riding a motorcycle. There are many of these youth riders who need to be reached.
This material, already developed, should be available in guidance offices throughout the state. Please change your mind and meet with Mr. Schwartz on this important safety issue.
Respectfully,
<signature>
<name>
<address>
<phone>
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7) RECREATIONAL TRAILS FUND GRANT APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE
Our snowmobiling friend James Jennings (rideacat@telenet.net), NYSSA Hamilton County Director, writes "The new applications for the Recreational Trails Program should now be available from the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (518-474-0445) or contact Robert Reinhardt at (518-474-0415). Remember this is federal grant money not to be confused with the [fund developed with snowmobile] registration fee."
"...The maximum project size is $100,000.00 which at 80% reimbursement
a club or town could get $80,000.00 payback. The minimum project size is
$6,250.00 which at 80% would provide $5,000.00. Project applications must be
completed and returned by
Note that this program can grant directly to a group and does not have to go to a government agency. The fund comes from a federal block grant built on a portion of federal gas taxes. This portion was determined as being part of the taxes paid for fuel used for non-highway purposes such as ATV and snowmobile use. 30% of the fund is applicable for single-use-motorized projects, 40% is eligible for multi-use, combined motor/nonmotor use, and the remaining 30% may go to non-motorized use projects. To date no ATV and trail bike trail projects have been funded out of the grant program as no applications for such projects have been made. So, we encourage ATV and trail bike clubs out there to brake the pattern of disuse of this fund and get back what OHVers have been paying in all these years.
This is apparently a reimbursement grant program, not a pre-project grant. So arrangements may need to be made to get funding from other sources for certain projects. The application will give all the details.
8) RIDE THE GREAT WHITE NORTH
Our riding friends from North of the border write:
"If you're interested in enduros I would like
to invite you to the Corduroy Enduro. This is a 2 Day
National Event run at the end of September from
THANK YOU
Ted Piuni, steelcity@nas.net"
Sounds like a beauty, eh?
9)
This article follows in series with an article from the
There are several important distinctions when classifying OHV use on
privately owned lands: trails available for the general public, trails
available by permission only, trails available to members of a club, and
problematically, trails created by trespass or on unsupervised vacant lands.
There are currently no "official" public access ATV trails located on
private lands in
An excellent example of the success of a major official trail system on
private lands comes thanks to the decades of efforts by
Furthermore, many will argue on both pro- and anti-motorized sides that OHV trails should not be placed on public lands for ideological reasons. Riders will contend that they would rather not have governmental agencies having purview over the trails they ride, while non-riders will say that there is no place for such an intrusive activity pursued by a minority group on the public’s lands. Facts aside that OHV recreationalists actually comprise a significant constituency in this state, the "no motors in my public park" sentiment still plays loudly to public land managers and politicians.
If you would like to share your opinion on the private vs. public OHV access
issue, please write to me at