Subject: Access Issues & Responsible Recreation;
Great website - Great information

Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2001 08:07:44 -0700

Outdoor Enthusiasts:

The Responsible Recreation website depicted below has some very useful information, including issues concerning the President elect's cabinet nominations.

Date: 1/13/1 6:41 PM
From: Mel Wolf

This site is one you have to visit and sign onto. It offers free faxes to your Senators as well as a free phone call back to express your views. Check it out. There is a ton of good information available if you browse it thoroughly. Don't mean to be repetitive, but at least give it a look.

www.responsiblerecreation.com

Here is one excerpt from the site.

http://responsiblerecreation.policy.net/issue

Fact Sheet: Responsible Recreational Access

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

More than 15 million Americans enjoy the benefits of OHVs (off-highway vehicles, including off-road and dual motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles).

OHV use is a recreational activity enjoyed by the entire family. For California alone, at Pismo Dunes, the state vehicle recreation area with the most annual visitors (1.1 million), 70% of those surveyed came with families.

A conservative estimate of the economic value of the off-highway motorcycle and ATV market was $18 billion for 1998.

All off-highway motorcycles meet EPA noise emission standards. These EPA regulations also specify extensive labeling requirements, testing procedures and audits, and related matters. On a voluntary basis, the member companies of the
SVIA have made sure that their new ATV models also meet EPA noise emission standards for off-highway motorcycles.

The off-highway motorcycle and ATV industries have conducted numerous public awareness campaigns promoting environmental responsibility and workshops for land managers, emphasizing methods to control noise and lessen environmental impacts.

The ATV industry promotes safe and responsible use of all-terrain vehicles through promotion of model state ATV legislation that it has developed and advocates to state legislatures. Nearly half a million ATV riders have received hands-on training in the safe and responsible use of ATVs through ATV RiderCourses provided by the ATV industry at more than 1,000 locations throughout all 50 states.

Personal Watercraft Facts

Today's typical personal watercraft owner is 41 years old, married with children, and on average has 15 years of experience operating a powered watercraft.

PWC owners spend more that $300 million on their sport annually. More than 2,000 retail businesses service and sell PWCs.

To date, the boating industry has invested more than $1 billion to develop engine technologies that have increased fuel efficiency and reduced hydrocarbon emissions, in newer models by as much as 75% (a level of reduction it took the
auto industry more than 25 years to achieve). The same engines are as much as 70% quieter than 1998 models.

The personal watercraft industry actively promotes mandatory education initiatives for PWC operators. In fact, model legislation developed by the industry in 1998 - and adopted by 26 states to date - includes mandatory education requirements along with effective operations regulations.

Since 1989, the industry has loaned almost 11,000 personal watercraft - at an estimated retail value of $55 million - to hundreds of law enforcement, rescue and boating education agencies which benefit from PWC use because the craft are small, easy to handle, highly maneuverable, and economical to operate.

Snowmobile Facts

There are more than 4 million snowmobilers in the U.S. and Canada. Median age for snowmobilers is 41, married, with children who also snowmobile; 95% of snowmobilers consider it family recreation.

Snowmobiling contributes over $9 billion to the U.S. and Canadian economies. State studies have shown a considerable economic boost from snowmobiling activities: $189.5 million in Wyoming (1995 figure); $165 million in Vermont
(1995); $95.5 million in Pennsylvania (1996); $367 million in New Hampshire; $261 million in Maine (1998).

Sound levels for snowmobiles have been reduced 94% since they were first manufactured. For comparison, it would take 256 of today's snowmobiles to equal the noise of a pre-1969 machine.

Public snowmobile trail systems are funded by snowmobile registration fees, gas tax rebates and trial permits - that is, completely by snowmobile users. Trails are designed to maximize safety, minimize environmental impact, and provide access to recreational and scenic destinations. During the non-winter months these trails are often used by hikers, horseback riders, bicyclists and other users - and are always available for public safety access.

Horseback Riders Facts

Recreational use of horses is the fastest growing segment of the horse industry, involving almost 3 million Americans and an economic impact of more than $28 billion, including almost 317,000 full-time jobs