the american motorcyclist association at 90 logo
TRANSCRIPT
THE IMPORTANCE OF
COALITIONS TO TRAILS
The American Motorcyclist Association at 90
LOGO
We’ve Got A Lot To Cover In An Hour
AMA “About” AMA Mission & Position Statements My Background & AMA Role We Build Our Future Together A Shared, Finite Resource With Growing
Demand and Strained Budgets Questions and Answers: Encouraged
Throughout & Time at the End.
The American Motorcyclist Association
The AMA was founded in 1924, with roots dating to 1903.
Over 200,000 members and growing Through member clubs, promoters and
partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world.
The AMA is the sole U.S. affiliate to the world's motorcycling governing body.
The AMA Mission Statement
The mission of the American Motorcyclist Association is to promote the motorcycling lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling.
AMA Position Statements: Public Land Access
The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) supports responsible recreational access to public lands for the use of off-highway vehicles (OHVs), including off-highway motorcycles, dual-sport motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). This access should be administered by professional land managers to meet the needs of participants, protect the land and promote responsible use.
AMA Position Statements: Sound
Since its inception in 1924, the American Motorcyclist Association has maintained a position of strong opposition to excessive motorcycle sound. The AMA has funded information and public relations campaigns in support of quieter motorcycle use, and was the world’s first motorsports sanctioning body to regulate and reduce the sound level of racing vehicles.
The AMA believes that few other factors contribute more to misunderstanding and prejudice against the motorcycling community than excessively loud motorcycles.
Sound Meter Grant Program
The Future May Be Very Quiet
Steve SalisburyGovernment Affairs Manager
Off-Highway Issues
Maine
My Background & AMA Role
New Jersey Native Lifelong trails enthusiast: bike, hike, ski,
ride University of Maine: Forestry & Business Field Work, Forest Economics & Products Powersports Retail & Volunteerism Tread Lightly! Master Tread Trainer Downeast Sunrise Trail Board Member AMA: Federal & State: The New
Guy………..
We Build Our Future Together
Coalition for Recreational Trails
American Recreation Coalition
Coalition for Recreational Trails and RTP:
American Council on Snowmobile Associations
American Hiking Society American Horse Council American Motorcyclist
Association American Recreation Coalition American Trails Americans for Responsible
Recreational Access Back Country Horsemen of
America Bikes Belong Blue Ribbon Coalition The Corps Network Equine Land Conservation
Resource International Association of
Snowmobile Administrators International Mountain Biking
Association Motorcycle Industry Council National Association of
Recreation Resource Planners
National Association of State Park Administrators
National Association of State Park Directors
National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council
National Recreation and Park Association
Partnership for the National Trails System
Professional Trail Builders Association
Rails to Trails Recreational Off-Highway
Vehicle Association Recreational Vehicles Dealers
Association Snowsports Industries America Specialty Vehicle Institute of
America Sporting Goods Manufacturers
of America Tread Lightly! United Four Wheel Drive
Associations
Recreational Trails Program
Since 1993, the RTP Program has provided over $900 million in federal funding which has been leveraged through matching to over $1.5 billion for recreational trails.
Alabama has received $18.5 million which has been leveraged to $24 million for trails.
The RTP Program requires that funds be distributed between recreational uses as follows.
30% for non-motorized project 40% diverse use projects 30% motorized projects
RTP Status
Funded through 2014 after protracted lobbying.
Reauthorization: Highway bill Highway Budget: $52.5 Billion RTP Budget: $85 Million
The program has bipartisan champions Senators: Klobuchar, Risch, Shaheen and Burr Representatives: Petri, Michaud, and Rahall
Fuels Play A Pivotal Role
RTP is funded through an excise tax formula on fuel bought by off-highway-vehicle users.
Without motorized funding going into HTF, the program would have to receive appropriations annually.
Annual appropriations would require it to be scored by the CBO which would likely end the program.
RTP Funding formula uses 1999 data AMA & E15: Farm bill & blender pumps.
A Shared, Finite Resource
One of the AMA’s top priorities is continued Access to Public Lands.
Legislation that reduces the Liability exposure of Private Landowners from those who recreate on their land is plentiful.
An AMA member’s Landowner Survey seeks to identify OHV users as landowners with their own set of allowed uses on their land.
Access to Public Lands
On Federal Land: Complicated Process of Plans, Rules, Lawsuits & Appeals Wide array of boards & committees Rattlesnake Bay & Southern RRAC
On State Land: Flashpoints On Municipal & County Land: Helping
Solve Urban Pressures Twelve O'clock Boys: Police Athletic Leagues:
Private Landowner Liability
Private Landowners: Open access that was common years ago has largely evaporated.
Respect for land & landowners has dwindled. Maine’s open land policy spawned 6,500 mile
ATV and 14,000 mile snowmobile trail systems.
Hatfield-McCoy: A partnership that works. Trial-lawyer-sponsored amendments against
reduced landowner liability can decrease access for both motorized and non-motorized recreationists.
Landowner Survey
Opponents in political debates often try to demonize the “other side”.
Many motorized/non-motorized debates are as polarizing as any hot-button political campaign.
Motorized recreationists and landowners are NOT mutually exclusive.
Motorized recreationists who own land actually have a diverse array of allowed uses and exclusions.
Education & Communication
Fond memories can create current-world disappointment.
Both motorized and non-motorized recreationists need to educate themselves on the new rules BEFORE they pack their vehicles.
Land management agencies communicating effectively with the public and each other can make a huge difference.
It’s critical to include user groups in planning.
Northern Timber Cruisers
Katahdin Region Multi-Use Trail
The Northern Timber Cruisers ATV and Snowmobile Club is pleased to announce that the Katahdin Region Multi-Use Trail (K.R.M.U.T.) is now open for ATV riding. After five years of planning and negotiations, this collaborative effort between the Northern Timber Cruisers, landowner Acadian Timberlands (formerly KFM), Katahdin area municipalities, Katahdin Area Chamber of Commerce and the State of Maine Department of Conservation, has resulted in a finely manicured 16.5 mile multi-use recreation trail.
Downeast Sunrise Trail
An 85 mile multi-use corridor connecting eastern Maine and the head of the East Coast Greenway which runs from Calais, ME to Key West, FL.
Bicyclists lead the effort to turn the rail bed into a trail. They needed the ATV community’s support to make it a reality.
The board dealt with angry bicyclists whose expectations didn’t match the resource.
A Cooperation Case Study
COCONINO TRAIL RIDERS Pedals vs. Pistons
became Pedals vs Pistons vs. Horseshoes vs. Hiking Boots
The user group with the most participants at a trail building day “wins”.
The Arizona State Parks OHV Coordinator is trying to duplicate this success in Tucson.
What We’ve Covered
The AMA is about motorized recreation but understands multiple use and coalitions well.
Future trail access is up to us, all of us. We can allow ourselves to be divided and conquered or work together for appropriate, shared access.
These are complicated times with limited resources, land and money. Let’s be efficient.
Questions and Answers.