San Juan Trail Riders

I’ve been saying that we need to focus on leveling the Travel Management playing field for many years now. This is an opportunity to do just that. PLEASE COMMENT!!! Take action and make a difference!

🚨 7 DAYS LEFT - A MAJOR OPPORTUNITY FOR MOTORIZED ACCESS

The USFS is considering fundamental changes to the 2005 Travel Management Rule—the regulations that have shaped motorized access on our National Forests and Grasslands for more than two decades.

Comments close September 23.

If this sounds somewhat familiar to TPA supporters, it should.

TPA has spent years advocating for Travel Management reform, and earlier this year we testified before Congress in support of the Public Lands Access Restoration Act (PLARA) and restoring a presumption that existing motorized routes are open unless specifically closed.
Now, many of those same fundamental issues are officially on the table.

TPA SUPPORTS:

➡️ A meaningful presumption of access — Existing roads and trails should be presumed open to appropriate motorized use unless closure is legally required or clearly justified.

➡️ Justification and regular review for closures — Restrictions shouldn't become permanent by default.

➡️ Accurate route inventories — Existing and historically used routes shouldn't disappear simply because they were omitted from a map or inventory.

➡️ Connected and expanded riding opportunities — Trail systems should be adequate, functional and connected, with restored connections and appropriate new routes considered.

➡️ Managing recreation instead of concentrating it — Continually shrinking trail systems can push growing numbers of riders onto fewer routes, increasing impacts, congestion and conflicts.

➡️ Modern, site-specific management — The old national "minimization" framework has too often tipped the balance against public access. With the Executive Orders behind that framework now rescinded, it's time to use modern science, technology, and site-specific management to protect resources while providing responsible access.

➡️ Local decision-making and partnerships — Give local managers the flexibility to work with states, communities, and recreation partners who know and help maintain these trail systems.

TPA also supports allowing Class 1 e-bikes on trails already open to traditional bicycles, subject to applicable law and justified site-specific restrictions.

NOW WE NEED RIDERS TO SHOW UP.

You don't need to be a policy expert.

Tell the USFS where you ride, what access you've lost, why connected trail systems matter, what stewardship work you've done, and why responsible access to our National Forests matters to you.

TPA has also created a customizable comment template to make it easy to get started. Please personalize it and tell your own story.

👇Links to our template and the comment portal are in the comments.

COMMENTS CLOSE SEPTEMBER 23.

Maintaining trails is critical. But we also have to protect and improve the policies that determine whether those trails remain accessible in the first place.

This is what advocacy looks like.

In fact, this one hits particularly close to home for TPA.

The Trails Preservation Alliance was formed in 2008, in part as a response to the original Travel Management Rule and the threat it posed to motorized access. For nearly two decades, protecting meaningful motorcycle access through Travel Management has been central to our mission.

Now, the Forest Service is considering rewriting that rule.

So when we say we've spent years working toward an opportunity like this, we mean it.

Let's make the most of it.

Yay!!! I hope this investigation goes somewhere. I’ve always been very frustrated with the flaw in the legal system that allows deep pockets and frivolous lawsuits to dictate outcomes just by consuming time and resources from the opposing side. In this case, US…John Q Taxpayer, and how we manage OUR public lands.

The Trails Preservation Alliance supports the House Committee on Natural Resources' newly announced investigation into the litigation practices of 19 environmental nonprofit organizations and their use of taxpayer-funded attorney-fee reimbursements.

For those of us working on public-land access and management, litigation can have very real consequences for recreation opportunities, agency resources and work on the ground.

Citizens and organizations absolutely must retain the ability to challenge government decisions. At the same time, programs that reimburse attorneys' fees with taxpayer dollars should be transparent, accountable and operate as Congress intended.

If the system is working as intended, greater transparency should demonstrate that. If it isn't, the public deserves to know.

The Committee has requested written answers and in-person testimony from 19 organizations, including several that are active on public-land issues in Colorado and across the West.

An investigation does not establish wrongdoing. TPA supports getting the facts, understanding how these taxpayer-funded provisions are being used and determining whether reforms are warranted.

Read the Committee's announcement, including the full list of organizations being investigated via the link in the comments.

Take a gander at these photos folks. These were taken about a month ago in the Owl Pass, Alpine Trail, and Silver Jack Reservoir area, and it was such a beautiful sight to behold. Unfortunately, it may never look this way again in our lifetime. I guess it’s just part of the way that nature works (along with a terribly failed federal fire policy within federal lands), but I find it sad, just the same.

Hey Gang!
I just received this message:
“Just an FYI
We have one of our horse competitions all around Transfer Park, Jersey Jim & parts of the Aspen loops on July 17-19
In the past you guys have been very kind to pass that along to the motorized groups to be aware of the horse activity that weekend

Thank you for always being great to work with.”
Please be aware of this event, and (as usual) be courteous, kind, and demonstrate good trail etiquette. From the sound of it, this impacts the Aspen Loop, the Transfer staging/parking area, and probably Chicken Creek & Morrison Trails as well. I will likely plan to avoid the area, and recommend that for others as well.

It’s time to get out and tag some cows!!😳😉

Taylor Park is calling. 🏔️ Ride epic alpine trails, camp under big skies, win prizes, hear live music, and help keep public lands open for future riders. See you at the first annual Colorado Cow Tag Event 🤘🐄

🌎 coloradotpa.org/pages/cow-tag or link in bio

Klim Cow Tag
Taylor Park
Dirt Bike Life
Trail Preservation
Ride Colorado

This an opportunity to expand….opportunity (riding opportunity🤣)! Please comment!!

This may just be the key opening many doors for authorized and appropriate motorized use on public land. This looks like a victory for us as motorized users of single track on public land. What do you think about it? Post your comments below.

Yesterday, President Trump rescinded Executive Orders 11644 and 11989, two directives that have shaped off-road vehicle management on federal lands for more than 50 years.

In April this year, the Trails Preservation Alliance joined numerous motorized recreation organizations in calling for these Executive Orders to be repealed.

In our letter to the White House, we argued that these directives were outdated, conflicted with modern multiple-use land management policies, and created barriers to public access and responsible recreation. A copy of that letter is available on our blog via the link in our bio.

Many of the same concerns raised by the motorized recreation community were reflected in the Administration's decision to rescind the orders and begin reviewing the regulations that were adopted under them.

Regardless of where you stand on the issue, this is an important reminder that unified voices matter.

When riders, clubs, businesses, and recreation advocates work together toward a common goal, they can help shape the conversation surrounding public lands and access.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to engage, advocate, and support responsible motorized recreation.

A move in the right direction.