Post by mike farmer on Apr 8, 2011 15:39:06 GMT -5
Here is a copy of a letter i wrote to everyone of the legislators and others in our area concerning HB1621.
I am a member of Mountain Trail Riders, a group of 450 concerned OHV riders in Northeast Tennessee. I am also part of a larger group of concerned OHV riders in the state that by the Forest Service’s own numbers is 909,000 strong. I understand that there has been an amendment to HB1621 removing the provision to ride ATV’s (OHV’s –off highway vehicles) on paved roads in Tennessee.
The intent of this bill in my mind was to allow OHV riders, with county approval, access to food, fuel and lodging when folks are trail riding in our state. The counties would designate sections of highway to be used and I would think and hope they would keep public safety in mind while setting the routes but again the routes were only intended for the OHV rider to access food, lodging and fuel with a lot of restrictions on speed and length of travel. There are not many motels or restaurants on unpaved roads.When you read the bill it reads like the counties could at their choosing open all paved roads for OHV riding. I am not speaking for our club or the almost 1,000,000 OHV riders in the state when I say that I do not think opening all roads to OHV access would be a good idea but I do think that ignoring the fact that there is a lot of revenue to be gained by proactively setting up business models that encourage tourism to our state is a good idea. Having access from the trail to food, lodging and fuel is a necessity.
Virginia, Tennessee and West Virginia all have laws on their books that allow this type of travel to and from the trail heads. These states are becoming more OHV friendly because they see the advantage of having more riders come and enjoy their mountains. I saddens me when I read reports from the West Virgina and Kentucky trail systems that report that a large majority of their riders come from Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, driving thru our state to get to their destinations.
Tennessee talks the talk but they surely do not walk the walk when it comes to promoting motorized trails in our state.
I ask that you reconsider the amendment that takes the riding of OHV’s on paved roads out and add a comprehensive amendment that would allow trail users to have access from trailhead to food, lodging and fuel. If you are serious about growing Eco Tourism in the state we have to have access to services.
Mike Farmer
317 Harbour View Drive
Johnson City, TN 37615
423-612-4091 Cell
423-282-2397 Home
423-282-2391 Fax
mikefarmer@embarqmail.com email
I am a member of Mountain Trail Riders, a group of 450 concerned OHV riders in Northeast Tennessee. I am also part of a larger group of concerned OHV riders in the state that by the Forest Service’s own numbers is 909,000 strong. I understand that there has been an amendment to HB1621 removing the provision to ride ATV’s (OHV’s –off highway vehicles) on paved roads in Tennessee.
The intent of this bill in my mind was to allow OHV riders, with county approval, access to food, fuel and lodging when folks are trail riding in our state. The counties would designate sections of highway to be used and I would think and hope they would keep public safety in mind while setting the routes but again the routes were only intended for the OHV rider to access food, lodging and fuel with a lot of restrictions on speed and length of travel. There are not many motels or restaurants on unpaved roads.When you read the bill it reads like the counties could at their choosing open all paved roads for OHV riding. I am not speaking for our club or the almost 1,000,000 OHV riders in the state when I say that I do not think opening all roads to OHV access would be a good idea but I do think that ignoring the fact that there is a lot of revenue to be gained by proactively setting up business models that encourage tourism to our state is a good idea. Having access from the trail to food, lodging and fuel is a necessity.
Virginia, Tennessee and West Virginia all have laws on their books that allow this type of travel to and from the trail heads. These states are becoming more OHV friendly because they see the advantage of having more riders come and enjoy their mountains. I saddens me when I read reports from the West Virgina and Kentucky trail systems that report that a large majority of their riders come from Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, driving thru our state to get to their destinations.
Tennessee talks the talk but they surely do not walk the walk when it comes to promoting motorized trails in our state.
I ask that you reconsider the amendment that takes the riding of OHV’s on paved roads out and add a comprehensive amendment that would allow trail users to have access from trailhead to food, lodging and fuel. If you are serious about growing Eco Tourism in the state we have to have access to services.
Mike Farmer
317 Harbour View Drive
Johnson City, TN 37615
423-612-4091 Cell
423-282-2397 Home
423-282-2391 Fax
mikefarmer@embarqmail.com email