Post by tomhedden on Sept 19, 2013 9:53:20 GMT -5
The proposed plan for a "pre-approved trail menu" for Enduros has come to a point where the state seems to be seeking public comment through an informal telephone poll. While we strongly feel that this is not an appropriate way to develop policy about our public lands, it is the mechanism the state has chosen in this case. Judging by the way the calls have been moved from one office to another to another, the state may be rethinking the wisdom of this process themselves... At any rate, the NJTLC has taken a position in opposition to "The Plan"; Refuting each piece of the PPA's position will be the easiest way to illustrate why we are in opposition. The text of PPA Executive Director, Carlton Montgomery's letter in support of "The Plan" is in quotes and italicized.
There are no races held by motorcycles on state land. Enduros are time keeping events with set speed averages; usually 18, and 25 mph. Dual Sports are simply rides, there is no competition.
The Enduro clubs pay for the state employee's time along with the fees and required law enforcement to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars per year going to the state of NJ. Also, Enduros mean millions of dollars for the economy of southern NJ and the businesses and towns and volunteer fire and rescue organizations they support.
Enduros are based on time-keeping and must be run on single track trail. The menu of pre-approved roads and fire breaks are useful as connector pieces but serve almost no purpose for the actual sport. Also, the traditional partnership between the fire service and the enduro clubs that helped to maintain the efficacy of the plow line system has been totally disregarded by this plan.
As he, himself, states earlier, there are no trails included in "The Plan". Plow lines are not "trails". The original Comprehensive Management Plan recognized many hundreds of miles of existing enduro trails throughout the Pinelands and Enduros have not been permitted to cut or use any new trail for a decade, in some areas well over a decade. Enduro clubs are not asking to be allowed to ride new trail, they just want to rotate their events through the trail system they have been using for 75 years.
There is so much here to refute but the key point is that the PPA is clearly stating its general opposition to any and all motorized recreation and lumping everything together in one place. In the past, when it has been expedient, they have moderated this opposition and been more specific, tailoring their opposition to "the other guys" (whoever doesn't happen to be in the room) but this is pretty clear. If you're in a four-wheel drive vehicle, towing a horse or canoe trailer or applying for a special use permit where a group of people will be arriving in a state forest in some type of vehicle this feeling extends to you. It is clear the Enduro clubs are just the first step for the PPA. To prove that point: boats are the "invasive species" vectors and wheelers are the "wetland and soil erosion" targets. You can blame motorcycles for lots of stuff but Enduros are "Permitted" events, governed by the Special Use Permitt application process where the proposed trail is vetted by The Pinelands Commission and various state agencies; they aren't allowed in wetlands and frankly, have no interest in wetlands. They also don't carry invasive species in their bilges or attached to their props and paddles. In all of southern NJ, enduros take place on six days of the year. Six. We think it's fair to cede a section of the forest for that much time to events that are so culturally and financially important to our region. If you're not an enduro rider and don't think this effort by the PPA applies to you and your form of recreation, this paragraph pretty much proves that wrong.
There is no actual "trail" included, sand roads and plow lines are not "trail". The PPA has already begun to target the private land owners who allow enduros on their land. The management is not costly, it is totally remunerated and in fact, probably increases the state coffers when all is said and done. If you factor in sales taxes and federal grant money the state accepts for motorized trails and recreation, it's a money maker.
The argument for this Plan is based on using falsehoods as facts. It is political, not scientific. If the generalities they are using, lumping all types of motorized recreation together with illegal and irresponsible activity, were being used to justify any other type of public policy change it would draw lawsuits for discrimination or civil rights violations.
The really sad part is this: enduros prevent irresponsible motorized activity. They create an entire culture of responsible activity in which the state is an active participant and planning agent. Killing enduros won't stop riding, it will stop organized and directed riding. Instead of six events on approved trails with Park Police and EMS it will be hundreds of riders going wherever they want, whenever they want, pretty much all the time. Removing organization from the system simply doesn't protect the forest.
So please do call and email and let the DEP know that you strongly oppose "The Plan". Tell them why!
NJ DEP Commissioner Bob Martin phone (609) 292-2885
Email: Bob.Martin@dep.state.nj.us
For the Governing Committee of the NJTLC,
Tom Hedden
Chair
"to limit enduro clubs to pre-approved routes for their permitted dirt-bike racing events held on state land"
There are no races held by motorcycles on state land. Enduros are time keeping events with set speed averages; usually 18, and 25 mph. Dual Sports are simply rides, there is no competition.
"created this plan to deal with the costly management of recreation permits"
The Enduro clubs pay for the state employee's time along with the fees and required law enforcement to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars per year going to the state of NJ. Also, Enduros mean millions of dollars for the economy of southern NJ and the businesses and towns and volunteer fire and rescue organizations they support.
"These routes consist of plowed firebreaks, unimproved sand roads and improved roads"
Enduros are based on time-keeping and must be run on single track trail. The menu of pre-approved roads and fire breaks are useful as connector pieces but serve almost no purpose for the actual sport. Also, the traditional partnership between the fire service and the enduro clubs that helped to maintain the efficacy of the plow line system has been totally disregarded by this plan.
"Tell them that you support limiting enduros to a sub-set of trails"
As he, himself, states earlier, there are no trails included in "The Plan". Plow lines are not "trails". The original Comprehensive Management Plan recognized many hundreds of miles of existing enduro trails throughout the Pinelands and Enduros have not been permitted to cut or use any new trail for a decade, in some areas well over a decade. Enduro clubs are not asking to be allowed to ride new trail, they just want to rotate their events through the trail system they have been using for 75 years.
"Motorized recreation creates many problems in state forests such as spreading invasive species, disturbing wildlife, destroying wetlands, increasing soil erosion, destroying native plants, and it can interfere with the ability of other people to enjoy state parks and forests. It is time to limit this damage to our public resource."
There is so much here to refute but the key point is that the PPA is clearly stating its general opposition to any and all motorized recreation and lumping everything together in one place. In the past, when it has been expedient, they have moderated this opposition and been more specific, tailoring their opposition to "the other guys" (whoever doesn't happen to be in the room) but this is pretty clear. If you're in a four-wheel drive vehicle, towing a horse or canoe trailer or applying for a special use permit where a group of people will be arriving in a state forest in some type of vehicle this feeling extends to you. It is clear the Enduro clubs are just the first step for the PPA. To prove that point: boats are the "invasive species" vectors and wheelers are the "wetland and soil erosion" targets. You can blame motorcycles for lots of stuff but Enduros are "Permitted" events, governed by the Special Use Permitt application process where the proposed trail is vetted by The Pinelands Commission and various state agencies; they aren't allowed in wetlands and frankly, have no interest in wetlands. They also don't carry invasive species in their bilges or attached to their props and paddles. In all of southern NJ, enduros take place on six days of the year. Six. We think it's fair to cede a section of the forest for that much time to events that are so culturally and financially important to our region. If you're not an enduro rider and don't think this effort by the PPA applies to you and your form of recreation, this paragraph pretty much proves that wrong.
"Enduro Clubs still get to enjoy hundreds of miles of trails on public land under the new plan and can continue holding events on private land. This approach is a significant improvement over the last 30 years of costly, ineffective management."
There is no actual "trail" included, sand roads and plow lines are not "trail". The PPA has already begun to target the private land owners who allow enduros on their land. The management is not costly, it is totally remunerated and in fact, probably increases the state coffers when all is said and done. If you factor in sales taxes and federal grant money the state accepts for motorized trails and recreation, it's a money maker.
The argument for this Plan is based on using falsehoods as facts. It is political, not scientific. If the generalities they are using, lumping all types of motorized recreation together with illegal and irresponsible activity, were being used to justify any other type of public policy change it would draw lawsuits for discrimination or civil rights violations.
The really sad part is this: enduros prevent irresponsible motorized activity. They create an entire culture of responsible activity in which the state is an active participant and planning agent. Killing enduros won't stop riding, it will stop organized and directed riding. Instead of six events on approved trails with Park Police and EMS it will be hundreds of riders going wherever they want, whenever they want, pretty much all the time. Removing organization from the system simply doesn't protect the forest.
So please do call and email and let the DEP know that you strongly oppose "The Plan". Tell them why!
NJ DEP Commissioner Bob Martin phone (609) 292-2885
Email: Bob.Martin@dep.state.nj.us
For the Governing Committee of the NJTLC,
Tom Hedden
Chair