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Tuesday, February 08, 2005

Off Road Vehicles

Is there a problem in southern utah with these ORV's? I would agree that there is and something needs to be done, but what? I own a 1969 Jeepster Commando, now, obviously it would not pass any kind of emisions test, it also has a small oil leak that I have tried to figure out but have been unsuccessful. My dad along with my four brothers also own Jeepsters between the years 1967 and 1970, all of which are in about the same condition as mine. Every year we go to moab to go out on the jeep trails. This has been a fun family vacation for about ten years. It is also very benificial finacially to the city of Moab. Every year thousands of people go there with there jeeps and dirt bike motorcycles to have fun and in turn end up spending a heathy amount of money in the city. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance 'SUWA' is fighting to make laws to control where the ORV's can go. Here is more info. The SUWA is battling with the BLM to have them enforce the laws that are already setup. The SUWA wants to have defined areas or roads where the vehicles can go and actually enforce this. I agree that the ORV's should stay on marked trails but I don't think that SUWA is dealing with the problem in the correct way. With thousands of people in different areas and on different trails how could you control them and make sure that they are staying on the marked trail? It would be literally impossible, you can't watch everyone and if someone goes off the trail how would you punish them or let alone know who it was? I feel that you do have to make designated trails for the vehicles but that does not mean that everyone is going to stay on them. I think you need to somehow teach the people that use the trails WHY they are staying on them and not going off where ever they want. Like we have discussed in class they need insentives to help them obey the rules and/or laws. You can't just say 'well I am a tree hugger or I am a bark eater and I want you to stay on the trails' and expect the people using the trails to listen, you need to give them good valid reasons. I personally try to stay on the trails as much as possible because I like seeing the wilderness in its natural state, but not everyone cares about that so I think the answer or atleast a great start would be to educate the trail users why they should stay on the trail as much as possible. After people have been educated I think they will feel like there is a reason or insentive not to go off the trail and to keep the southern utah wilderness in a beautiful natural state.

2 Comments:

At 1:00 PM, Blogger Kent said...

As you mentioned a rule that is not enforced doesn't exist. In this situation enforcement seems nearly impossible. However, it would be a sweet job to patrol the area in a jeep! Does anyone know if there is a fee associated with recreating on these lands? Placing a fee on entrance may help limit the use would allow for the enforcement necessary.

 
At 8:59 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree with Kent that creating an entry fee will help with the incentives. Users tend to value a resource more if they have to pay to use it than they will if they get it for free, and it will also eliminate those who don't value it enough to pay.

Spend the money on restoration projects and enforcement, and make it so they have to invest a little of their own time and money for a good cause.

 

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