I would love to be able to take my family to the desert and enjoy the peace and quite maybe blowing rockets during the day and not being concerned about all the idiots off roading. Don't tell me that it is safe for me to do so Because I have tried and a few idiots are ALWAYS ruining things for the others. I am sorry that they feel the only option is to close off some of the coolest land out there but for those of us who camp but don't have toys there is NO PLACE for my family in the dunes. Off Roaders Own the area and it is not safe for even walking around. I think that the peer pressure idea seems like it may work. It would be great to be able to enjoy the beauty of the dunes with out the craziness. It used to be a family place wether you had toys or not...
I've never been to the dunes but is it really as bad as you describe? Not even safe to walk around?
Maybe I'm sheltered. I've spent a lot of time ATV'ing around the R.M. West and I've rarely seen anyone misbehaving...excepting designated ATV parks where anything, and everything, goes.
2005 Silverado 2500HD with 8.1L and Allison 1000 pulling a 2007 WW 2800 FSW loaded with an 07 Suzuki Vinson, 07 Suzuki Eiger, 2007 Yamaha TTR50e, and 97 Suzuki LT80.
Part of the problem is the available land for those that enjoy off roading keeps shrinking more and more, so you find more people out in the desert. Sadly, this impacts you. Closing of more lands will only impact you more and I doubt you'll find other places to shoot off your rockets. So if you want to recreate fight for the right for everyone to enjoy our public lands, not a select few. When they start closing campgrounds for the same reason, the off road community will just be sitting back laughing and reminding those that never stood up for them.
Not to allow this to change the thread, but there are plenty of places in the dunes you could sit all day and barely see anyone, and half of glamis is closed to vehicles so you could definately walk there without care. I have taken my 2year old now 4 in the dunes on his quad and would never go where many people are and try to be very safe. Idiots tend to stay by idiots because stupidity likes company. There are many places where there is no one.
2006 Chevy 2500 6.6L D/A
2007 WW FS2500, Billet etc
2006 Yamaha Rhino Special edition
2006 Honda Trx450er
2003 Suzuki quad sport 50
2008 KTM 530 EXC R
2002 Suzuki LT80
2002 Yamaha PW50
Son Ryan
Part of the problem is the available land for those that enjoy off roading keeps shrinking more and more, so you find more people out in the desert. Sadly, this impacts you. Closing of more lands will only impact you more and I doubt you'll find other places to shoot off your rockets. So if you want to recreate fight for the right for everyone to enjoy our public lands, not a select few. When they start closing campgrounds for the same reason, the off road community will just be sitting back laughing and reminding those that never stood up for them.
Thanks Y-Guy, a well thought out response to a rambling post..
2005 Nissan Titan CC SE 4x4, 2006 Weekend Warrior FS2300
2 Quads, 2 Motorcycle and a '06 Rhino
1 Patient Wife, 1 Crazy child, 1 sweet baby.
RIP Bubba and Toby, we love you.
First of all, I'm sorry you feel the need to respond as you did as I feel this issue is a national one and not isolated to the west coast.
Just for the record - I am originally from California and visit my family there several times a year. My parents introduced us to camping as kids and when they could afford it, spent every chance they could on outings into nature. During those outings they taught us to respect the environment and other people who were also there to enjoy it.
I hope the ORV'ers attain the happy medium that some on this forum are sincerely trying for because maybe that would create a win-win situation.
1duckie4u wrote: Until we all start taking responsibility for our own actions and not have the "I pay taxes so I can do what I want" attitude none of this will change. I'm not denying the right of ORV's to exist, but I have seen their impact on what were once beautiful areas. Trails criss-crossing on hillsides, etc. I can't imagine what Yellowstone, Yosemite, etc. would look like if ORV's were allowed to run rampant. All groups, including RV'ers, campers, etc. have those individuals within them that are guilty of not respecting their environments by leaving more then just their footprints and not following the rules and guidelines set for the areas they visit. If it will help to keep us from destroying our public lands, I'm all for turning them into National Parks so we can continue to visit and enjoy their beauty as we do now.
Being a lifelong SoCal resident, I have seen many legal ride areas closed and homes and malls built on the land (Victorville/Hesperia/etc), other areas closed because of environmental issues (Pismo). Now you have very few legal areas to ride, not everybody will drive 1 or 2 hours to ride LEGALLY, and if they do, they find overcrowded and sometimes dangerous conditions. This is part of the reason you see so much illegal riding and damaged land.
Most of Us here at RV net ride safely and legally and are part of the solution, not the problem.
Turning more land into National Parks is not the answer.
Thats what I take offense in your post.
I don't often camp where I am 10' away from the next camp or not allowed to do much of anything but hike or take pictures, some people like this scenario and thats OK with Me. Others need open space for whatever reason, that includes horseback riders, bicycle riders, and OHV users.
There is room for everyone, I have no problem with existing National Parks, but we need more ride areas as well, no every square inch of land needs the protection of a National/State Park etc.
* This post was
edited 10/10/09 07:10pm by BobWanderer *
As Bob stated we need to be able to share PUBLIC lands. This means we need our share of land to recreate on and the non-motorized public gets their share to "protect". Unfortunately all we see is less land available for OHV use, while the sport is in fact growing. We cannot allow more land to be taken away, we've already given and given.
Or as an anarchist friend of mine recently said, "fine, take away all the land, when I have no place to ride, I'll ride anywhere". Unfortunately that's where we're heading if we contiunue to loose the lands we have. Is that what the Leaf Lickers/Tree Huggers want? I don't think so. As a matter of fact many are coming to realize that very fact and are supporting our fight to keep areas open.
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