Trouble in Pennsylvania, Bald Eagle State Forest

[Denny]

September 18, 2012



To My Fellow PaTRA Members,

On September 12th, I contacted the DCNR at the Bald Eagle State Forest concerning their proposed trail closure to motorcycle riding at Shade Mountain and the Seven Mountains dual sport system. I have good news to report in that the trails will remain open this fall.

With this news, I am asking for your support in that you restrict your single track trail riding to Sundays only. The reason the DCNR was looking to close our trails was due to complaints from hunters.

Beginning in October, I’m asking that you restrict your riding on single track to just Sundays. Licensed motorcycles can ride all roads and drivable trails year round. Furthermore, we all need to stay off the single track trails during bear season: November 12 through December 31st. We want to reduce our conflicts with the hunters, thus reduce the number of complaints.

“Ride with Respect” also means to be mindful of the other users in the State Forest. Those who ride on a non-licensed motorcycle on Shade Mountain need to take steps to repack your silencers or install an aftermarket one that will keep the noise levels down.

The Bald Eagle State Forest has seen an increase in recreational activities due to people wanting to get away from gas drilling in other state forests. They have also seen more people coming in from out of state due to trail closures. Help keep our trails open by sharing this information with your friends.

I want to thank all of you who took the time to write to Amy Griffith at the DCNR concerning the proposed trail closures this fall. Your efforts have paid off.


Sincerely,


David C. Whiteman

[Rut Row]

good job! personally I have no problem with trails being closed during hunting season.

[BillyGoat]

I got an email yesteday from someone...don't remember exactly who...maybe PaTRA that said something like: "In order to preserve our right to ride and recognizing the conflict that riding presents to hunters, we ask that you be considerate and only ride 7 and Shade mountains on Sundays. If you don't abide by this request, then we'll probably lose our riding rights altogether"

It's like having an gun to one's head but I agree....I'd rather have Sundays than nothing at all. In any fight between the millions of paying licensed hunters and non-paying dirt bike riders, the hunters will and should win every time. It's about the money. Peace.

[phoo]

I always just use the "they have guns and most of them can't bag anything even without a noisy dirt bike chasing away the deer so they take very poorly to someone ruining their one weekend hunting" reasoning.


Patrick

[BillyGoat]

Check.

[bonehead]

I have had people ruin my hunt on purpose. Not fun. Imagine if they ruined your riding we do need to share the woods while we can.

[BillyGoat]

I'm curious how you knew it was on purpose? There's a super fine line between stupidity and honest mistake. On purpose is a whole different ballgame.

[bonehead]

Banging Pots and Pans and yelling go home hunter was my first clue . The ticket DNR gave them made them recondier it next year.

[Denny]

Today at 1:00 in the DCNR building in Harrisburg, PaOHV has a meeting with the Secretary and I will discuss this issue. This is our agenda and I hope that I can post good news tonight:


Thoughts submitted for face-to-face meeting with Secretary Allan...
1. Is the Secretary willing to register off-road motorcycles?
2. A significant amount of grant money is being dedicated to private “ride
parks”. Any park allowing dirt-bike use should also have mandatory
youth dirt-bike training.
3. Would the DCNR be willing to run a one year ATV/dirt-bike compatibility
test program in a single riding area to determine whether or not it is
feasible. (Note: the trails in the ANF have been dual use for years)
4. The Bald Eagle trail system was not closed prematurely as expected,
and PaOHV appreciates that. PaTRA, one of our oldest member clubs,
has dedicated nearly forty years of volunteer effort in the Bald Eagle, and
are now being told that dirt-bikes will be restricted to the same seasonal
ride dates as ATV’s. We have been good stewards of the forest, and
would appreciate a more open discussion of the decision.
5. Would the DCNR consider a media promotion aimed at youth ATV
education?
6. Would the DCNR consider expanding the ATV youth education program
to adults?
7. Make the Secretary aware of the statewide educational program we are
currently working on (SCORE Rules of the Trail, Phase 1), including the
recent acquisition of our ATV Simulator.
8. Stress the importance of regular meetings of the SAAC, Snowmobile/
ATV Advisory Committee.
9. We would like to see the establishment of a steering committee focused
on economic development in Pa. relative to ATV’s and dirt-bikes.
10. Ask the Secretary what his vision for his tenure is, and let him know
we’re willing to assist.
11. Let the Secretary know we appreciate the continued expansion for offroad
riding via parks like Rock Run and the proposed AOAA, but make it
known that hundreds of miles already exist throughout the state, and
they’re being ridden on illegally. Legalizing those that meet a
sustainability criteria would cost very little, would eliminate a great deal
of illegal riding, and would provide an immediate economic benefit to the
communities close to the system.
12. Ask for accurate accountability ATV versus snowmobile spending
relative to the restricted account. ***added
These are not in any organized order, and reflect input I’ve received from a
number of folks. Are there other things we need to take to the plate, and
what do we want to leave with the Secretary?
We need to determine who will attend the meeting, and we need to pull
together a call ASAP.
Thanx,
Dick

[phoo]

It all looks great. I have one question --

2. A significant amount of grant money is being dedicated to private “ride
parks”. Any park allowing dirt-bike use should also have mandatory
youth dirt-bike training.


Is this saying the ride park must provide mandatory youth dirt-bike training, or is it saying they must require youths to have had dirt-bike training? The latter I support, but the former causes a burden that could prevent some parks from opening.


~Patrick