[quote=Kzoocruiser]
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highbeams[I previously said:
]"...you know, they are trying to close those trail that family is using, the trail that some club has to adopt to maintain because there are not enough funds for the forestry service too. One that without private support would be closed....."[/i]
If there is a person against folks becomming involved through clubs to keep trails open....I don't know of them.
On the other hand, I see very few clubs looking far enough into the future as to how these trails will be maintained when their generation passes (it's called legacy building).
I have never in my life witnessed an organization which promoted the kind of for-profit privitization of trail maintenance that ASSURES the work is done every time/done right....and why is that?
Is it that the national and local off-highway groups would lose much of their power?
Is it the fact that many in and out of these clubs actually feel that being forced to embrace pay-to-play or the insistence that these privitized maintenance contracts be created perpetually...actually exposes their talking out of both sides of the mouth on environmental impact issues?
Tell me...how does one complain about trails being shut down or clubs being forced to take over trail maintenance...when there are absolutely no plans in place to pry the stinkin' money out of off-roader's hands so that this assinine action truly never has a chance of happening again?
"...But that lake, the one that has trouble with trash being left around it, the one with lines of guys outside it waiting for someone to leave so they can get in. The one where they have to have a constant patrol on it to arrest drunken operators or get people to obey the speed laws, or keep them out of certain areas. That lake is getting more funding to patrol and clean it up, to add docks and restrooms...."
I'm sorry, HB; yet as much as I truly respect your passion and even more your intentions...the scene you describe above could be (and is in many cases) any trailhead in this country on a weekend morning in the 21st century. Doesn't every one of those transgressions happen every day on the land we enjoy also and if so...what makes 'us' any better than them?
I've already questioned the filmaker's assertion that not a dime is spent on bridges in Alberta...so just where in the heck do Americans feel that this kind of money should come from and why?
For pete's sake if it's the darn "government"....just come right out and say it!
Which brings me right back to my original point.
"Pay-to-Play" is a dirty darn word in this community and the trails we lose tomorrow will be our own darn fault because of that fact....not the local hot-spot lake scoring a few new docks or fancy crapper because entire communities are built around a revenue generating resource that is much EASIER and LESS EXPENSIVE to maintain (in other words...it takes far fewer dollars to clean up the beach than it does to properly restore land damaged that nobody in the off-road community wants to talk about actually paying for if "they weren't there" when it happened....).
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Well, your take on the video threw me as well…but the above seemingly provided a bit more clarity on your position/take and from there come my comments:
As for “where in the heck do Americans feel that this kind of money should come from” --- Government is a correct answer---but TAXPAYER is the best answer. That said…the taxpayers have ALREADY paid for/continue to pay for local/state/fed parks and forest lands. BUT, when it comes to the use of these parks/forest lands, not all (taxpaying) users are created equal. Certain users (example: 4-wheelers and anybody else that wants to connect with the ground via a rubber tire) are often prohibited from using local/state/fed parks/forests, etc. for many of the (baseless?) reasons alluded to in the video.
“Pay-to-play” is great---but how many boaters/hikers/horse-backer riders etc. are currently being asked to “pay-to-play” in local/state/fed parks/lands? How many of same will gladly accept a “pay-to-play” if asked to do so? Not many, if any! Not sure how having 4wheelers, alone, “pay-to-play” will address your issue/concern. Am I still missing your point?
