(Photo credit: Don Amador) USFS and BLM Staff Await Round Two in Reduction in Force The Forest Service (FS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) staff in western states have been drastically reduced. Most, if not all, of the 6,000+ seasonal and probationary recreation and resource management staff who were laid off in…
(Photo credit: Don Amador) OHV Community Feeling the Impacts of the Seasonal Hiring Freeze The U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management have been underfunded for decades and rely heavily on seasonal and temporary workers to provide many essential services to support recreation. With the spring/summer tourism season rapidly approaching, the staffing…
(Photo credit: Don Amador) The Growing Importance of OHV Clubs Establishing Partnerships with Land Managers The single most important factor of the current OHV recreation advocacy equation is recognizing that diverse partnerships function as a synergistic force multiplier in managing motorized use on designated roads, trails, and riding areas. Today, partnerships are a core element…
Legislation to Support Full Funding for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Introduced Sens. Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Risch (R-Idaho), Welch (D-Vt.), and Budd (R-N.C.) introduced legislation designed to fully fund the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). S. 5583, the RTP Full Funding Act, is designed to ensure that RTP will be funded at a level commensurate with…
Outdoor Recreation Economy Continues to be a Significant Driver in the U.S. Economy On November 20th, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released data that revealed that outdoor recreation continues to be a significant driver of the U.S. economy, jobs, and local communities. According to the latest data from the BEA Outdoor Recreation…
(Photo credits: Don Amador and Marc Hildesheim) EV Technologies and Innovation Headline the NOHVCC Conference The 2024 NOHVCC Annual Conference was once again a success due to the support of Polaris Industries, Right Rider Access Fund, and other sponsors. Their contributions were instrumental and invaluable in making this year’s conference a unique and memorable…
(Photo credit: Don Amador) Gov. Newsom Signs Competition Off-Highway Motorcycle Legislation Into Law On September 22, Governor Newsom signed several legislative bills, including CA SB 708, Senator Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego)—Vehicles: off-highway motor vehicles: off-highway motorcycles: sanctioned event permit. As ARRA members know, this new permit program was needed because CARB ended the…
(Photo credit: Don Amador) CA SB 708 (Jones) Headed to the Governor’s Office CA SB 708 recently passed the California State Assembly and Senate and will be sent to Governor Newsom for his signature. As ARRA members know, this new permit program is needed because CARB ended the Red Sticker Program in 2021 with…
ARRA Members Urge Their Senators to Include the EXPLORE Act as Part of the National Defense Authorization Act With just over 30 days left in the legislative calendar, the 118th Congress is quickly coming to a close, leaving few viable legislative vehicles available for the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act (EXPLORE Act). One…
(Photo credit: Polaris Inc.) Polaris Launches Free Off-Road Charging Network for OHVs in Michigan Polaris Inc. and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) inaugurated the “first of its kind” innovative electric off-road vehicle charging network in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. This collaborative effort marks a significant milestone in modernizing the state’s mobility offerings. The announcement…