Survey Shows Nearly 1 in 4 Americans Participate in OHV Recreation
As the U.S. population has grown, so has the demand for and popularity of off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation. This was the conclusion of a recent report released by the U.S. Forest Service. The report is in conjunction with the agency's ongoing review of OHV use on U.S. Forest Service land.
The information in the report was collected through 80,000 telephone surveys of individuals 16 years and older between 1999 and 2004. Based on the results of the surveys, estimated OHV ridership has increased from 36 million in 1999-2000 to 51 million users in 2003-2004. According to the latest figures, 23.8 percent of Americans age 16 and older had participated one or more times in OHV recreation in 2004.
The survey questions and subsequent report included broad classifications of off-highway vehicles, including: four-wheel-drive Jeeps, SUVs, motorcycles designed for off-highway use, and ATVs. Recognizing that OHVs are frequently used for work-related activities, the survey questions focused primarily on recreational use of OHVs. A copy of the report can be downloaded at: www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/ohv/OHV_final_report.pdf
The report is timely since the Forest Service is in the process of finalizing plans to manage OHV use on Forest Service land. The rule would establish a system of roads, trails and areas designated for OHVs, and prohibit such use outside of the designated system. SEMA has recommended that the Forest Service recognize and designate uninventoried routes or "user-created" trails that came into existence during "open" management of these areas. SEMA noted that these routes serve a legitimate need and do not pose an environmental threat. In some cases, these uninventoried routes may even be more environmentally friendly and provide a better overall access solution than their inventoried counterparts. SEMA also urged strong public involvement and flexible timetables in the process of designating these routes. SEMA has requested similar policies by the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management, which are also in the process of reviewing their OHV regulations.
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