Sometimes motorized recreation is not well received by officials and other groups. In many cases it is because some people haven’t had much exposure to it. A lack of knowledge or familiarity with motorized recreation, or a particular type of it, can leave some people imagining the worst which often leads to opposition.
I’ve experienced this phenomenon myself as an advocate for motorized recreation. Sometimes it involved work with councils and committees and sometimes it involved other recreation groups or land managers.
It seemed to me that recreation groups had more in common than they had differences. Each group is made up of people that want opportunities to enjoy the activities they like. As in most things in life, better understanding of people and their interests can lead to greater acceptance.
One of the councils I serve on represents a variety of trail user groups. I introduced a program where we would rotate making presentations to the council and related officials to orient people as to what our groups were all about. Over time this proved to be very beneficial as the council became more unified, more supportive of all groups, and the representatives were better able to deal with people that unreasonably opposed other interests.
While working on expanding opportunities for off-highway motorcycling (OHM) around our state, I made presentations to other local trail groups and officials explaining what off-highway motorcycling was about. I used a lot of pictures to illustrate the points I was making in the briefing. This helped create a much better understanding of who OHM riders are and what we do. It also helped to overcome some of the negatives that people might have imagined. Instead of imagining some potentially adverse behavior, they saw mature adults, responsible riders, and family groups enjoying forests and trails just like many do in other recreation groups.
Demonstrating that various trail groups were made up of very similar people that shared the same values, trail etiquette, and respect for everyone’s interests knocked down some unreasonable opposition. Instead of bickering back and forth about a few outliers that sometimes misbehave, it is better to show regard for the concerns, wishes, and rights of others. Once fairness and respect become the theme of these interactions, it is difficult for any group to unreasonably oppose another group’s interests and activities.
The briefings were particularly useful in gaining better understanding and acceptance from some land managers and other officials. With a solid explanation of activities, impact, how projects come together, funding streams, rider support and the like, the comfort level rises quickly. As an example, some land managers had no idea why they were seeing so many dual sport motorcycles in their forests when they had no trail system. An illustrated explanation of how a GPS guided ride is developed and mapped to ensure only authorized paths are used, that also highlights the benefits and opportunities it creates, often leads to the necessary understanding. Not only did we get acceptance, but some land managers contributed by suggesting entertaining paths on their properties that dual sport riders might enjoy.
Advocates, clubs, and associations could benefit by putting together presentations that tell the story of their motorized recreation interests and then proactively seek opportunities to get the word out to influence a positive image for what they do. It could include presentations to civic groups, government officials and committees, and other recreation groups. Expanding understanding can expand acceptance which can lead to expanding opportunities. At the same time, we are adding to the positive image we require to ensure a positive future for off-highway vehicle recreation.
