Can you add a Land-Use section

[Anchor Mtn]

Can you add a "Land Use" section to highlight local and national trail rehab projects and other trail closures. It would help highlight the issues we as OHV enthusiasts are facing on a national level. It would be a great place to get companies like "Tread Lightly" and "Stay the Trail" to post training and other information as well.

I would be happy to start it off with one local to me:

https://www.rme4x4.com/pshcleanup/

 

[slomatt]

There has previously been some interest in a Land Use section, but nothing came out of it.
https://www.overlandbound.com/forums/threads/forum-for-land-use-issues.8149/

Hopefully this time it can gain more momentum.

 

[Road]

Can you add a "Land Use" section to highlight local and national trail rehab projects and other trail closures. It would help highlight the issues we as OHV enthusiasts are facing on a national level. It would be a great place to get companies like "Tread Lightly" and "Stay the Trail" to post training and other information as well.

I would be happy to start it off with one local to me:

https://www.rme4x4.com/pshcleanup/

There has previously been some interest in a Land Use section, but nothing came out of it.
https://www.overlandbound.com/forums/threads/forum-for-land-use-issues.8149/

Hopefully this time it can gain more momentum.

@Anchor Mtn - thanks for posting the link to Rocky Mountain Extreme's 2018 clean up efforts. Personally, I'd love to see more of that type of thing linked to here in OB, and to see OB itself organize clean-ups in addition to running The Guardian coin program.

Hey @slomatt, just spent time looking at the thread you started on this last June and personally think it's a good idea. I'm surprised it didn't happen last summer, honestly, though it did get a bit of interest.

To you both - though I'm just a new moderator here, I will add it to the list of things I've either been asked, or want on my own, to bring up to staff.

I think it would be great to have a section where forum users could post individual threads with notices to trail related clean-ups, work events, and trail closure issues. Separate threads for different regions and trails, hopefully, or some way so it does not end up being several trails all jumbled into one thread.

Thank you for your posts. I'll find out what I can for you.

Road


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[nickburt]

Ditto for the UK.
We have the Green Lane Association (GLASS) who champion sustainable use of what we call green lanes - i.e. routes of public rights of way "off road" - incorrect term as technically, a vehicular right of way is a byway, and hence a "road" GLASS organise clean up and maintenance days, together with the TRF (Trail Riders Federation) and other local 4x4 groups and clubs. GLASS are also involved in a Treadlightly movement and a database of rights of ways (Trailwise) that contains lots of good info about the status of various tracks and routes, including condition, historical use and any restrictions that may be in pace.
Most of the UK membership on here will be aware of all of this, from an OB point of view, it is our responsibility to promote good, sustainable use, but the databases are only as good as the info provided to them by responsible users.

 

[slomatt]

To you both - though I'm just a new moderator here, I will add it to the list of things I've either been asked, or want on my own, to bring up to staff.

I think it would be great to have a section where forum users could post individual threads with notices to trail related clean-ups, work events, and trail closure issues. Separate threads for different regions and trails, hopefully, or some way so it does not end up being several trails all jumbled into one thread.

Thank you for your posts. I'll find out what I can for you.

Road

.

Great, I think the OB community could be a loud and well-spoken voice in access issues. In my experience the forest service is very responsive to respectfully written comments from trail users.

This type of section exists on other forums, and the standard organization is as you mentioned, one thread per trail or system of trails. For example, I would start a thread on the Pardoe Trail in the Eldorado National Forest which was closed several years ago as part of the "42 Trails" lawsuit and is scheduled for repair work this summer. This is a great trail and I look forward to running it again.

- Matt

 

[Steve]

Paging @Michael

 

[Road]

Ditto for the UK.
We have the Green Lane Association (GLASS) who champion sustainable use of what we call green lanes - i.e. routes of public rights of way "off road" - incorrect term as technically, a vehicular right of way is a byway, and hence a "road" GLASS organise clean up and maintenance days, together with the TRF (Trail Riders Federation) and other local 4x4 groups and clubs. GLASS are also involved in a Treadlightly movement and a database of rights of ways (Trailwise) that contains lots of good info about the status of various tracks and routes, including condition, historical use and any restrictions that may be in pace.
Most of the UK membership on here will be aware of all of this, from an OB point of view, it is our responsibility to promote good, sustainable use, but the databases are only as good as the info provided to them by responsible users.

Great, I think the OB community could be a loud and well-spoken voice in access issues. In my experience the forest service is very responsive to respectfully written comments from trail users.

This type of section exists on other forums, and the standard organization is as you mentioned, one thread per trail or system of trails. For example, I would start a thread on the Pardoe Trail in the Eldorado National Forest which was closed several years ago as part of the "42 Trails" lawsuit and is scheduled for repair work this summer. This is a great trail and I look forward to running it again.

- Matt

Very cool, Nick and Matt - I appreciate your input and experience. I know @Corrie has reached out to people outside OB for further input and has been working on putting together an increased involvement by OB in listing groups by locale, etc.

For my part, I'll start keeping track of things mentioned in this thread, including @Anchor Mtn 's original post and link, and elsewhere that I run across and perhaps we can fashion it into something both members and registered forum users can utilize. I'll bring it up to staff as I can and see what else has been started or discussed.

.

 

[slomatt]

Very cool, Nick and Matt - I appreciate your input and experience. I know @Corrie has reached out to people outside OB for further input and has been working on putting together an increased involvement by OB in listing groups by locale, etc.

For my part, I'll start keeping track of things mentioned in this thread, including @Anchor Mtn 's original post and link, and elsewhere that I run across and perhaps we can fashion it into something both members and registered forum users can utilize. I'll bring it up to staff as I can and see what else has been started or discussed.

.

Hi Road,

I might be reading your post incorrectly, but it sounds like you are talking about adding new functionality to the OB website. Just to be clear, I think the original suggestion was simply to start a new sub-forum where people can post threads about land use issues. This would at least get the ball rolling.

 

[Road]

Hi Road,

I might be reading your post incorrectly, but it sounds like you are talking about adding new functionality to the OB website. Just to be clear, I think the original suggestion was simply to start a new sub-forum where people can post threads about land use issues. This would at least get the ball rolling.

Yep, and I agree. This site is already bloated and unmanageable enough as is; I think a straightforward sub-forum for land-use issues is perfect and is what I'd recommend, personally. All up to the powers that be, though, not me.

 

[MA_Trooper]

This is a topic we've talked about quite a bit, off and on. I can't give you a good reason as to why we don't have a section/sub yet other than to say we haven't come up with a way to implement it so that it adds value and doesn't bloat the site or devolve into petty political squabbling. I will say, I intend to bring this up again this week especially in light of this thread and some other discussions I've seen. My thought is more along the lines of adding a sub to the regions forums so folks don't have to sift through so many threads to get to pertinent posts. The downside to a sub is it isn't seen on the main page.

@Michael maybe time to revive this discussion this week?

 

[slomatt]

@Chris Jones I think the format of the "Land Use and Trails" forum at Pirate4x4 works quite well. There is one top-level forum on the topic, which I think is proper since some land use issues are at the national level and not focused on a specific region. This also makes it easy for groups or individuals who are highly active in land use issues (such as Del Albright) to visit the site and post alerts or status updates. Of course OB has a more international audience, but I don't think there would be a large number of threads in the forum, so filtering through would be pretty easy. I do think there would need to be fairly strong rules.

Here are some suggestions:

• All posts must include the state and trail/area name in the title to make it easy to scan the threads. For example, "[CA] Oceano Dunes risk of closure" or "[CA] Work party to fix the water crossing on the Deer Valley Trail".
  
• No political discussions or chit chat, just facts on what is happening.
• No name calling or profanities.

I would volunteer to help moderate this sub-forum if there is a concern that adding a land use forum would increase the work load of the current moderators.

- Matt

 

[Jeff Knoll]

@Chris Jones I think the format of the "Land Use and Trails" forum at Pirate4x4 works quite well. There is one top-level forum on the topic, which I think is proper since some land use issues are at the national level and not focused on a specific region. This also makes it easy for groups or individuals who are highly active in land use issues (such as Del Albright) to visit the site and post alerts or status updates. Of course OB has a more international audience, but I don't think there would be a large number of threads in the forum, so filtering through would be pretty easy. I do think there would need to be fairly strong rules.

Here are some suggestions:

• All posts must include the state and trail/area name in the title to make it easy to scan the threads. For example, "[CA] Oceano Dunes risk of closure" or "[CA] Work party to fix the water crossing on the Deer Valley Trail".
  
• No political discussions or chit chat, just facts on what is happening.
• No name calling or profanities.

I would volunteer to help moderate this sub-forum if there is a concern that adding a land use forum would increase the work load of the current moderators.

- Matt

I talked to Del, last week about this site and believe he signed up. I imagine he will be more than happy to help in regards to this topic. If needed I can reach out to him again. I will also be willing to help where I can, but I put my land use advocate hat in storage a few years ago. I am more interested in proactive education and training and less interested in fighting closures these days.

 

[slomatt]

I talked to Del, last week about this site and believe he signed up. I imagine he will be more than happy to help in regards to this topic. If needed I can reach out to him again. I will also be willing to help where I can, but I put my land use advocate hat in storage a few years ago. I am more interested in proactive education and training and less interested in fighting closures these days.

Hi Jeff, given the large number of "I'm new to overlanding..." posts on this site I think it is a great venue for spreading the word about responsible trail use.

 

[MA_Trooper]

@Michael @Corrie

 

[Road]

Hi Jeff, given the large number of "I'm new to overlanding..." posts on this site I think it is a great venue for spreading the word about responsible trail use.

Couldn't agree more, @slomatt - hopefully @Corrie and @Michael will read this thread, see that this has been asked for last summer as well, and will see your post above on suggested structure and offer to help moderate a sub-forum on land use issues and activities. I know Corrie in particular is working on ways to include names and links to organizations so members everywhere are more aware of how they can be involved locally.

I also think that those of us here who are involved with groups should speak up about it in posts, whether it be Tread Lightly! , Leave No Trace , or local organization you believe in and belong to. I put mine in my sig now and am considering applying to be both a Tread Trainer and Trainer/Master Educator for LNT.

As members of OB I believe it is important to not only be involved in responsible trail activities and organizations but to lead by example for all the new members coming in. Membership has more than doubled in just the last eight-nine months.

 

[slomatt]

I'm starting to suspect this thread will be ignored just like the last one was...

 

[Road]

I'm starting to suspect this thread will be ignored just like the last one was...

It's disappointing, I agree, though I know they are working on ways to include links to resources so members are more aware of opportunities in their area to become more informed about local cleanups, land use issues, and the organizations that are involved.

 

[slomatt]

It's disappointing, I agree, though I know they are working on ways to include links to resources so members are more aware of opportunities in their area to become more informed about local cleanups, land use issues, and the organizations that are involved.

We are just asking for a sub-forum where land use issues can be discussed, it doesn't need to be anything more complicated than that.

 

[TacoInACrowd]

We are just asking for a sub-forum where land use issues can be discussed, it doesn't need to be anything more complicated than that.

This is something I would love to see.

 

[Road]

We are just asking for a sub-forum where land use issues can be discussed, it doesn't need to be anything more complicated than that.

I know, and agree, as we've talked about further above. Just relaying again what I've been told.