Dear HCN,
ORV groups (HCN, 12/9/96)
succeed mainly because they are funded by an industry that profits
from increased ORV use, and because they have a one-issue focus of
striving to keep and increase access to public lands. There are no
one-issue groups focused on fighting them. Environmental groups all
have other battles to fight.
It is easy for
environmentalists to be labeled as elitists by ORV users when their
arguments against ORVs are not clearly focused on the environment.
People who hate the noise of ORVs or have had a backcountry trip
ruined by rude ORV users have a completely valid complaint but a
weak environmental argument. Environmentalists must point out the
environmental damage caused by ORVs.
At the same
time they must work with hikers, rafters, skiers and other
muscle-powered sports enthusiasts to form a complete argument to
stem the tide of increasing motorized use. The environmental damage
caused by ORVs, coupled with how they counter the aesthetic values
of many other users, should be enough to mandate some reasonable
restrictions on ORV use. But the arguments must be made forcefully,
and more importantly, by the right groups.
Rick
Price
Victor,
Idaho
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Learn a lesson from ORV’ers.
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