AMA bids for off-road support

From the American Motorcyclist Association

PICKERINGTON, OH --The American Motorcyclist Association told a Congressional committee on March 13 that motorized recreation is a "legitimate and popular" use of public land that needs more federal funding.

"Motorized recreation is a legitimate and popular use of our public lands," said Ed Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations, in written testimony to the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Lands. "The AMA has long supported access to public lands for responsible motorized recreation. Motorized recreation is also compatible with other public land resource values."

The topic of the subcommittee hearing was "Impacts of Unmanaged Off-Road Vehicles on Federal Lands." Moreland told the federal lawmakers that recreation, like any other resource, must be managed.

"Too often motorized recreation has been managed by the extremes of either being ignored or prohibited," he said. "The land management agencies must recognize that they have many management tools that they can utilize to provide motorized recreation opportunities while protecting other resource values."

Moreland also made a case for more funding for federal agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management so that they can better manage motorized recreation. And he noted that the motorized recreation community has taken proactive steps, often in partnership with public land managers, to reinforce its land-use ethic through rider education and public awareness.