AMA/ATVA battling proposed land closures in Texas
Apr. 15, 2003 – The AMA/ATVA held a "Ride Into Political Action" seminar in Austin, Texas, on April 12 as part of its effort to fight efforts to close riverbeds to off-highway vehicles.
Currently there are three bills in the Texas Legislature that would ban motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and other off-highway vehicles from riverbeds and banks, with certain exceptions. Those exceptions are for riverfront property owners, who should still be allowed to use the property.
Under current law, access to those riverbeds is guaranteed.
Activist Joel Wolfson, a member of the AMA Community Council-Panhandle, presented state lawmakers with more than 5,000 letters from concerned citizens opposing the proposed closure. AMA member Carol Smith, another community council activist, has been fighting the proposal and notes that 97 percent of the land in Texas is private, meaning only 3 percent is public.
"I, for one, think that 97 percent private property is enough," Smith said. "More than enough. I think we should leave these public lands open to the public."
The AMA/ATVA not only held a "Ride into Political Action" seminar to teach riders how to fight this battle, but also is urging AMA/ATVA members in the state to contact their lawmakers, and is contacting lawmakers itself.
"A lot of these riverbeds have dried-up areas that off-road riders love to use," said Royce Wood, AMA/ATVA legislative affairs specialist.
"Rather than a blanket ban, we would like to see state officials work with the off-highway vehicle community to determine which riverbeds should be protected, and which can remain open for OHV use," he said.