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By: Robert Janis
Ohio Motorized Trails Association Uses
Innovative Ideas to Gain More Land for
Off-Roaders
Continued from page 1...
Urgent Issues
According to Mesarchik, one of the most urgent
issues for OMTA is dealing with irresponsible
riders. “Because of the fact that there are very
few trails, we have a culture of irresponsible
riders,” he said. “It is a small part of our
community, but they seem to get all the
publicity. There are groups that oppose our
attempts to get land to ride on point to these
irresponsible riders as a reason why we
shouldn’t be given the land. They use them as
ammunition against us.”
So OMTA and other off-road recreationist groups
are working hard to combat the bad publicity. To
show that most riders are responsible,
volunteers monitor trails and participate in
Trail Patrol Volunteer programs. In addition,
rider awareness literature is being distributed
to the public through dealers. “Riders need to
police themselves and watch what we put on our
websites,” said Mesarchik.
Membership and Website
OMTA has 600 members. “Anyone can be a member,”
said Mesarchik. “We have single memberships,
club membership options, sustaining memberships,
and sponsor memberships for dealers and parts
and accessories suppliers.”
Also the off- road industry provides help.
Manufacturers like Polaris and Yamaha have a
grant program of which OMTA takes advantage.
Other manufacturers like CAN AM provide product
demonstrations at events and the organization
has had some success getting dealers and
individual businesses to offer discounts to OMTA
members.
OMTA has a website (www.ohiotrails.org)
that is going through some re-construction. When
the job is done, it will include a quarterly
newsletter, information which assists riders in
learning about safety training programs, provide
updates on issues, offer a list of legislation
pending in the state capital and provide
information on legal issues and activities and
finally provide information on how volunteers
can help.Mesarchik seemed to indicate that
off-road riders can be their own worst enemy.
Besides the irresponsible riders who are
providing ammunition for those who oppose
off-road recreation, he noted that there is a
prejudice within the community against fellow
off-road riding groups. “There is a prejudice by
off-road riders against other off-road riders
who use a different type of machine,” concluded
Mesarchik. “Motorcyclists are saying that ATV
riders are irresponsible and ATV riders say that
4x4 drivers are tearing up the trails. It is
like what the eco-extremists say against the
off-road community as a whole. The thing is we
all face the same land use issues. So, it is
best to unite so that we will have a stronger
voice over all.”
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