Comment by September 23rd to Maintain The Travel Management Rule and Balance of Motorized and Non-Motorized Uses in Our National Forests
Years ago the United States Forest Service led a robust stakeholder engagement process to set a framework for balancing motorized vehicle access in National Forests with wildlife conservation and non-motorized recreation uses. This rule, the 2005 Travel Management Rule, is based on the basic framework that National Forest trails and other areas are closed to motor vehicle use unless specifically designated as open. This rule protects the environment while providing certainty for motorized users, hunters, anglers, mountain bikers, hikers, equestrians, cross country skiers, and other visitors about where motorized use is legal, sustainable and dependable. This clarity gives all visitors the ability to find the experience they desire.
The administration proposes to flip the existing regulatory framework upside down. Instead of designating certain trails and areas as open to motorized travel, under a new system the Forest Service would start from a presumption that trails and other areas on Forest Service land are open to motorized use, unless they are explicitly closed. This is an unnecessary change to how national forests have been managed for decades.
Motorized vehicles change the trails for all groups of users and render them useless to any other group but themselves. I support specific designated trails for motorized vehicles but they are not appropriate for multi use trails, and in fact are a serious danger to horseback riders, hikers and cyclists. Opening up trail use to motorized vehicles would result in an unfair use of the resources which should be available to a broad group of citizens, not cater to one specific group which overtakes all the others
I do not support e-bikes people are being totally irresponsible for the safety of not only them selves but bikes , bickers and horseback riders their accident rate is up I believe somewhere around 500 o/ o since they came out there would be racing, people dropping off their kids and irresponsible driving a lot more human and horse accidents
If we can't have motorized chainsaws in national forests or the wilderness, why are ebikes allowed? They clearly have a motor. The silence and speed of ebikes makes it a danger to hikers and equestrians. Please don't allow ebikes on paths and trails in national forests. Please dont endanger my life or the life of my horse@
Not only are they dangerous to equestrians they are dangerous to all other non-motorized users of the trails and the trails themselves. E-bikes have motors, period. They are by definition MOTORIZED! They can reach extreme speeds and are extremely quiet which makes them dangerous for everyone and everything around them. Wildlife, plants, the trails themselves as well as pedestrians, equestrians and even regular pedal driven mountain bikers. Allowing them on non-motorized trails is also dangerous to the e-bike riders themselves. There are roots, holes, puddles, downed trees, mud pits, etc, that could cause them serious harm if they are cruising with their motor and a wheel gets caught or slips out, or they run into an obstacle around a blind…
How many more equestrians will need to suffer injury or death on designated nonmoterized trails, by uneducated, uncaring or inconsiderate motorized vehicle users on our trails? E-bikes have a motor! They are motorized! They are fast, quiet and very dangerous for equestrians who are sitting on a flight response prey animal. End of story!