Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125646
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MAKE YOUR NEEDS KNOIN
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Capitol
By Russ Sanford
ID our last article, I discussed lIIe manner In whieb Senate Bill 684 re_med lIIe
CoJ Calitonua Ridtne aDd Biktne Trails Law as lIIe CalUomia RecreatiOlaI Trials Act
..,J aDd ror lIIe rtrst tilDe, recoiaizes recreational vdlicJes as users or tIIlU systems and
U pal1l areas. Unlnrtunately, this doe!lll't mean lIIat lIIe state Is golne to'ebanee lIIe ridInc and hikine desi_tion or any existtne tIIlll or trail system. It only means lhat,
bencerorlh, IIIe Deeds and reQUirements or lIIe vehicular user will be eheD consideration In IIIe pI_DIne _d.deveJolRent or new pal1ls and trails. It is up to us, lIIe users
or sucb areas, to make our wants aDd Deeds kDOwn and lIIese are lIIe steps to rollow.
First, theremustbegrouprepresentastate, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of
t1on. To form a group, It is only necesLand Management, etc. Set up an aPPOlntsary for one person to step forward and
ment and bave your spokesman present
say tbat this area (city, county, region,
your plan. Use your statistics to suPPOrt
etc.) needs iI. trail or park tacWty. He
lIle plan. An effective way to do tbls
must take stock of the other motorcycle
would be to bave your spokesman follow
lIlese simple steps.
clubs and organizations in tbat specific
area and solicit lIlelr aid. Tbe best apA. Introduce himself by name, malling
preacb is to form a steering committee
address, and telepbone number (for
willi representation from lIlese oilier
future contact).
clubs and organizations (take care to
B. State lIle group interest wbicb he
include representation from lIle inderepresents.
pendents). Get logelIler often and discuss
C. State lIle size of the group in numbers.
your totaJ needs even 1Il0ugh your purD. State tbe number of registered voters
poses may be different. Keep accurate
in lIle group.
records of whom and how many persons
E. State the total value of equipment
are represented by tbe group.
owned by lIle group.
Next, de\'eJop your plan. Tbe plan
F. State lIle estimated sales taxes paid
should be comprehensively de\'eJoped in
by lIle group for tbelr equipment.
terms of total need ratber IIIan area
G. State lIle number of miles traveled by
availability. By lIlis, I mean tbat you
lIle total group eacb year.
should look at lIle needs of your total
H. State lIle estimated gallons of gas
group. if you bave riders tbat want to
used by this equipment and lIle sales
cJlmb bUls, riders tbat want to travel
tax derived I1Y these sales.
trails, riders tbat want to practice flatI. Inform lIlem of lIle revenues being
tracking, etc., don't exclude their respent outside of lIlelr area because of
quirements just because you bave doubts
of non-existent facilities in lIle area.
tbat sucb an area can be madeavailable.
J. Inform them of lIle rapid growth of
Don't sell yourself short; plan for exmotorcycling.
K. State lIle number of riders in your
panslon because motorcycling Is an expand1ng form of recreation. Don't overgroup who are too young to ride on lIle
streets and must resort to acts of
look picnic, parking, and sanitation facUIties in your pJanning. Tbe plan should
trespass on vacant lots, schoolyards,
be looked upon as a model of an ideal
parking aprons, etc.
situation.
L. Show them your plan. EJqlIa1n wbat It
Next, gather statistics. In adcl1t1on to
provides and bow it wl1l work.
your group records tbat you have matnM.Ask lIlem to consider your need but
la1ned, contact lIle DMV to determine lIle
let lIlem find an area tbat suits your
needs.
number of motorcycle registrations in
your area. Visit your local bike sbops
N. otter your continued assistance in lIle
and get lIlelr opinions of ratios of reg1sdevelopment and maintenance of lIle
tered bikes to total bikes. if you can,
facility.
determine lIle ratio of li~ensed riders to
But, above all, let them know tbat you
are sincere; tbat you are devoted to your
total riders. Send out inquiry forms to
fellow riders. Determine the miles r1