0
![Not allowed!](http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/images/buttons/down_dis.png)
![Not allowed!](http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/images/buttons/up_dis.png)
Ironically, this happened today... These trails were illegally built by friends of mine. Harold is my next door neighbor. We rode illegally there for years. Now they are going to watch for illegal trail builders? LOL
November 29, 2016
For Immediate Release
New England Mountain Bike Association and Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Partner to Open 15-mile Single-Track Trail Network at Dubuque State Forest in Hawley, MA
(HAWLEY, MASS.) – The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the Pioneer Valley Chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA) announce a partnership to open a 15-mile network of single-track trails at Dubuque State Forest.
“Dubuque’s single-track trails wind through gorgeous and diverse woodlands and offer a variety of challenges, loops and scenic features that mountain bikers seek,” says Harold Green, President of the PV-NEMBA Chapter. “But these trails will also provide new opportunities for cross-country skiers, hikers and trail runners as well.”
Before approving this trail network, the DCR carefully assessed each trail to ensure that the network would protect important natural and culture resources, but also provide excellent recreational experiences to a variety of users.
PV-NEMBA has agreed to organize volunteer trail maintenance and stewardship of the new trail system, help monitor against illegal trail building and work to educate trail users about etiquette and stewardship.
We are very excited about this partnership to expand recreational opportunities at Dubuque,” said DCR Commissioner, Leo P. Roy. “We expect that this new trail network will draw users from both the Pioneer Valley and Berkshire County to Hawley, and we believe that excellent trail networks and recreation can have economic benefits to local communities and the region. “
DCR and NEMBA are currently working to install signs, create new on-line maps, and build some additional trail connections.
Not in NH! I can tell you that as a landowner, I'd be ripshit and probably go after someone through legal means if they just up and started building trails on our property without permission. Even though we've been working on trails on said property for the last couple years, we'd go after them with barrels smoking if someone decided to do it on their own without permission. At that point, we'd probably close down the land for ALL recreational use for which it is currently open for...
Did you grit your teeth and try to look like Clint Fuckin' Eastwood?
Or did you lisp it all hangfisted like a fuckin' flower?
Lol, yeah. If you read that blurb, it was STATE forest, and instead of going after these punks like you would Jay, they legitimized the trail system. This goes back to my original point. Some hobbies get respected for class reasons. This guy is balding, retired, and transports his 5k mt bike to said trails in a Porsche SUV. I believe that has a lot to do with how they can get away with stuff like this. The environmental movement and regulations are shaped to rich people's preferences. Animals don't actually mind noise. Go to any airport with binoculars and watch the variety of birds, mammals, reptiles, etc. It's off the hook. Rich people don't like noise. Unless it's an airplane or a boat, and lord knows we can't restrict those!
In what regard are boats not restricted?
NH noise restrictions for boats
Speed limits are 45 mph during the day and 25 at night.
Operators must pass a boat education class before navigating inland water bodies in NH.
And in Mass:
Many laws similar to NH
In what way, specifically?
No wake zones make sense, boat classes make sense, required safety equipment makes sense, noise restrictions and speed limits are a given. I don't see how any of this caters to "rich people".
Well, the environment says otherwise. Boats are gas guzzling, oil spiling, turtle and manatee killing, ecosystem destroying luxury items. They really shouldn't be allowed many places at all. 3 or 4 little boating areas per state should suffice.
Yes, they should close Winnipesaukee to everything except canoes and Kayaks, but only those made of natural materials.
Dad's Dream: Earn enough money to live the life that his wife and kids do.
I'm not arguing for or against anything.
I will say the logic you stated with regards to boats can be easily applied to dirtbikes.......which could be called land trenching, erosion enhancing, squirrel killing luxury items that should not be allowed in many places at all. 3 or 4 little riding places per state is more than enough.
I get what you're saying, Paul. I am merely pointing out that the exact sentiment you stated on boats are what the general public thinks about dirtbikes. That in itself is the core of the issue with obtaining more places to ride, in my opinion.
Believe me, if things were different I'd be out there riding with you guys on a weekly basis however I've found the enjoyment of that type of recreation to be more frustrating than anything and for many of the reasons that have been brought up in this thread.
I don't see how a boat is anymore a "rich man's toy" than a dirtbike or a pickup truck
RandyO
IBA#9560
A man with a gun is a citizen
A man without a gun is a subject LETS GO BRANDON
Ok, now we are just arguing for the sake of proving me wrong. Do you know how much a wakeboard boat costs? Or any ocean worthy boat for that matter? There is nothing in the moto world to compare. And how many of the 12 o'clock boys have boats? Hmmm? There IS class warfare going on in the environmental movement. Ignore it if you like. I'm not even poor, I have just been educated on this issue by one of the most interesting minds in conservation. A guy named Bird Westall.
A 12ft fishing dingy with a 5hp on the back and a styrofoam cooler is the epitome of the working man's Saturday afternoon. But it scales rapidly. Louie Anderson asks "A rich person's hobby" Survey definitely says boat at some point.
Why are dirtbikes still semi-isolated to the blue collar crowd? I know there's desk jockeys buying brand new KTMs, but most motos seem like they're riding in the back of someone's work truck. Is it that you really have to know how to DIY to some degree for it to be practical? Not sure I buy that because boats don't have that problem. Engine doesn't work, take it to the shop or send the boat mechanic down to the dock. Meanwhile, the MTB seems to have a high adoption rate with the six figure bunch. Less intimidating, but still requires transportation and trips to the shop.
Last edited by aldend123; 11-30-16 at 02:16 PM.
nedirtriders.com
A better comparison would be boats and jet skis. Jet skis are banned in a large percentage of small lakes/ponds throughout the northeast where boats are perfectly legal. Why is that? Because history has shown that younger crowds ride jet skis, and they were deemed more dangerous, noisier, more polluting and just overall more obnoxious. Nevermind the fact that there isn't a single 2-stroke jet ski in existence anymore (the SuperJet, the only 2-stroker, is "competition only" now) and they're largely cleaner than boats, they're all super quiet, and they're no less safe than a boat (in fact it could be argued they're safer from a statistics perspective). Despite this, they're still banned in a huge number of bodies of water.
Last edited by SRTie4k; 11-30-16 at 02:21 PM.
2023 KTM 890 Adventure R
And what is the water equivalent of a dirtbike? The jetski.
Lot of parallels between the water and land, eh?