Wisconsin OHM/DS Motorcyclists - Trail and Legislative Issues

Start here. Scroll down the first post to find "Where to Ride Trails in WI".

I attended another meeting yesterday with one of the councils I serve on. I should explain that serving as an advocate for this kind of stuff doesn't just involve attending a meeting every now and then. To prepare for this meeting I put in about 20 hours of work. This involved reviewing grant requests, formulating questions/issues to explore, referencing back to some previous requests, mapping request locations for the council, and even taking a look at some things using aerial imagery. The meeting itself was to review submissions and identify what additional information or clarifications were needed. The meeting turned out to be another 12 hours with travel. So, 32 hours in this one "meeting" so far. We'll have another meeting to actually work on the funding for about $4.8M worth of grant requests. Preparation for the next meeting will involve some days of travel around the state to visit many of the grant request locations to develop a more informed view of what the request involves so as to make the best decisions possible for everyone related to these requests. By the way, visits to grant request trail locations is anything but a recreational ride, but let's not get into that. After that, the next meeting will involve two days with travel and a challenging effort to make the best recommendations since dollars available don't always cover dollars requested. This is just one topic of a broad range of other topics, projects, issues, concerns, and additional councils or representative roles. For volunteer work, this often adds up to essentially having a job - but without the wages that usually come with it. It is ironic that some people get so involved in working to advocate for the recreation they enjoy that they limit their own opportunities to get to enjoy it themselves.

Tonight's project is to draft some material that aims to bring user preferences to the forefront when dealing with trail design and construction. There is more to all this of course including two papers (about 38 pages) previously submitted on this project - along with a couple of meetings. Just plodding along trying to get the right outcomes . . .

When I was working on the legislation, I made it a point to not prescribe a specific location for the sticker. The reason for this, and for my only wanting a requirement for a single sticker (not two), is that plastics on the variety of bikes involved vary significantly. Also, some people have plastic tanks. Because of this the requirement became: "The OHM registration decal must be affixed to the exterior of the OHM by its own adhesive and clearly visible to law enforcement at all times. Only one decal is issued to each OHM." So, as long as you are not trying to hide it and can explain why it is placed there instead of on more visible available portions of the bike, you should be OK. If you have other options, best to use them. I have mine on the front number plate.

Rob McConnell and I have been working to see about getting an off-highway motorcycle trail project at the ATV park in Tigerton.

Rob and I serve together on both the ORV (ATV/UTV) Council and the OHM Council.

A few weeks ago we visited the park and met with the park manager to discuss more details about this initiative and to take a look at a potential location. It was clear we could make something work.

Last week I went to Tigerton and did a presentation about the proposal with a council committee and some others. All thought the trail project was a good idea and recommended approval. There was also some talk about future expansion of the trail beyond what we initially discussed. Yesterday the full council met and gave the go-ahead for the project.

I looked at a couple of other existing area clubs to support the project, but in the end Tigerton preferred the option that we form a local club that is based there. I will be working on that.

There is a lot to do to get this project developed. A step at a time.

This will be a nice destination as there is camping on site as well.

https://www.tigertonwi.com/campground-atv-park

And let's not forget that we already have a trail project underway in Vilas County. We need some more people to volunteer to help with construction there. Hopefully the first (beginner) loop will be open later this year. Please visit the Landover DualSporter's Club on Facebook.

Sent a letter to the Natural Resources Board as a representative of the Off-Highway Motorcycle Council expressing our support for the NRB to approve the Statement of Scope for our Administrative Code project. We have an OHM statute in place but still need to have the supporting administrative code developed so that we can fully execute the program.

When I went to Forest County to get access to the State trails there, in the end they decided to only allow dual sport motorcycles in Forest County. It is signed as such. The Oconto County ATV trail system is closed to motorcycles. I tried to get that changed but was unable to do so. However, a portion of the Oconto County ATV trail is based in the national forest there. The county rules do not apply in the national forest so motorcycles are allowed to ride that portion of the trail system that is in the national forest in Oconto County. [I have some GPS tracks published to assist riders with this.] Again we are talking about dual sports and not limited use motorcycles. Once a limited use bike hits the roads, it can be illegal if it is not allowed for by a designated OHM route for a formal designation in the MVUM.

So, DOT dual sports with a WI OHM sticker are OK in Forest County and on Oconto County trails that are in the national forest.

Well, it is a little more complex than that and it involves money.

We had a State Trails Council meeting in Sturgeon Bay on Friday.

You may remember I have been involved with a trail standards project that involves the DNR and some others. That project is expanding to address more types of trails. It involves some basic specifications and varying levels of development. More to come on this.

I also invited an outfit to make a presentation to the council. They have some excellent offerings for a variety of events and trail systems. Trail Genius

Some information about the new OHM single track trail that will open in Vilas County this month. More phases to come. The local club has been working very hard to get the first loop open this year. https://www.riderplanet-usa.com/…/wisconsin_1…/ride_5052.htm

Natural Resources Board approved our scope project to formally proceed so we can develop the admin code for the OHM program.

Video starts on this topic at 5:25:00

https://dnrmedia.wi.gov/main/Play/2...?catalog=9da0bb43-2fd4-48a6-9d86-756192a62f17

I once took the presenter on an orientation ride on the NHAL to cover some issues relevant to our program. First hand experience is best.

The first loop of our new trail project in Vilas County opens Sunday. About 8 miles in this first loop.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1725121494201657