Possible land closure Campbell River.

[Twinsport]

I just had a conversation with Luisa Richardson regarding land use behind the old Government pit (Redman Sandblasting, the Wedge) area. Her view does seem to have softened since our last chat a year ago, and seems more open to discussion about use of the area.

The watershed group seems to want dialogue on the area and as I see it it will be up to the dirt bike community to show that we are in fact not much of a risk to Campbell Rivers drinking water. Given that one dam up the lake system is full of powerboats, seadoos, lakeside cabins and kids swimming in the lake in diapers.

The big concern is all the mud that washes down from the trails we ride on causing turbidity in the water to where the UV treatment wont kill the bad things in our drinking water. I think ownership/stewardship of the lands we ride on in question is the answer. Perhaps some funding for bridges etc. After all there are better chances of one of us catching an illegal dumper than Forestry or a CO.

She is looking for a meeting in the future to discuss these issues. ill try and keep things posted as I find out.

 

[tomcycle]

Brian

BCORMA is aware but not up to speed on what is going on in this area, off road guys in this area are not very organised. Maybe we can help. Let me know how your conversation goes.

TT

Please email or call my Executive Director at BCORMA Peter Sprague
[email protected]
250.412.3444

 

[triplenickel]

The big concern is all the mud that washes down from the trails we ride on causing turbidity in the water to where the UV treatment wont kill the bad things in our drinking water.

As crazy as this sounds to me it seems about logical enough to shut down some riding areas. Tom is right we need to get more organized, I've been preaching the BCORMA gospel to anyone local who will listen but it's not gonna be nearly enough. What's our next step, who do we talk to/ I'd like to be involved and halp if it's needed.

Later, John

 

[Twinsport]

Actually John, once you have spoken to the woman in charge of this debacle you will soon realize she is nothing more than a zealot. There was an ad in the local news paper this week about meetings. She is really trying to stir up fear against the motorized users of the area, who have been using the area for over 30 years. MT bikes cause no harm according to this woman. The one think she did say though. Was that the City may not have the authority to close the area down, which brought me to question why there were signs stating it was closed to motorcycles.
Beware though. the area is under surveillance.

 

[Twinsport]

As crazy as this sounds to me it seems about logical enough to shut down some riding areas. Tom is right we need to get more organized, I've been preaching the BCORMA gospel to anyone local who will listen but it's not gonna be nearly enough. What's our next step, who do we talk to/ I'd like to be involved and halp if it's needed.

Later, John

It is crazy. Its a hand full of Zealots trying to do as they please and take away our riding area we have used for 40 some years. Our next step? Get together, talk, think, rally, and go to the public hearings and be heard.

 

[tomcycle]

Second request, BCORMA can not help if we dont know what the problem is. In fact we may not be able to take this battle on but we can provide the right information and contacts, as well as past cases of area closures. Better to enter this arena with as much ammunition as possible. BCORMA has had great successes with off road use in and near watershed areas in both Bear Creek and Blue Mountain areas.

The old days of going it alone is no longer a viable option.

If the off road motorized do not get organised, you will get closed out. I have seen this happen so many times over the years. It all starts with someone complaining about a legitimate issue, but supported with the wrong information. The bait and switch does not work, they are not thinking of all the boats upstream and the garbage being dumped, they are thinking dirt bikes are the problem. We (and when I say we I mean all of us off road users) must educate these (also known as "they") people who think that getting rid of us will solve all their problems, we must do this with real world science not anecdotal evidence.

If you decide to go it alone, good luck. Please post your results here as I read all posts about land issues.

Brian

BCORMA is aware but not up to speed on what is going on in this area, off road guys in this area are not very organised. Maybe we can help. Let me know how your conversation goes.

TT

Please email or call my Executive Director at BCORMA Peter Sprague
[email protected]
250.412.3444

 

[kaos]

if i may suggest ,bcorma putting on a seminar or similiar on educating us on how to approach persons or partys on gaining land use.i have talked to a couple people in the nanaimo area but would possibly have more success with something like bcorma behind me.

 

[triplenickel]

Hi Tom thanks for the info and any help is certainly welcome. I spoke with Brian yesterday and he said he had e-mailed Peter already.

 

[tomcycle]

Bcorma

Bcorma

BCORMA is an non profit association of motorcycle clubs (all member clubs also have to be non profit and registered) As such BCORMA gets its instructions from its member clubs. Land use issues are very important to BCORMA and its member clubs, that's why we get involved where we can.

BCORMA will not turn its back on any land issues, but we have very limited funds. BCORMA does not and has never received any funding from any level of government. Our main source of funding is through the Trail Pass Sales, which is still not enough to make BCORMA sustainable. BCORMA also gets funding from the motorcycle industry, which also is not enough to sustain us. Just in case someone was wondering, no I do not get any money for being President of BCORMA (in fact it costs me money) I do however occasionally try and use this prestigious position to my advantage, so far it hasn't got me much except more work for no pay.

I dont have to tell anyone how much it costs to develop and host seminars. Its just not on the table at this time. Our number one priority is to sell trail passes (raise money) so we can fight the good fight. We use our clubs to get the message out, all the BCORMA club directors have access to our Executive Director and can get the information required to take on the battles.

BCORMA has a good working relationship with many government officials, it still could be a lot better but it better than no relationship.

Anyhow, get your local club to join BCORMA or start your own club and get ready for battle. If riding off road is important we all have to do our little part.

For now you will have to be satisfied with emails and our websites.

TT

if i may suggest ,bcorma putting on a seminar or similiar on educating us on how to approach persons or partys on gaining land use.i have talked to a couple people in the nanaimo area but would possibly have more success with something like bcorma behind me.

 

[Twinsport]

I did send an email off to the given address the other day.
yes. things can get closed. I read about this years ago. Remembering SuperHunky and the Phantom Duck of the Desert?

 

[tomcycle]

I did send an email off to the given address the other day.
yes. things can get closed. I read about this years ago. Remembering SuperHunky and the Phantom Duck of the Desert?

Send me a copy of your email to Peter and I will make sure it gets answered
send to [email protected]

TT

 

[gryphon51]

if i may suggest ,bcorma putting on a seminar or similiar on educating us on how to approach persons or partys on gaining land use.i have talked to a couple people in the nanaimo area but would possibly have more success with something like bcorma behind me.

Use film students to do documentary like films in support of what we do, television and radio have to run a certain amount of "Community Service" messages for free, maybe this applies...

it is most often the case that the most vocal of detractors and Zealots, have zero clue about the reality of the thing they want banned....