Breaking Down the Silos A new series on bridging the barriers between trail user groups
to build the strength of our message that trails move the world. Toward that end, American Trails
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introduces an ongoing series called “Breaking Down the Silos,” where we discuss the happenings and ideas that help to bridge the barriers between the all members of our trails community together to ensure positive change in our trail world.
Mike Passo, American Trails’
executive director, recently attended Conservation Council (NOHVCC) Conference in Manchester, NH. “It was a truly superb event,” Mike said. “While there, I learned a lot about what moves the motorized trail community, what their struggles are, and how other constituency groups can work with NOVHCC.” Mike hosted an American Trails
Town Hall listening session as a part of the conference, and over the course of the weekend, heard several themes
merican Trails exists to help the trails community to communicate, share infor- mation, and work together
emerge around the motorized trail community and its relationship to the rest of the trails world. Below is a synopsis of the themes that arose: There is a need for a common
message that ALL trail constituencies can rally behind. As a coalition of trail organizations, we can develop agreed-upon goals and messaging and promote that vigorously for the betterment of trails as a whole. Those goals that create controver- sy and fracturing among the coalition members can, and should, be left to the individual advocacy organiza- can all agree that this will happen from time to time, and we must all agree to disagree on those topics, without letting that disagreement color the larger cooperation that the coalition seeks to promote. There is a need for a better under- standing of the economics of trails. A large proportion of trail funding taxes (through the Federal Recreational Trails Program). Many of the trails you know and love only exist via this funding mechanism, yet it seems that many trail users and
advocates do not recognize this or appreciate the outsized contribution of motorized trail users.
Motorized trail advocates often do not feel that there is parity when it comes to funding for trails. Motorized trail users happily (for the most part) pay fuel taxes, Federal and State per- mits and registration fees, all of development and maintenance. At the same time, they do not see hikers, bikers, or equestrians paying Nonmotorized advocates should con- sider allowing some sort of tax or fees to cover their desires for improved amenities and the maintenance their impacts require.
Some of these issues are easy to
address. And some are a little tougher (to say the least). American Trails is committed to working with NOVHCC, American Motorcyclist Association, Motorcycle Industry Council, and our other partners to further the under- standing of issues the motorized com- munity faces and working toward NOHVCC (like American Trails and IMBA) has a new executive direc- tor. Duane Taylor comes to lead NOHVCC from the Motorcycle Industry Council and is eager to join American Trails in breaking down the silos. In fact “Breaking Down the Silos” is a direct quote from Mike’s conversation with Duane during the conference.
What we all have in common: love for our public lands and trails
American Trails looks forward to working with NOHVCC and other organizations, as we embark upon a strategic planning process over the next year and a half. Your ideas and input are strongly desired. Please in helping us determine American Trails’ bright future, and keep an eye next few months. Enjoy your fall trails excursions!
Keep up to date on funding and legislation supporting trails:
www.AmericanTrails.org/support.html
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