Colorado Trails Preservation Alliance

After seven years of operation, the LDF became a 501c3 organization, totally staffed and controlled by volunteers. The newly-formed TPA is focused on preserving motorized, single-track trail riding. This does not mean that the TPA will ignore other forms of off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation. All forms of OHV recreation—ATV’s, 4WD’s, snowmobiles—will be supported by the TPA. However, its primary goal is to preserve single-track trail riding. The TPA is a 501c(3) organization whose intention is to be a viable partner, working with the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to preserve the sport of trail riding. The TPA will act as an advocate of the sport and take the necessary action to insure that the USFS and BLM allocate to trail riding a fair and equitable percentage of access to public lands. To accomplish its primary goal, the TPA will

Attend meetings and provide written responses to the Travel Management Plans and Forest Plans for all USFS districts in Colorado. Attend meetings and provide written responses to the Recreations Management Plans of the BLM areas in Colorado. Assist in the development and implementation of operations for local, Colorado off-road motorcycle clubs. Assist the USFS and BLM with selected trail maintenance, either through volunteer work or paid, professional trail construction companies. Coordinate with state and local elected officials to develop and preserve motorized vehicle recreation. Hire consultants who are well qualified in motorized vehicle recreation planning and travel management to assist in TPA’s responses to the USFS and BLM. Work with the USFS and BLM to assure the blueprinted “Roadless Issue” in Colorado does not affect off-highway vehicle recreation. Embrace all appropriate actions that will “Protect Your Right to Ride the Trails.”

If you review the last 25 years of USFS and BLM travel management planning, you can see their focused effort to reduce or eliminate the OHV recreation areas on public lands. When you combine these actions with the significant increase in wilderness designation, unlimited ski area expansion, and commercial enterprises on public land, every form of leisure time activity has received its fair and equitable share of access to public resources, with the exception of motorized vehicle recreation.