Civic Engagement

I beleive we should be able to ride in all the forests. This state is always looking for ways to make money but at the same time they are always trying to take something from us, I am self employed and happen to own a succesful business and if I told my customers I was going to charge them more money and do less work they would look for someone else and I think that is what every voter needs to because these forests dont belong to the state they belong to us if it wasnt for us the tax payer there wouldnt be a state. Then you have the tree huggers and thats fine im a landscaper so yeah I love trees and I take pride in them and wild life. Another thing I have dirtbikes but I also have a four wheeler and so does my wife I need to rigister these bikes but the state wont give me a place to ride who can you charge me for a service and not give me something in return I think that is against the constitution. I know people that would pay $50.00 a year or maybe $100.00 a year for registration. ...

more parks should be open to use not less. State land is for use for everyone in the state...we all pay taxes and should be able to share it.

we do neeed more place to ride me and my son ride all the time

I agree, i live in north adams and the closest state forest to ride orv's is pittsfield, i do not even visit pittsfield, we have several state forest around here and cannot ride orv's on them, they even closed savoy state forest to orv's a few yrs ago and never opened it again, i have an atv and cannot ride anywhere because they keep closing these state forests, we have five state forests around northern berkshire county, but if i want to ride my atv ihave to load up and drive half hour to use it. i would like to be apart of trying to get some of these state forests to open up to orv,s so if someone can tell me what i can do or how to help or if there is any orginizations out there so i can help support this issue ,pleade let me know.

I've always enjoyed dirt bike riding in MA state parks. It saddens me to see more parks closing to dirt bikes. When Myles Standish closed to dirt bikes, I took my bike and my vacation money out of state. I support riders rights to ride in the state forests. Dirt bike riding is not a crime. Judy

I greatly support this issue. Riding is a great family activity. Please do not discriminate against good people who like to ride trail motorcycles and quads !

Atv's and dirtbikes are a great family sport enjoyed by all ages. There needs to be parks established for this type of activity.

I've been riding ATV's on Cape Cod for 20 years, the Cape needs a legal place for dikebikes and atv's to be operated. Local goverment seems to leave out the atv community when it allocates money or does projects and now the non profit club that I belong to has had the buck passed and referral after referral back to the same people, that continue to stonewall every effect to make a legal area to go, the only thing we hear from them is there needs to be more enforcement on illegal riding. Cape Cod towns have thousands of acres that they continueously buy up and stash away for every user group under the sun except for atv riders. I pay my taxes like everyone else, but I'm not allowed to go anywhere with my atv except my own property and the police show up immediately to give you a noise citation, because atv's are 100 percent discrimanationed against.. You either own one or hate them.....

I agree with everyone else and I am in favor of ORV use in State Parks. I am lucky to say I have the opportunity to go to our friends house and use their track so my son may ride his dirtbike but, I also think it would be even better if the whole family could pack up the bikes and go somewhere for the day or even camp out for the weekend. One of the best memories this year was going to New Hampshire for a couple of days and being able to ride with no worries. It would have been even better if you didn't have to drive four hours out of state.

My children and I all have 4 wheelers. It is a safe fun recreation for all, as long as safety is taught from day one. A place to go as a community who all share the same interest is priority. Please consider an atv park for our families.

I have watched ORV access dwindle on Cape Cod since the middle 70's. It started with the restriction of trails on Sandy Neck and has fostered an attitude of elitist entitlement for those who would dictate what is acceptable recreation. Not that long ago Cape Cod was FOR poor people, BY poorer people. If we want new families, primarily young families, to remain and attempt to carve out a living here, we must learn to embrace them and their chosen forms of fun. Do you realize how untapped the ORV market is on Cape Cod? We fine riders for using trails that have existed since before I was born, yet force them to register and insure the same vehicle we don't allow them fair access to ride? All because someone built a house two years ago next to those pre-existing trails, and now takes it upon themselves to claim everything in earshot as their domain. The ORV culture is, by definition, a culture that devotes vast sums of disposable income to their sport. Why then, with the current state ...

We need more LEGAL place to ride. I have 2 sons that ejoy the outdoors and recreation as do I. There is no fun getting thown out or stopped everytime I take my childeren riding. This sport gives the childeren and young adults another outlet besides the streets.

we need more legal places to ride- period. im tired of spending money in maine to be able to ride legally

We need more places to ride. It is great family event. Please do not take this recreational activity from these family's.

orv use is vital to a healthy motorcycle industry in this state. With the current state of the economy, we need to support industry. The simple corre of this issue is why buy an orv if there is no place to legally ride one. This is an excellent outdoor activity for families. Children of appropriate age get physical exercise and learn coordination. Some may even achieve a career in the industry; whether it be in sales, service, management, or business ownership. operators of orv's are tax payers looking to pursue their activity without legal reprocussions or endangerment to the enviroment.

ORV's are not illegal and we desperatly need a spot to use them!

the state of MA is in dire need of legal places to support ORV use.

YES, I do support off road vehicle use in OUR state forest or wherever possible.We need this.Atv and trail bike riders have no place to ride anymore.1st it was MSSF,then Savoy,Then Georgetown taken from us.Which 1 next?Taking away riding areas creates more illegal off road use,which in turn cost the state more money for enforcement.The police have more important things to do then chasing dirt bikers in the woods enjoying there choice of recreational activity.We are not outlaws.We just need a place to ride.There are plenty of suitable areas.Myles Standish State Forest for example.We sure do miss being able to ride there.This is a great family activity that myself and family and friends have enjoyed all our lives and now we are faced having fewer places to ride each year and more illegal riding every year.This is a real recreational sport enjoyed by thousands of people each year.hey Governer Patrick, come riding with us,its a lot of fun.I'll even loan you a dirt bike..Dont miss out on ...

I support ORV use in state park and every other area around is shrinking for use so do not take away our state parks as well, thanks.

I am in favor of this because this state just keeps taking away our rights to have fun with our families. I grew up riding with my mom and dad, Now with my own children I have to build a track in my own yard and drive my neighbors nuts just to enjoy this with my kids. My kids will race this year and we do a lot of traveling to the few surrounding mx tracks. My kids love to ride, That's the sport they want to do. They are not into hockey,soccer,football,baseball, But I as a parent are forced to support what is provided by the state. We need our own place to have fun. Every town should have some land aside to do this. The land of equal opportunity?? SURE??

I am in favor of ORV use in our State Parks. Land is at a premium for all offroad enthusiasts currently. By working in the motorsports industry, I have a first look and listen to all individuals and their struggle to find accessible land to utilize their machines. State Parks are a blueprint for safe, organized, and more importantly legal riding area for the residents of Massachusetts to enjoy. As a former resident of New Hampshire, I can attest to the positive impact access to State Parks have both recreationally and socially for residents and non-residents of the Granite State. It is worth noting the positive impact that those parks also have financially for not only the State, but the local communities as well. There are 13 regulated State Parks in New Hampshire, as well as, the recent addition of Jericho State Park as an ORV destination (7200 acres)! In a town that has had industry move on, it is the ORV community that is going to bring continued economic growth to a distressed ...

Cape Cod MX Track is a non profit group representing 150 families here on Cape Cod. No place in the state has had more difficulty with this issue. We have appealed numerous times to local officials, DCR, DCS, the Governor’s office with no results. Governor Patrick referred us to Ian Bowles, Mr. Bowles referred us to Gary Briere from DCR. With all of these referrals, we have gotten nowhere. I have talked to the Mass military, many town’s conservation commissions, and have gotten stonewalled. Even though there are conservation restrictions in place that protect this use, we are banned from every single acre of public property on Cape Cod. There are plenty of viable areas here, we are willing to self-fund and manage any property in our care. There is a 356 acre parcel of state property right next to our local airport, a perfect place to go but the state of course says no. We are taking up a legal fund to initiate a suit against the state for recreational discrimination. The worst ...

12/12/08 D.A. Uxbridge I am in favor of the responsible use of ORV in our State Parks. For the amount of money we all pay to register these vehicles there should be more places to ride them.

I'm a concerned tax payer and ORV user. Currently there is next to no where to ride in the state. This unfair considering a fee a paid yearly to register your off road vehicle yet there is only a handful of places to use it. Additionally local police departments are strained chasing down Orv's operating illegally, opening more places to ride would solve both these issues.

I am in full support ORV in state parks

Please continue to alow responsible citizens (and tax payers) of the commonwealth to use our state parks for ORV use. Everywhere else, we are a criminal once we put a leg over a dirt bike.

I am in favor of the responsible use of ORVs on public land. The majority of the trail systems on public land were created by ORVs!

I am in favor of ORV in State Parks

Please extend our right to ride here in Massachusetts. With over some 24000 registered owners of ORVs in Mass, you need to recognize our rights as tax paying citizens to use designated public land in a respectfull and law abiding manner. Please, please, please do not force us all to go to NH and Maine for all of our recreational time. We are already driven to CT if we so choose to gamble a few of our hard earned dollars.

I'm in favor of opening more State land to ORV use. We as tax payers contribute thousands of dollars each year to things that none of us benefit from. A perfect example is bike / walking paths. Look at the millions of dollars poored into these, but what is the actual percentage of tax payers that benefit from them.

Opening more State land to ORV use is a mere drop in the bucket financially compared to all these bike / walking paths. Some trail clearing, some bridges and larger parking areas to accomodate trailers. And if you want to get technical, most of the money for this could come directly from the registration fees. It is a win, win situation for everyone.

+1, Nowhere in the constitution does is call for a nanny state. ORVs in state parks would at least make my tax and registration fees more palatable.

I support ORV use in State Parks. Every other outdoor enthusiast has plenty of other places to go. People that actually financially support the DCR (REGISTRATION) have practically nothing to show for it.

I would like to see ATV's allowed stated parks in every county.There also should be allowed to be able to cross roads & drive down roads only to go to another trail system. If the driver has a valid Drivers Lic. These machines are very safe if used poperly. People just need to be educated.

I support this issue. More parks should be opened to ORVs. Riding parks can be used responsibly with minimal impact on the environment. The state could charge a small fee to use the riding parks. The revenue produced from it can be put toward enforcement of the rules and regulations of the riding parks. There are also many benefits to this. It will reduce illegal riding, it bring in revenue, reduce the impact of the riding on the places that are still open, and get more people out of their houses and into the outdoors.

ORV riders are often stereo-typed as ignorant, inconsiderate, and have no appreciation of nature. This is untrue and very unfair. It is a very small percentage that gives the whole sport its bad name. Also, the ecological impact of ORVs is blown out of proportion. Erosion can be stopped by maintenance of the trails. Pollution is being reduced and will continue to decrease over time because of new technology in the machines. The impact on wildlife is ...

Govenor Patrick....PLEASE!!!!!!!!

I grew up riding ATV's with my family. Responsible people can mix ATV use with the environment. We manage a private forest with ATV use. We protect the air, water, and open space by having a forest to play in! The deer love us because we are not trying to kill them!

Massachusetts has sent so many tourist dollars to other states because DCR has been tricked by Mass Audubon, The Land Conservatory, and other land trusts. Look at other states models and get parks made, don't just talk about it!

I would like to see more State Parks open to the ORV use, instead of closing them. It is a fantasic family oriented past time, and it is getting more and more difficult to find legal places to ride. I would be open to paying additional money to register my ORV if it would allow more places to ride legally. I know many citizen who pack up the family and head to other state to enjoy their trail systems, as well as spend money with the local business.

Thanks,

Jan Hendriks