The State of Rhode island has received almost $4 Million from
the Recreational Trails Program over the past several years. This is Federal gas tax on fuel used in off-highway vehicles
that is rebated back to the state. This is not any .30 per gallon you pay to the state of Rhode Island on the fuel you use
in your off-highway vehicle. This money has not been spent on anything to establish or enhance any type of off-highway vehicle
use in RI.
There are several reasons for an OHV park in Rhode island aside from some unspent money. 1) It will help
to eliminate illegal riding in unwanted areas. 2) Jobs will be created 3) It can assist in tax cuts and be used to gain
revenue
Supporting off-road use in a responsible manner will help the environment far better than having people drive
illegally places they shouldn't be. Support ORVs as they try to have fun and tread lightly.
With OHV recreation the
fastest growing family past time in the Nation, RI has a great opportunity to follow suit to other forward thinking States
controlling access and reducing illegal riding by creating a place for this type of pastime to occur, rather than contributing
to it by trying to shut places down and instituting bans. The creation of a registration sticker program along with funding
from the Federal Recreational Trails Program WILL make these areas self supporting and put little if any tax burden upon the
residents of RI.
There may be hundreds of miles of trails and sites throughout state but there are only some for specific
types of dirt bike and a few dirt roads barely suitable and many illegal to other forms of motorized recreation.
Though
you may feel that there is a net loss in air pollution, environmental destruction, groundwater contamination, habitat encroachment,
and noise But you need to look at it in another way. There is no more air pollution than if i where driving down I-95 infarct
there is scientifically less since it combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide which is crucial for the Photosynthesis
proses. Everyone creates environmental destruction, groundwater contamination, from hunter trekking off trail to track
a deer, to the hiker stepping into the woods to re-leave themselves to the mountain biker that found an unmarked hill to race
down to the all the cars with a small oil leak in a rainstorm crossing a bridge over the Pawtuxet. That new shopping center
or housing development in your town are just a few examples of habitat encroachment, and noise, Where you now live and shop
are where a Northern Spring Salamander, Great Egret, Bald Eagle or Bobcat once lived.
Every day living create all the
issues you are concerned with All we ask for is a firebreak or a utility right of way so that we a Veteran missing a limb,
or a child with cancer or even just your average Joe may enjoy the out doors in a way that allows and that we enjoy. So as
you sit in your brand new home eating your take out food from that new restaurant think about what can never live there again
and remember we will only scare an animal away for a little wile but that new mall removed its home permanently
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