Big Cypress national Preserve

[XR_Dude]

I posted this in the Land Use / Legislation Section:

Big Cypress National Preserve

I origanally sent a letter to the Supertendent of Big Cypress National Preserve in South Fla. As you may (or may not know) those of us that ride in South Florida have lost all of our riding areas. We have no riding areas for trail riding left. Big cypress management allows ATV, ORV, swamp buggies, airboats etc., but no two wheeled motorcycles. This is ridiculous!

I finally received the reply letter from the superintendent of the Big Cypress. It took a phone call just to get a reply letter. Basically the reply was that there is a Final recreational off-road vehicle management plan enacted in 2000 (as we already know). Here is an excerpt from their response letter:

"The Plan calls for the use of adaptive management with respect to most aspects of ORV use and resource protection. Under this policy we can consider requests such as yours through the ORV Advisory Committee. This Federal Advisory Committee is made up of a cross section of stakeholders and serves to advise the Superintendent on issues related to ORV Plan implementation. We will bring this subject up to the Advisory Committee for consideration.

The first meeting of the Advisory Committee will be November 29, 2007 from 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM at the Everglades City High School. The meeting is open to the public and will include a short period of public comment. It is anticipated that the committee will entertain comment on topics such as this so that they may begin prioritizing subjects for consideration. We hope to see you there".

So there it is....another bureaucratic answer. The rest is up to us. We should have a huge turn out at their meeting on the 29th. However, I just received this letter late in the day last WEDNESDAY! That doesn't give any time to organize. Especially since this is a Holiday weekend. I'm sure this was planned that way. If this went our way, it would open up an entire new riding area for us (at least in the dry season). What will we do?

[BigIvyI]

So sad, so sad... Most off roaders will never come to protect there sport.

I've seen it here a dozen times.

In places where legal riding exists, I would never promote illegal riding, but Big Cypress is a million acres. If they can't allow some riding opportunities, people should just ride anyway IMO. If you somehow get caught, don't admit to anything and ask for a lawyer.

[luis wilhelm]

Big Cypress is listed under the "where to ride" area of the honda website

http://offroad.honda.com/advanced/

But it was a bummer to find out it was only open to ORVs, ATVs, etc. and not for 2 wheels motorcycles.

I think I'm joining the South Florida Trail Riders Club, is not much help but I guess is better than nothing.

Cheers,

LW

[XR_Dude]

I didn't know there was a S. Fla. Trail Riders club, I know there is a S. West fla. Trail Riders club. Could you pass the info along to them to see if they could get involved in the effort to open up the Big Cypress to two wheelers? Thanks!

[luis wilhelm]

XR Dude, this is the website of the South FLorida Trail Riders club

http://www.sftr.org/

I learned about them from the FTR web site. I e-mailed the president and Jim responded saying they have been in contact with authorities from the Big Cypress area before, but don't expect this area to be open for bikes any time soon.

We should keep trying, right..?

Regards,

LW

[XR_Dude]

Thanks Luis,

I sent an e-mail to the president of SFTR this morning. Thanks for the heads-up! ?

[sceptor]

You need to join AMA and enlist their help. Also dont forget florida trail riders.

[XR_Dude]

Thanks Sceptor,

I am an AMA member that is how I found out about the mgt. plan review. I copied the AMA and FTR with the original proposal. I never got a reply from either one! Show's how much FTR and AMA is interested. As a matter of fact, I have not heard from the pres. of the S. Fla. Trail Riders Assoc. yet. This is a good indication of where your $$ goes when you join these organizations. For them, it's all about racing and nothing else. In my opinion, they have all written off South Florida for trail riding. ?

[FreeRideSouth]

I grew up here in SF. 45 now I watched all of the open land turn to homes and business's. There is not much left to protect. The only "trail riding" around is legally questionable at best. Not much to protect.

One thing to keep in mind when wanting to ride some of the OHV trails, bikes dig for traction and will make huge ruts and major negative impact in many of the OHV areas.

[luis wilhelm]

XR Dude,

regarding contact with the SEFTR, I think Jim is transitioning from the position and you could try Troy at reynolds94@comcast.net

Regards,

LW

[XR_Dude]

Regarding deep ruts made by two wheeled motorcycles: That is a myth put out by the hunters and environmentalists. My proposal to the Superintendant detailed using the area only during the dry season, when the ground is solid. The rest of the year the ORV, ATV & swamp buggies can dig all the ruts they want! ?

[XR_Dude]

Hi Luis,

I sent Troy the link to this thread. Thanks for the "head's-up"! Unfortunately, the email came back as "undeliverable" the e-mail address is unknown.

[luis wilhelm]

Hello XR Dude,

I just talked to Troy and he confirmed his e-mail as reynolds94@comcast.net but in case it is not working for you, he said you can try his cell phone at 561-951 4315. He mentioned about the possibility of building some trails for a race they are planning, but this won't be until ~May next year.

Take care,

LW

[DRZ400mike]

Hey, didn't see the post till now. Just a few days late I guess. Did you go to the meeting? If there's another one coming up lets get some notice and group out there. And of course be well behaved if we ride there:naughty:

I'll forward this off to some people who i've ridden parts of the everglades with.

mike

[johnm_10]

I already replied to this in the other forum, I would like to know if anything worked out from this as well.

According to my calculations ? a 3000 lb truck or jeep with 12 inch wide tires will leave ruts of the same depth as a 500lb motorbike/rider with standard knobbies. The difference is the truck/jeep will leave twice as many of them.

[XR_Dude]

I already replied to this in the other forum, I would like to know if anything worked out from this as well.

According to my calculations a 3000 lb truck or jeep with 12 inch wide tires will leave ruts of the same depth as a 500lb motorbike/rider with standard knobbies. The difference is the truck/jeep will leave twice as many of them.

That's for sure. We need to get in their face so they understand how many people ride two wheelers off-road here in South Fl. they make a lot of lame excuses, but the reality is they are prejudice of two wheelers!

[tphss]

So can I go ride in Big Cypress or this is still valid?

[luis wilhelm]

Last time I checked their website it still says it's only open to 4 wheels OHVs. I don't think it has ever opened for dirt bikes, not at least in the last 7 years.

[tphss]

So luis,

Where do all the riders, let's say south of Fort Lauderdale, go to ride Enduro/Trails??? I mean I am in Miami, I only know of a Motocross track just on the side of US27. But if I want to go Trail riding or just like forest riding, there is no where to do it around Miami?

[neanderthaler]

hope you are ready for the long commute to thundercross (okeechobee) or croom (brooksville) for trail/woods riding. sucks to be in SOUTH florida sometimes !!!