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Monday, February 17, 2003
Legislature 2003: It's muscles vs. motors
Bill highlights battle between hikers, dirt bikers for funds
By PHUONG CAT LE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
OLYMPIA -- The battle between muscle and motor is revving up in the backcountry as the Legislature considers whether to shift funding for maintaining off-road trails and facilities.
Hikers, mountain bikers and other non-motorized recreational users are fighting for a greater share of state fuel-tax money and could get it under House Bill 1698.
That's set off a firestorm among those who prefer exploring the backcountry on trail motorcycles, three-wheelers or dune buggies.
"This bill tries to move funding into the areas that generate it and need it -- hiking trails, campgrounds, bicycle trails, and cross-country ski trails," said Rep. Mike Cooper, D-Edmonds, the bill's sponsor and chairman of the House committee that heard the bill last week.
The pot of money in dispute is relatively small -- just over $5 million for the next two years -- but the friction is huge.
It's a fight over precious resources at a time when the state is strapped for cash. And it highlights the ongoing clash between deeply held beliefs about who should have access to public lands.
"Whether we're talking about $5 million or $5, that's a pretty big issue for people," said Jim Fox, special assistant to the director of the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation, which administers these grants.
Hikers groups have complained for years that they outnumber dirt bikes but don't get a fair share of funding to maintain foot, bicycle or horse trails. They've lobbied hard in Olympia to change those rules.
In the early 1970s, legislators set aside the tax paid on gasoline consumed while driving to the backcountry or using a dirt bike off road to put toward those activities. One percent of state gasoline tax revenue now supports "Non-Highway and Off-Road Vehicle Activities."
Currently, the motorized users receive 80 percent of NOVA money. The remaining 20 percent is available to hikers, horseback riders or mountain bikers.
Cooper's bill would make more available to the non-motorized group.
It would set aside 50 percent for signs, campgrounds, buildings and restrooms for both groups. The other half would be open to both parties through a grant process, with each getting no more than 60 percent of that portion.
In the past, groups including the U.S. Forest Service have used the money to rebuild washed-out footbridges, build restrooms and maintain dirt bike or foot trails.
With limited land and facilities and increasing popularity of all kinds of outdoor recreation, people are bumping into each other in the backcountry, Fox said. "When you get things that crowded, you're bound to get some conflicts."
Lining up on one side are hiking and mountain biking groups, including The Mountaineers, the Washington Trails Association and the Backcountry Bicycle Trails Club.
On the other end are the Northwest Motorcycle Association and the Washington State Snowmobiling Association.
The bill comes on the heels of a Legislature-funded study that examined who was consuming gasoline in the state's back roads. The last such study was done in 1973, and the hiker groups have pushed for a new study because they believe that hikers and mountain bikers were also using the roads to get to trailheads.
Cooper said his bill is backed by that study, which shows more people engaging in non-motorized sports.
The survey was sent to about 7,250 vehicle owners and found that 20 percent of the 25.6 million gallons consumed on off roads was associated with four-wheel drives, motorbikes and other motorized activities. Another 30 percent was for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing.
And nearly 50 percent was for activities such as camping, sightseeing, hunting and fishing.
"I feel very confident that the consultant used the right methodology," Cooper said.
But many who testified against the bill disputed the study's validity.
"When I saw the study come out, it didn't seem to align with what I'd seen," said Rep. Cary Condotta, R-East Wenatchee, who owns several motor sports dealerships and testified against the bill. "The market is expanding and more people are interested."
"We believe a grave mistake will be made with this," added Tod Peterson of the 1,500-member Northwest Motorcycle Association.
Dave Hiatt of the Northwest Motorcycle Association said the NOVA fund was created with "the sole intention" of providing a funding source for off-road vehicle activities.
But bill supporters said those who walk, bike or ski in the woods also pay the gasoline tax to get to those trailheads and should get a fair share of that money.
"Allocation levels revealed by the study should be supported," said Jonathan Guzzo, advocacy director for the Washington Trails Association. "It should flow to the people."
P-I reporter Phuong Cat Le can be reached at 360-943-8311 or phuongle@seattlepi.com
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/soundoff/
Monday, February 17, 2003
Legislature 2003: It's muscles vs. motors
Bill highlights battle between hikers, dirt bikers for funds
By PHUONG CAT LE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
OLYMPIA -- The battle between muscle and motor is revving up in the backcountry as the Legislature considers whether to shift funding for maintaining off-road trails and facilities.
Hikers, mountain bikers and other non-motorized recreational users are fighting for a greater share of state fuel-tax money and could get it under House Bill 1698.
That's set off a firestorm among those who prefer exploring the backcountry on trail motorcycles, three-wheelers or dune buggies.
"This bill tries to move funding into the areas that generate it and need it -- hiking trails, campgrounds, bicycle trails, and cross-country ski trails," said Rep. Mike Cooper, D-Edmonds, the bill's sponsor and chairman of the House committee that heard the bill last week.
The pot of money in dispute is relatively small -- just over $5 million for the next two years -- but the friction is huge.
It's a fight over precious resources at a time when the state is strapped for cash. And it highlights the ongoing clash between deeply held beliefs about who should have access to public lands.
"Whether we're talking about $5 million or $5, that's a pretty big issue for people," said Jim Fox, special assistant to the director of the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation, which administers these grants.
Hikers groups have complained for years that they outnumber dirt bikes but don't get a fair share of funding to maintain foot, bicycle or horse trails. They've lobbied hard in Olympia to change those rules.
In the early 1970s, legislators set aside the tax paid on gasoline consumed while driving to the backcountry or using a dirt bike off road to put toward those activities. One percent of state gasoline tax revenue now supports "Non-Highway and Off-Road Vehicle Activities."
Currently, the motorized users receive 80 percent of NOVA money. The remaining 20 percent is available to hikers, horseback riders or mountain bikers.
Cooper's bill would make more available to the non-motorized group.
It would set aside 50 percent for signs, campgrounds, buildings and restrooms for both groups. The other half would be open to both parties through a grant process, with each getting no more than 60 percent of that portion.
In the past, groups including the U.S. Forest Service have used the money to rebuild washed-out footbridges, build restrooms and maintain dirt bike or foot trails.
With limited land and facilities and increasing popularity of all kinds of outdoor recreation, people are bumping into each other in the backcountry, Fox said. "When you get things that crowded, you're bound to get some conflicts."
Lining up on one side are hiking and mountain biking groups, including The Mountaineers, the Washington Trails Association and the Backcountry Bicycle Trails Club.
On the other end are the Northwest Motorcycle Association and the Washington State Snowmobiling Association.
The bill comes on the heels of a Legislature-funded study that examined who was consuming gasoline in the state's back roads. The last such study was done in 1973, and the hiker groups have pushed for a new study because they believe that hikers and mountain bikers were also using the roads to get to trailheads.
Cooper said his bill is backed by that study, which shows more people engaging in non-motorized sports.
The survey was sent to about 7,250 vehicle owners and found that 20 percent of the 25.6 million gallons consumed on off roads was associated with four-wheel drives, motorbikes and other motorized activities. Another 30 percent was for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing.
And nearly 50 percent was for activities such as camping, sightseeing, hunting and fishing.
"I feel very confident that the consultant used the right methodology," Cooper said.
But many who testified against the bill disputed the study's validity.
"When I saw the study come out, it didn't seem to align with what I'd seen," said Rep. Cary Condotta, R-East Wenatchee, who owns several motor sports dealerships and testified against the bill. "The market is expanding and more people are interested."
"We believe a grave mistake will be made with this," added Tod Peterson of the 1,500-member Northwest Motorcycle Association.
Dave Hiatt of the Northwest Motorcycle Association said the NOVA fund was created with "the sole intention" of providing a funding source for off-road vehicle activities.
But bill supporters said those who walk, bike or ski in the woods also pay the gasoline tax to get to those trailheads and should get a fair share of that money.
"Allocation levels revealed by the study should be supported," said Jonathan Guzzo, advocacy director for the Washington Trails Association. "It should flow to the people."
P-I reporter Phuong Cat Le can be reached at 360-943-8311 or phuongle@seattlepi.com
