Ongoing Issues

U.S. Forest Service Guidance on Use of Equestrian Campsites At the prompting of BCHA and allies that include the American Horse Council, last month the Forest Service national office circulated a memo to all national forests and national grasslands titled “Recommended Best Practices for Managing Stock Use Sites at Developed Campgrounds“. We encourage BCHA chapters and volunteers to review this … Read More

By Randy Rasmussen – BCHA Director of Public Lands and Recreation Public debate is likely to intensify in 2021 regarding the appropriate role of motorized electric bicycle (e-bike) use in outdoor recreation, including the appropriate role of electric mountain bikes (e-MTBs) among backcountry trails. The issue is not going away any time soon. This Public Lands Update summarizes recent changes … Read More

BCHA’s Formal Public Comments on the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s Proposed Rule to Increase Recreational Opportunities Through the Use of Electric Bikes (e-Bikes) June 5, 2020—BCHA submitted a public comment letter that voiced strong opposition to elements of the BLM Proposed Rule (i.e., policy change) that would, if adopted, superimpose e-Bike use—a motorized form of travel—on non-motorized trails used … Read More

SACRAMENTO, October 23, 2019 – Backcountry trail and forest groups in California joined together in a suit filed today that challenges the U.S. Forest Service decision to allow motorized bikes to operate on non-motorized trails in the Tahoe National Forest. Plaintiffs in the suit include the Gold Country Trails Council, Backcountry Horsemen of California, Back Country Horsemen of America, the Forest … Read More

When is a motor on a mountain bike not considered a motor? When the Secretary of Interior commands it. Nothing could be more crazy, but here we are. Electric bikes (e-Bikes) soon could be sharing multiple-use trails with horsemen. On August 29th, Secretary of the Department of Interior (DOI), David Bernhardt, issued Secretarial Order 3376, titled “Increasing Recreational Opportunities through … Read More

Secretary of Interior Declares: A Motor is Not a Motor. On August 29th, 2019, the Secretary of the Department of Interior (DOI) issued Secretarial Order 3376, titled “Increasing Recreational Opportunities through the use of Electric Bikes.” The Order applies to all DOI agencies (National Park Service, BLM, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service). Essentially, it orders the agencies to adopt policies … Read More

The Wilderness Society, Gold Country Trails Council, Back Country Horsemen of America, Backcountry Horsemen of California, along with its Mother Lode Unit, and Forest Issues Group request that the Tahoe National Forest immediately withdraw its decision to permit Class 1 electric mountain bikes (EMTBs) on non-motorized trails and remove the approximately 132 miles of trails closed to motor vehicle use … Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BCHA is leading the charge nationally to urge caution when allowing electric bikes on multi-use trails. Safety and compatibility concerns need to be considered. Contact: Tyler Ray, American Hiking Society, tray@americanhiking.org, 301-565-6704 (x705) Randy Rasmussen, Back Country Horsemen of America, WildernessAdvisor@bcha.org, 541-602-0713 Angela Gonzales, National Parks Conservation Association, agonzales@npca.org, 202-878-0359 Mark Larabee, Pacific Crest Trail Association, mlarabee@pcta.org, … Read More

Editorial Keep mountain bikes out of wilderness areas Mountain bikers ride up the Cholla Trail in the Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park April 29, 2008. (Los Angeles Times) The Times Editorial Board The federal Wilderness Act of 1964 was not vague about its intent: to protect significant and as-yet unspoiled land and wildlife habitat from the ravages of “an … Read More

BCHA needs your help: Calls to Congress Needed this Week! We have learned that Congress could begin negotiations this week regarding 2018 funding for a number of programs important to horsemen, including the Land and Water Conservation Fund and recreation and trail programs administered by the federal land management agencies. There is much at stake for horsemen and trail users. Congress … Read More