Big River Bill Vetoed by Governor
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The bill sponsored by representative Ray Sullivan to legalize mountain biking in the Big River Management was vetoed by governor Carcieri Wednesday night on the recommendation of the director of DEM, Michael Sullivan (no relation to the former). His grounds were not to allow any additional uses in the management area and to continue to protect the water resource (see above attachment). This is despite the fact that the director of the Water Resources Board, Kenneth Burke is open to the re-writing of the use guidelines and recognizes our value and stewardship in Big River.
Before all of you scream back at me about how poor DEM “manages” it and lack of enforcement of existing rules against motorized use and all that ???..
Instead call the governor and maybe the director of DEM. If they get a hundred or so calls and letters on this it will put them on notice.
SO, I put it to all of you, it is time to start some push back. ALL of you can start taking your frustration on this issue and applying it by showing your disapproval of their decision. Talk to your friends and neighbors and have them call or write a letter too. Obviously call your state representatives as well.
Here???s some guidance from Matt S on this:
In case you want to impart some advice on calling (as some people might not have ever done this) I have a list of things that I think are important when calling an elected official:
1) BE POLITE- no matter how much you disagree with their position
2) Ask to speak with said official, if they are busy (they always are), go for an aide, policy advisor, voicemail and lastly leave a message with the gatekeeper/secretary.
3) Have a well thought out argument, write notes if you need to. I had things that I wanted to say such as:
-Studies have shown that mtn biking has the same impact as hiking and that is a legitimate/legal use of trails in BR
-Every year we help to organize/donate funds/donate manpower to the BR cleanup on Earth Day doing a large share of removing on average 8 truck size dumpsters of garbage
-We want to be allowed to develop and complete maintenance projects in the park at no cost to the state
-DEM enforcement and local police have stated their appreciation for our presence as middle age mountain bikers act as a good deterrence to illegal/illicit/unwanted activities within the management area.
-If he really has it in for the WRB, I made it a tactical move to NOT mention their approval of mtn biking in BR.
– That mountain biking is a healthy outdoor sport with at low cost and impact to the state & that it brings tourism dollars
-I requested a response and offered my time to provide information to substantiate my rationale and my sincere will to discuss the issue further.
4) Remember that those in the government are elected to serve the people- and you are ‘the people’. Be strong and articulate and again: POLITE.
Lets make our discontent heard loudly!
It should be noted that one of the reasons that hiking and horse riding are allowed in Big River and not mountain biking is that Mountain Biking didn’t exist as a sport/activity when the use guidelines were written in the mid 80ties.
There will be lots more that all of you can do as we get into this but this will be the first salvo.
best wishes
huffin & puffin pete