What can BRC do?
Answer legitimate posts such as the above in terms of how things have changed vs how they've always been in solving our unity problems vs simply saying that we all need to pull together.
I am trying to answer these posts as best as I can. I was not involved in the decision process that reduced the trails in Michigan.
Having grown up in Traverse City, I remember thousands of miles of trails for everyone.
Now that I lead a national organization, I am not able to answer where BRC was when the trails were being closed and segregated in Michigan years ago.
I am willing to bet my BRC paycheck on it, that we were not there to protect all users interests!
I also know that the trails I like with my Jeep, are not the same ones you would like on a dirt bike. This is just plain and simple, or the SXS community may not like the same trails you or I like.
Some place in the middle is what we all need and want for our own experience though.
In the area they call the "Triangle" I have heard the trails there for at least Jeeps are just fire roads. Even I would get tired of those soon, and want more.
Is Michigan the entire country? Not by a long shot.
Do Michigan's ongoing systemic unity-related problems not only mimic others around the country but describe them pretty accurately?..I'd bet a bunch that they do.
Michigan is not the entire country, but we need to look at what happened to the trails there and know that the forest service is trying to do the same thing in other parts of the country.
For years, we have said that the west coast is what is happening first, but knowing that Michigan has lost most to all of their trails, we need to look there for the cause and effect of what can happen when things aren't followed, and back door decisions are made.
People have tried to do back door decisions here in the California system, and someone has usually spoken up about it, and then everyone been put on blast for it.
Cal4Wheel along with BRC are involved in a couple of collaborative here across the state, and a part of that system for helping to manage the forest and trails, is that all stake holders have to be engaged and at the table.
It seems to be working, as one of the last ones that worked on the Giant Sequoia monument, also ensured that trails remained for everyone. Everyone was at the table from the beginning.
What can BRC do?
Be honest with people and they will come.
I am being honest with you here and this group.
Do we win every fight?
No
Lay down beside dogs and promise everybody that they won't get fleas (as well)?
I believe that we all know how that ends.
Been there done that!