I understand that opinions are opinions, but many opinions are just uninformed.
In response to the Feb. 9 letter “ORV users are own worst enemy,” I would like to provide my opinion.
The statement below could not be further from the truth:
“In the past 40 years I’ve seen many areas shut down to ORV use because of illegal dumping, illegal activities, and erosion plus environmental damage. Let’s face it, folks! ORV use is damaging to the environment, no argument about it!”
A more truthful statement would be: “Due to intentional non-enforcement of public access areas, many illegal activities became the norm in these areas. Now, because we still don’t want to address this obvious need, these areas are being closed, and ORV users are wrongfully getting the blame.”
ORV use in the area has some impact on the environment, yet so does every activity that humans partake in. There must be designated areas for citizens to recreate in. Closing areas only pushes the ORVs onto overused roads/trails that in time become a problem. This drives them into areas that are not designated for them. More open areas, and a more focused attempt to arrest and punish the scofflaws are the only solutions. ORV users spend much more time and money than any of the other users. They organize and participate in clean-up days annually, even though very little of the garbage was put there by them.
ORV users pay for a special sticker that funds their activities, and the state reallocated those funds to the parks system. I would like to ask which of the other users contribute, and how.
Brett Dikeman
Mukilteo
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