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How will Proposed Accessibility Guidelines for Trails Affect OHV use?

Relationship Between Use of All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and the Proposed Accessibility Guidelines for Trails.

From Regulatory Negotiation Committee on Accessibility Guidelines for Outdoor Developed Areas
See complete final report on accessible trails

During the deliberations of the committee, some individuals expressed concern that applying the proposed accessibility guidelines to trails in the "back country" or lesser developed portions of outdoor recreation areas would make it more difficult for public land managing agencies to appropriately manage the use of all terrain vehicles (ATVs) and off highway vehicles (OHVs) in these areas. One expressed fear is that requiring land managing agencies to consider making trails in the lesser developed areas accessible according to the proposed guidelines would make it more difficult to control and restrict where these types of devices may be used.

The proposed guidelines for trails address their design, construction, and alteration in the same manner that other ADAAG guidelines address fixed facilities. They are similarly based on the dimensions and use patterns of those assistive devices commonly referenced throughout ADAAG. While in the outdoor environment it may be possible to encompass a wider variety of mobility enhancing equipment, the necessity of protecting the environment and maintaining the appropriateness of the setting might exclude certain of these, particularly all terrain (ATVs) or off highway vehicle (OHVs). That decision is reserved for the administrating agency or owner of the affected property and is beyond the scope of these guidelines.

September 30, 1999

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