ATV Florida Forum

A while back I checked out a link - http://www.atvaonline.com/ - that The Quad FaJa had recommended in a thread somewhere. I've been looking for an ATV rights group, but preferably a more Florida focused one. I sent the head of this group an e-mail asking him for more info and how much involvement they have in the FL scene since I didn't see much on the site concerning FL. He replied (contents below) and from what I can tell the group seems to be worthwhile. And, for $29 bucks a year, what have you got to lose. I figure every little bit helps.

Check it out. If anyone else has any experience with this organization, please post good or bad.


" Hello        ,

It is great to hear from you, I apologize for not responding sooner, I
have been on the road and have not always had internet connections and I
am way behind on e-mail. ATVA is a division of the American Motorcyclist
Association (AMA) a member organization that has been fighting for
members rights for 80+ years. Off road motorcycle riders share all the
same access to riding problems that we (ATV riders) face.

We have a full time Government Relations department here in our national
office in Pickerington, OH , Washington DC and California, working full
time to protect your rights to ride ATVs.

We have worked with the state of Florida over the last 4 years, trying to
help open public riding areas. I worked very closely with the City of
Belle Glade to open a public riding area, but the City hired a new
attorney and he was able to stop everything cold. If we would have had
more ATVA members in Florida that we could notified with one of our
mailings, we might have been able to override the attorney.

We publish our member publication, ATVA News every other month, that has
a "Where to Ride" section. We have done articles on two separate riding
areas in Florida.

Will joining ATVA create more riding areas in Florida over night? NO,
but it will help get the ball rolling not only in Florida but
nationwide. We are currently facing many challenges to youth riding ATVs
in many states and federally, with the Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC). I hope this will give you just enough information to
get started.

Thanks

Doug Morris, Director
All-Terrain Vehicle Association
13515 Yarmouth Dr.
Pickerington, OH  43147
1 (866) 288-2564, ext. 1337
rights. riding. racing. "

Just joined ATVA, thanks for the info.  The more of us that join, the more money they will have to help fight for places to ride. 

$29 is not bad, we spend at least that dining out one time or filling up the gas tank.  They do offer a handbook and a places to ride book.  Let's see how many people we can get from Florida!

 . . . by the way, grabbed this off of the ATVA site. http://capwiz.com/amacycle/home/

Pretty cool - put in your zip and you've got contact info for people in govt - from local to state to national. Great resource next time you have a complaint you want to file with an official - epecially coming from a lot of us.