Public lands are a rider’s paradise—single track snaking through pine forests, fire roads kicking up dust in the desert, and open trails that make you feel like you’re the last soul on earth. But if you like twisting the throttle on a dirt bike on public land, you’d better pay attention—because those lands are disappearing fast.
The latest move? An executive order that throws open these lands to mining, gutting environmental regulations and fast-tracking permits for companies looking to strip the earth clean.
Forget Off-Road Riding in Public Lands Paradise If It Is All Turned Over to Mining Companies
This is part of a one-two punch that also pushes these same lands as prime real estate for “affordable housing.” In short, if you love riding through these places, get your last laps in now.
The industry fat cats are already celebrating. They see dollar signs where we see trails, campgrounds, and untamed backcountry. And once they start digging, that land isn’t coming back—not in our lifetime, maybe not ever.
Patrick Berry of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers puts it best: “Some things are worth more than money.” And if we don’t put aside our differences—dirt bikers, ADV riders, dual-sport diehards—and stand up for our lands, we’ll be left with nothing but pavement and regret.
Sources: RideApart, Outdoor Life, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers
