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Post by brianW on Dec 11, 2011 14:24:37 GMT -5
Do not know if this is for real but it looks like the GA State parks are targeting mt bikers for an extra charge for trail use. copied from www.sorba.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=38274Yargo Area Biking Association (YABA) To all our friends that use the trails at “ANY” Georgia State Park, we have some unfortunate news: Due to Georgia State Parks looking for ways to generate revenue, starting January 1st 2012, they will start charging to use the trails (people riding not running or walking). They’re still working out all the details, but for now this is what I understand they will be charging. $2.00 per person, per day or you will be able to purchase a “Trail” Annual Park Pass for $25.00 (in addition to your Park Pass). A regular Annual Park Pass is $50.00, plus the “Trail” Annual Park Pass of $25.00 = $75.00 a year, and the Park Passes will be good at all Georgia State Parks. There is a “Good” catch to the “Trail” Annual Park Pass, it will cover your immediate family, which will include You, your spouse and children. We hope you will continue riding at Fort Yargo. Our passion at YABA has always been to provide a fun and challenging trail system, to give families a place to ride together, and to enjoy the great outdoors. As we are still finishing up the final touches to the 1- mile beginner loop, this news has dampened our spirits!  |
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Post by Angela on Dec 11, 2011 21:08:45 GMT -5
That is not good news! For the most popular and oft used parks they will probably survive the change but we have already seen what a change like this does to a trail that is already struggling to maintain enough wheels on the trail..... |
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Post by seenvic on Dec 12, 2011 15:53:06 GMT -5
For us this impacts Mistletoe.
A trail that needs wheels.
I never drive to Mtoe. If I ride there, I ride over from Keg Creek and come in the back way. I wondered why no one from the park ever asked me about paying a fee and I am thinking that was a parking fee and since I didn't park there, I wasn't subject to the fee.
But this new fee sounds like a trail use fee instead of a parking fee. So, if/when we ride into the back of Mtoe, we could now be subject to this fee.?. I am just typing out loud here and asking as much as am I am saying.
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Post by dgaddis1 on Dec 12, 2011 16:06:54 GMT -5
I imagine the fee would be asked for when you enter the gate, if there's an attendant on duty. One person speculated the reason MTBers are being targeted is because we're easy to spot as come into the park since we'll have bikes on the car somewhere. Hikers, fishers, campers, etc are not as easily identified. For those of us riding in from the back, it's the honor system I guess. I think it's BS that we're the only ones who have to pay a fee. Why not just raise the parking fee by a buck? That'll raise WAY more $$ than charging bike riders, many of whom will simply ride elsewhere. Of course you piss off fewer people by only charging bikers. All of that said, no one has posted any link to an official announcement anywhere just yet. rmoon (is that Rick Moon from Dalton, one of the head Snake Creek Gap organizers? I think it is, but not positive) recently posted the following: Georgia DNR is also going to charge to ride on their Wild Life management areas.
To pay to get into a park and then to pay to enjoy the trails is a little much. I pay 2 or 3 dollars evertime I go through Birmingham to ride Oak Mt. No problem, but ot pay to get into a park and then to ride the trails. There are to many free trails out there.
These fees are why I never lift a finger to help Fort Mt. State Park. They have used this system for years. It is why their trails suck. www.sorba.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=38274&sid=b998c9a5ed9bc59fa726fead6f6a4933&start=30 |
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Post by brianW on Dec 12, 2011 17:25:35 GMT -5
State Parks in NH you pay per person (last time I knew $4 an adult) to enter the park. Doesn't matter if you are only going to sit at a picnic table for 30 min or take a 10 hour hike. But for GA to target one certain group and charge them more to use the trail, mt bikers, but not another, hikers, is just wrong.
Second, is this money going to be used to maintain trail or just going to a state slush fund?
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Post by Angela on Dec 12, 2011 18:46:57 GMT -5
We definitely need to get all the facts because as presented it seems a little short sighted. Any trail that is decent and close to a mountain biking group (structured or not) will generally get at least some trail maintenance during the year. A mountain biker riding that trail is generally in and out fairly quickly and not using other services in that park - parking, bathroom facilities, etc. Hikers and other users will typically be there longer, generally will go into the park and park and use the facilities (restroom, etc) at some point. They (hikers, dog walkers, etc) generally aren't organized so unless they simply take the time to remove a branch or something else off the trail they will simply navigate over it and continue on without stopping. Seems very odd to target a group of users who are more likely to assist in helping maintain the trails. We need to get more information for sure.
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Post by oddcouple on Dec 12, 2011 22:16:57 GMT -5
$3.00 to ride Horn Creek never ever stopped us from riding there or for that matter any trail that has a fee.The double taxing sucks but if that's what it takes to ride so be it.Big Brother is watching once again.
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Post by wooglin on Dec 12, 2011 22:22:33 GMT -5
$3.00 to ride Horn Creek never ever stopped us from riding there or for that matter any trail that has a fee. Stops me often since I rarely have cash. And at Horn Creek I just park on the road or, now, in the new lot. How's Baker Creek these days btw?  |
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Post by dparrott on Dec 12, 2011 22:32:09 GMT -5
I saw an announcement a while back on user fees for GA WMA trails. Not all are included - Fortunately, Keg Creek was NOT on the list.
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Post by seenvic on Dec 13, 2011 10:29:55 GMT -5
Lick Fork is a parking fee. This is a trail use fee.
Apple. Orange.
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Post by dgaddis1 on Dec 13, 2011 10:39:45 GMT -5
Lick Fork is a parking fee. This is a trail use fee for one specific user group. Apple. Orange. Fixed it for you. Still haven't seen any official word on this though. |
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Post by seenvic on Dec 13, 2011 12:52:49 GMT -5
I understand the frustration of this injustice.
Makes me wonder though.....is one group having to pay and another group not having to pay.......
much different than one group having access to FATS, Modoc, Turkey, Wine etc.... (mtbers) and another group not having access (equestrians).
Winners and losers are being picked. In one example, it is who has to pay to play and the other example is who can play at all.
All that said, I am in the camp of if the trail has a fee, it should be for all users of the trail, not just one.
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Post by Angela on Dec 13, 2011 13:06:21 GMT -5
I am working to get to the bottom of this right now. There was a Georgia DNR presenter at the November BOD meeting and that was never mentioned. I have feelers out right now, hope to have an update before tonights meeting. We also have a SORBA-CSRA member who is part of the Friends of Mistletoe - and I believe we have asked him for input as well.
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Post by oddcouple on Dec 13, 2011 22:42:36 GMT -5
Lick Fork is a parking fee. This is a trail use fee. Apple. Orange. Its all fruit.When you want to dance you have to pay the fiddler. (didn't mean to edit, hit the wrong button, sorry! didn't actually change anything. --Dustin) |
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Post by dgaddis1 on Dec 14, 2011 7:45:13 GMT -5
Lick Fork is a parking fee. This is a trail use fee. Apple. Orange. Its all fruit.When you want to dance you have to pay the fiddler. (didn't mean to edit, hit the wrong button, sorry! didn't actually change anything. --Dustin) But should one group of people have to pay more to dance, to the same music on the same dance floor? Update: Last night Angela said that Ken Young (who's on the board for the Friends of Mistletoe) spoke with the folks at MT and they had not heard anything about it. But, the president of YABA (the group who built and maintains the trails at Ft. Yargo) just posted the following: |
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Post by oddcouple on Dec 14, 2011 21:51:41 GMT -5
But should one group of people have to pay more to dance, to the same music on the same dance floor? The ultimate Question ;D That opens a whole can of worms......think about the hunters that have to pay for a hunting licenses,permits etc to hunt on WMA land we don't pay a thing at FATS.That's just one worm in the can.I do not want anyone to think I agree with this double taxing but I got other things to worry about.When you take in account how expensive it is every time I ride my mountain bike, rough guess about $11.00 every time, and that's if I rode the same bike for 8 years twice a week and never made any repairs or changed tires. |
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Post by Angela on Dec 15, 2011 20:24:52 GMT -5
Received word from IMBA/SORBA HQ today - and will admit to being just a bit more than surprised.........I've been asked to relay any comments or questions back to them by Tuesday so feel free to post here or email me at sorba.csra@gmail.com prior to Tuesday - those questions and comments will be forwarded on to the DNR -
Here is the official GA DNR Policy:
During the Georgia State Parks Division’s review of fees and charges for 2012, we determined that we should consider implementing a $2 per person recreational facility use fee for our mountain bike trails sometime during 2012, possibly as early as March when the new trail at Hard Labor Creek State Park opens.
Under our current concept, the $2 fee would be charged for use of the mountain bike trails at Unicoi, Fort Yargo and Hard Labor Creek state parks, with the $3 fee at Fort Mountain State Park (charged since 1997) remaining in place. In addition to the daily per person fee, our concept includes a $25 annual pass good on all the mountain bike trails.
We are considering this fee in order to generate additional revenues to support our state park system and make our parks more self-supporting as state funds are reduced. Other recreational facility fees already being charged include horse trails, disc golf, mini golf and swimming pools, among others. Generating revenues from users of the horse trails and
mountain bike trails would be especially helpful, since these particular facilities require a great deal of maintenance.
Each of the three parks with new mountain bike trail fees proposed will be holding a public meeting after the first of the year to discuss our plans further and seek input from recreation users. Please contact one of the three state parks where you ride most so you can be notified and attend.
Sincerely,
Becky Kelley
Director
Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites Division
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Post by brianW on Dec 16, 2011 5:46:27 GMT -5
Just asking BUT how much maintenance does the state do compared to the volunteers? Does that mean just the bikers have to pay the fee or ANYONE using them?
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Post by dgaddis1 on Dec 16, 2011 7:16:11 GMT -5
Just asking BUT how much maintenance does the state do compared to the volunteers? Does that mean just the bikers have to pay the fee or ANYONE using them? +1 - my thoughts exactly. Angela - could you post this on the main SORBA forum also? Much larger audience there. Probably create a new thread to get everyone's attention. |
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Post by Angela on Dec 16, 2011 7:25:27 GMT -5
Just asking BUT how much maintenance does the state do compared to the volunteers? Does that mean just the bikers have to pay the fee or ANYONE using them? +1 - my thoughts exactly. Angela - could you post this on the main SORBA forum also? Much larger audience there. Probably create a new thread to get everyone's attention. Great questions Brian and I will forward them before Tuesday. Dustin - I think Walt is going to post on the SORBA forum so let me give him time to get it up there. If he is busy or out of town I can do it for him! I'll check it or you can by day's end. |
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