Finite Recreation Opportunities: The Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and Off-Road Vehicle Management

The Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management are revising their local travel management plans. These plans govern much of the allocation of recreation experience opportunities, including the balance between off-road vehicle and non-motorized opportunities. This article explores current and historic management of off-road vehicles by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, as well as laws and regulations governing off-road vehicle management, in order to (1) explain how Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management travel management works; (2) evaluate current off-road vehicle and non-motorized allocations for multiple-use lands; and (3) provide suggestions for improved agency management of off-road vehicles. Ultimately, concerns regarding appropriate allocations, the escalating conflicts between recreationists, increasing demand for outdoor recreation, the rising stakes associated with allocation decisions, and the plainly political nature of allocation decisions all point to a better, long-term solution: a new statutory recreation policy for multiple-use lands.