Right To Ride Legislation
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Many individuals who enjoy recreational riding on public lands have experienced frustration over the reduction of trails and the closure of public lands to horses. To prevent further closures, recreational riders are working closely with their local land managers and also looking for legislative solutions.
On April 14, 2005, Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced a "Right-to-Ride" bill (S. 781) in the Senate. The bill would preserve the use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on public lands, wilderness areas, national monuments, and other designated areas that are administered by the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or the Forest Service where there is a historical tradition of such use.
Like the House bill, the legislation mandates that the lands should be managed by the federal agencies to preserve and facilitate the continued use and access of pack and saddle stock animals on such lands, including wilderness areas, national monuments, and other specifically designated areas, where there is a historical tradition of such use.
In addition, the legislation requires that as a general rule, all trails, routes and areas used by pack and saddle stock shall remain open and accessible for such use.
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