CURING SIGN BLINDNESS
Keeping Trails Open by Following the Rules
Curing
“Sign Blindness”
You’re driving to your favorite trail and whipping right
on by the kiosk or starting place with all the signs and do’s and do not’s. We
all do it. And we do it because we know our trial and the rules. Unfortunately,
not everyone knows the rules. But they are sure “blind” to signs way too
often.
I spend a large part of my time educating folks on how to
recreate responsibly – doing it right while enjoying the great outdoors. But
the one thing that frosts me is how some people do not seem to see signs and,
therefore, suffer from what I call sign blindness – the inability to see what
is in front of them and follow the rules!
Do
Not Feed the Wildlife
How many times have you seen someone feeding the wildlife
despite a sign 10 feet away to the contrary? Think about the tracks you see of
a mountain biker or dirt biker who just had to get off the trail and leave an
imprint where it did not belong in spite of brochures, signs, and laws to the
contrary. And how about the citified
lifted truck that rips through a meadow when the huge public lands sign
specifically forbids that?
Sign Blindness is a disease that ruins our public lands
and special places for everyone. We can help cure it. I hope you will join me
and include (as appropriate) in your wheeling, club events, writing notes,
tips, and suggestions that encourage responsible use of public lands and
prevent abuse or damage of our resources.
The
Simple Code
I like to call it the outdoor code of ethics:
1.
Stay on the roads and trails no matter your
choice of conveyance.
2.
Obey the laws and rules, and be sure to set an
example for those behind you.
3.
Stop and read the posted signs and kiosks as
you travel the backcountry. Make an obvious point of parking by the signs to
read them. Know and follow the rules.
4. Always pick up trash even when it is not yours. Set the example.
5.
Say something (without jeopardizing your
safety) to people being idiots and ruining it for all of us. In the worst
cases, I do not hesitate to call law enforcement.
Sign Blindness is Curable
Sign Blindness is curable if we all become obvious in our
“stop and read” efforts. Others will hopefully follow suit. Carry brochure
copies of the trail rules and signs and hand them out as needed. Take pics of
the signs at trailheads and post them on your social networks. Remind folks of
the rules. Let’s get people reading the signs and helping us save trails.
MORE HELPFUL LINKS:
DEL'S BOOKS (LAND USE, WILDFIRE, DEATH VALLEY, COWBOY POETRY, AND MORE)
WEBSITE (HOME PAGE)
PINTEREST (BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND MORE)
DEL'S ARTICLES (LAND USE, LIFE, WILDFIRE, VOLUNTEERISM, AND MORE)
More land use and volunteerism help here:
- MEETINGS:
- RUN A BETTER MEETING
- NEPA:
- LEARN MORE ABOUT NEPA
- LETTERS:
- WRITE A LETTER
- SPEECHES:
- GIVE A SPEECH
- FACILITATE:
- LEARN TO FACILITATE MEETINGS
- CLUBS:
- WHY JOIN A CLUB
- CONVOYS:
- ORGANIZE A CONVOY
- JOIN:
- JOIN THE RIGHT GROUPS
- TRAINING:
- GET VOLUNTEER TRAINING
- LEAD:
- LEAD VOLUNTEERS
- JOBS:
- CHOOSE THE RIGHT JOB FOR YOU
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