PUBLIC LAND IN 11 STATES THREATENED BY FEDERAL LEGISLATION

Backroads Discovery Routes is a nonprofit group with the mission of providing information about off-road routes throughout the U.S. They recently distributed an alert to inform riders of several pieces of legislation that could seriously impact off-road riding through the sale of public land to private corporations. Here is the official statement from BDR

To the BDR Community:

Backcountry Discovery Routes would like to express our position on the growing concern around recent federal actions and proposed legislation that threaten access to public lands. These lands are central to the BDR mission and to the riding experiences we all value so deeply.

Several initiatives, including recent Executive Orders and components of the SENR Reconciliation Bill, propose opening millions of acres of federally managed land to private development.

These include Forest Service and BLM lands across 11 states—many of which are home to current or future BDR routes. If enacted, this level of privatization could permanently reduce our access to public roads and open spaces critical to backcountry motorcycle travel.

We understand the urgency and seriousness of this issue. BDR is actively monitoring these developments and is working with key partners—including the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC)—to evaluate the potential impact and determine the most effective path forward.

Our goal is to approach this with accuracy, clarity, and a strong collective voice. There is a great deal of conflicting and evolving information surrounding these policies, and we believe it’s important to fully understand what’s at stake before issuing specific policy positions or actions.

This is not a partisan issue. Access to public land is at the heart of what makes the American West, and BDR riding, so special. Our goal has always been to create, preserve, and protect off-highway motorized access to public lands. We will continue to stand firmly behind that mission, now and in the future.

Please read below on how to take action now.

In the meantime, we’ll continue to keep the BDR community informed as this issue evolves. Thank you for helping us defend the future of riding access on our public lands.

– The BDR Team

Read BDR’s Detailed Statement

CALL TO ACTION: Urge Lawmakers to Oppose Public Lands Sales

Map of Public Lands Eligible for Sale

The future of backcountry riding is at risk. We need your help to stop this.

Please contact your Senators today and ask them to oppose any legislation that includes the sale of public lands.

Here’s how to take action:

Step 1

Dial your Elected Official’s phone number.

• You can call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to connect to your legislators in Washington D.C.

• You can find your Senators’ contact information HERE.

• You can find your Representatives’ contact information HERE.

Step 2

When the answering machine or person picks up, use the message below to guide your comments.

Step 3

Hello, my name is [insert name].

I’m calling to urge you to oppose any proposals in the budget reconciliation process that would mandate the sale or privatization of America’s public lands.

As someone who relies on these lands for outdoor recreation—whether it’s motorcycling, hiking, hunting, or camping—I’m deeply concerned about losing access. These lands are vital to outdoor recreation, tourism, and access to America’s backcountry.

Please protect public access and reject any provision that would authorize the selloff or transfer of federal public land. Our public lands must remain in public hands.

Thank you!

Step 4

Hang Up.