On public lands, “travel management” guides decisions about where motorized vehicles are allowed and how those uses are balanced with conservation, wildlife habitat, and other public-land values. When done well, travel management provides clarity for all users and helps ensure that both motorized and non-motorized recreation opportunities remain available and sustainable over the long term.

On Friday evening, the administration released an Executive Order (EO), “Removing Unnecessary and Counterproductive Restrictions on Access to Federal Lands,” that rescinds two long-standing Executive Orders dating back to the Nixon and Carter administrations that underpin travel management on public lands.

Outdoor Alliance represents the human-powered outdoor recreation community, but we are not opposed to motorized recreation and recognize that many people in our community enjoy both human-powered and motorized outdoor recreation. One of our core values is that there is room for everyone on public lands. That is why thoughtful travel management is so important. Land managers need a clear process for determining where motorized use is appropriate, protecting natural resources and wildlife habitat, ensuring public safety, and providing high-quality recreation experiences for all users. We believe that view is shared by the overwhelming majority of recreationists, regardless of how they choose to get outdoors.

For several months, the Forest Service has signaled its intent to revise or rescind its travel management regulations, and we view Friday's rescission as the first step in that process. The new Executive Order directs the Forest Service and Department of the Interior to begin revisiting the framework that guides travel management decisions across public lands.

“There is absolutely a place for motorized recreation on public lands, but that place is not, ‘literally anywhere,’” said Louis Geltman, Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs at Outdoor Alliance. "Motorized recreationists, hikers, mountain bikers, hunters, anglers, climbers, and conservationists all benefit from having clear, durable rules that reduce conflict and protect the places we care about. Dismantling those frameworks will foment controversy, increase user conflict, and make it harder for agencies to manage public lands effectively."

Outdoor Alliance’s member, Winter Wildlands Alliance, has supported travel management since its founding 26 years ago, and has advocated for comprehensive winter planning to balance human-powered and motorized experiences.

“At its core, travel management is about balancing use on public lands so everyone can have a positive experience,” said Anneka Williams, Winter Wildlands Alliance Policy Director. “These recently rescinded executive orders provided a framework for land managers to designate motorized access while protecting ecological integrity and providing opportunities for non-motorized recreation. Losing this sense of balance will threaten recreation experiences and the long-term health of our public lands.”

If the Forest Service and Department of Interior move forward with changing their travel management regulations, they will need workable replacements in order to meet the needs of the recreation community and to comply with multiple laws, including the EXPLORE Act. Over the coming months, Outdoor Alliance and our member organizations will be working to inform the next steps on travel management.

In the meantime, decision makers really need to hear from the outdoor community about the plans to rescind travel management and how this will affect outdoor experiences.

There's Room for Everyone on Public Lands. Travel Management Helps Make That Possible.