10/6/2026
Under Secretary Michael Boren United States Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Ave. SW Washington, DC 20250
Chief Tom Schultz United States Forest Service 1400 Independence Ave. SW Washington, DC 20250
Dear Under Secretary Boren and Chief Schultz,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the Department of Agriculture’s proposed revisions to the 2005 Travel Management Rule, as outlined in the recent Notice of Intent (NOI). Living right on the edge of the Coconino National Forest, I experience firsthand the vital importance of balanced, thoughtful land management. As an avid mountain biker who spends countless hours on the trails here in Arizona, as well as exploring the incredible national forests of California, Utah, New Mexico, Idaho and Colorado, I know how essential clear, well-managed travel plans are for protecting the quality of our public lands and the outdoor recreation economy.
For over two decades, the 2005 Travel Management Rule has successfully provided a framework where diverse user groups—hikers, mountain bikers, hunters, anglers, horseback riders, and motorized recreationists—can coexist. Reversing this framework will endanger public safety, damage wildlife habitat and clean water resources, and degrade the quiet, non-motorized recreation opportunities that millions of visitors depend on.
Any updates to travel management must preserve the following core principles:
Maintain the closed-unless-designated default: Flipping the rule to make routes "open unless designated closed" would lead to a web of user-created trails, destroying natural vegetation, harming wildlife, and eroding non-motorized trail experiences.
Protect natural and cultural resources: Decisions must prioritize soil health, watersheds, and wildlife habitats while minimizing conflicts between different user groups.
Ensure robust local and public input: Local residents, mountain bikers, recreationists, Tribal Nations, and local communities must have a meaningful voice in access decisions.
Maintain clear route designations: Clear signage, up-to-date digital Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUMs), and user education are essential so visitors know where motorized access is permitted.
Account for long-term maintenance costs: The Forest Service already faces a massive backlog in trail and road maintenance. Expanding motorized routes without guaranteed resources for upkeep places an unfair burden on taxpayers and local land managers.
The existing rule already provides a clear, public process to modify routes and update Motor Vehicle Use Maps as local needs change. We do not need a sweeping rule change that jeopardizes sensitive landscapes and quiet recreation across the American West.
I ask the Forest Service to uphold these protective principles so that our national forests in Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and across the nation remain healthy, accessible, and safe for generations to come.
Sincerely,
Thomas Turnbull Flagstaff, Arizona