✅ SECTION 4: Environmental Ethics (TREAD Principles)
Every time you fire up your machine, you’re interacting with the land—and how you do it matters.
Off-roading is an exciting, challenging sport, but it’s also one that can have serious consequences for the environment if not done responsibly. That’s where the TREAD Principles come in: Travel Responsibly, Respect the Rights of Others, Educate Yourself, Avoid Sensitive Areas, and Do Your Part. These five guiding ideas are the foundation of environmentally conscious OHV use.
Travel responsibly by always staying on marked, designated trails. Riding through tall grass, mud bogs, or unmarked terrain might seem harmless, but it destroys native plants, disrupts wildlife habitats, and contributes to erosion. Once a track is made, others will follow, and pretty soon, the land is scarred beyond recovery. Use proper throttle control and brake gradually to avoid spinning tires or tearing up soft surfaces. In wet weather, avoid riding entirely if the trail system is closed due to risk of damage.
Respect the rights of others by giving space and staying quiet near hikers, horseback riders, and other outdoor users. Slow down in campgrounds or when passing through quiet-use zones. Don’t assume you’re alone just because the trail is remote—others may be enjoying the same land in different ways.
Educate yourself about the area you’re riding in before your trip.
Are there seasonal closures? Is the land privately or publicly owned? Are there fire restrictions in place? Knowing the regulations—and following them—shows that you care about the trails you use.
Avoid sensitive areas like wetlands, meadows, wildlife breeding zones, and steep hillsides that are prone to erosion. These places often take years to recover from a single pass of tires.
Lastly, do your part.
Pack out all trash, help clean up when possible, and report illegal activity or trail damage. Better yet, volunteer with a local club or trail maintenance crew. If we all take care of the land, it will take care of us in return.