Get Off Your ASS!

Hi guys,

1. Yes, this rally is occurring as a direct result of expected closure of Harbourview Rd.
2. Yes, there is private property up there.
3. Yes, there are also public lands up there: Sooke Mtn. Provincial Park, itself.
4. Yes, there are precedents to keep roads on private lands open.

Here is what is more important. This is not just a fight for Harbourview Road itself. If it were, I wouldnt be doing much about it. What happens here is going to be used for a precedent everywhere in the province. Let me explain.

Let's face it. The WCWC and the BC Land Conservancy consider us evil. Despite what some of you may heard (like what was stated on a radio interview), if they had their way, 4x4s, stock and otherwise would be banned, period. And they are entitled to their opinion, even if it is wrong. But if they "win" this area from the "evil 4x4s", don't think for a second that they won't cite this example to help close other areas (from us, or other groups, or...). That is what people have to realize. It's not just the few square miles of fun trails. We can always do the same somewhere else even if we have to travel further. It's the precedent that can be set here. With a precedent to close lands from motorized recreation, and this one becoming so public and visible, so close to the legislature (it's easy for the WCWC et. al. to just walk down there), that anyone who thinks that they wont be affected by what is happening at Harbouview is burying their head in the sand.

On the other hand, if we win and create a multi-use playground park officially, like it has been used unofficially for most of this century, then we have a precedent we can use to do the same elsewhere in the province.

I've heard the arguments:

• I ride my motorbike, I can go around any gates, so it wont affect me;
• I only play in the snow with my 4x4, they can't see what impact I'm not doing so it doesn't affect me;
• oh, I'm on my snow mobile/motorbike, so I don't like 4x4's ruining my playgrounds, so I'm going to ignore this rally cause I want them off my trails anyway;
• I'm in the interior, and as fun as the island trails are, I'm really too far removed for their problems to affect me
• I don't want to be as politically correct as the IRC (or insert your favorite organization here) wants to present, so I had better not associate myself with this rally.

I don't want to hear these again. If you enjoy any form of motorized recreation, this fight will affect you. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow. But since WCWC et. al. groups us all together - ATV's, bikes, 4x4's, rednecks and doctors, it will affect you. I.e. if you are a biker, you had better get involved or the 4x4'ers may not be around to help you fight your cause when WCWC comes looking to take away your sport too.

For every camping trip, I burn up at least $100 in fuel, food, expenses, etc. Not including repairs. If it's on the mainland, its another $100 for the ferry. I want to continue my camping trips, as I'm sure many others do. So really for the cost of no more than one camping trip, you can do a small part and participate in this rally. I hope that letters are also being written, but to me, this is really a small price to pay to have a chance to be able to continue to do what we like to do.

Will we win? I don't know. But damn it, everybody had better get involved and come to rallies, and write the letters -- and be less concerned about the small details of where the private and public lands start and end for one particular area we collectively like to frequent. Otherwise, we might as well all just move to another province or sell our 4x4s, motorbikes, ATVs, and buy a backpack now instead of later. If you're not coming, let me know so I can sell my 4x4 to you before its worthless in this province.

- Rob Bryce