Way back in the early days of CABPRO we were looking around the state and nation for other like minded organizations and we came into contact with the BRC (http://www.sharetrails.org/) among many others. In 1993 as I recall, our Tahoe National Forest plan was still not approved (sued by eco groups for many years running) but it was one of many in America in the same boat. Eco groups like the Sierra Club and the National Resources Defense Council and all their legal arms were trying to gain more wilderness and keep people, at least everyone except their able bodied members it appeared, from being able to access the "public", i.e., taxpayers, property. The BRC came into being in 1988 on that reason.
It seems the issues never change though and the drive to shutoff the taxpayers lands goes on without a break (just look at our energy lands shutoff). The eco groups never give up and it was to my surprise the BRC was still out there fighting the eco groups attempts to limit our national forests to a few hikers. The BRC represents recreationalists of all stripes, horseback riders, hikers, four wheelers, etc., and they have been successful over the years trying to keep the "public" lands available to the public, no matter what kind of fun you like.
When the American with Disabilities Act was passed and signed into law by the first President Bush, hidden inside the law was some exclusions to the anti-discriminatory rules that applied to all the rest of us in America. While we as business owners were held to a total non discriminatory standard (and many have been sued for compliance by activists using the ADA), the federal government EXCLUDED THEMSELVES!
It was shocking the government and the eco groups in conjunction, said no one other than an able bodied person could access federal lands designated such as "wilderness" and some others. So a taxpayer with a disability, who may need a motorized wheel chair or other form of mechanized access to enjoy his/her lands, was unable to traverse them (even bicycles and horses!). I believe these exclusions of a large segment of the people in the country are still there in the law. The disabled and elderly are unable to access the lands their taxes pay for but over the years the BRC has fought the good fight to try and keep our "public" lands open to all. They have a lawsuit branch and have used the same tactics as the Sierra Club and others to fight to keep access open rather than closed as the eco groups do all the time.
So check out their website and read some of the issues they fight for and maybe you can feel better that they are out their fighting to keep the public lands open to all.
