Coalition for Recreational Trails

Education and Communication

Sensible, Courteous, Off-Road, Enthusiasts / SCORE

Off Road Motorcycle riding has been a part of rural life in Pennsylvania for decades. People of all ages participate in this type of motorized physical activity each year; unfortunately, many are seriously injured. It has become apparent to our organization, the necessity to educate this user group on rider safety and stewardship of the land we ride on.

The PTF staff and fellow volunteers are the educational branch of the Pennsylvania Off- Highway Vehicles Association. Our mission is to educate riders to be safe and courteous while operating Off-Highway Vehicles. PTF has done this since 2002 with the ATV user crowd; however in 2020 we chose to expand our focus to include the Dirt Bike user group. Off Road Motorcycle riding has been a part of rural life in Pennsylvania for decades. People of all ages participate in this type of motorized physical activity each year; unfortunately, many are seriously injured. It has become apparent to our organization, the necessity to educate this user group on rider safety and stewardship of the land we ride on. So in the spring of 2020 PTF applied for a Federal Recreation Trails Grant administrated by the PA DCNR and received funding for Sensible, Courteous, Off-Road, Enthusiasts / SCORE, Rules of the Trail Dirt Bike Simulator Training program.

This modest $5000 per year grant has enabled PTF to offer training at seven Pennsylvania Youth Field Days over the last three summers. Since obtaining the grant, we have offered training at the Bedford, Crawford, Perry, Somerset, Forest and Tioga Counties Youth Field Days, exposing 510 youth and their parents to the need to be safe and respectful while riding. This overview of safe Dirt Bike operation and promotion of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Dirt Bike Rider course is made possible because of the PTF Dirt Bike Simulator. Students experience the feeling of riding up and down hills and around curves without the danger of riding an actual Dirt Bike. Students also learn the rider’s code of ethics. The Rules of the Trail focuses on explaining the value of taking a lesson, knowing the rules of the riding area, the significance and consequences of trespassing on private property, respecting other trail user groups, and leaving no to little trace of their activity. PTF strongly feels the youth who attend our training have a better understanding of the responsibilities and consequences involved while riding a dirt bike.

Moving forward the PA DCNR has agreed to a yearly renewal process for our current education grant. This will insure training for a few of the counties in Pennsylvania each year. It is our hope by receiving nationwide recognition for our efforts with the dirt bike community the grant amounts will grow with the identified need to educate off-highway riders.

For additional information on the Pennsylvania Trails Foundation, please go to our Facebook page and on the Web at Education – PAOHV.

For local training information please go to DirtBike School - Motorcycle Safety Foundation.