Passes, no passes, gate fees...

[adamrodkey]

As a bicycle retailer I will say that it is pretty confusing trying to explain to a customer what is required to ride the bike they just bought.
Want to check out Yellowwood? No pass required. But if you get into HNF, HNF trail tag required.
BCSP? You have to pay a gate fee, AND have a state park ride pass, but only if you're on certain trails. "But that pass work for all IN state parks???" "so I use THAT pass for Yellowwood?" "No, no, that's a state FOREST, not state PARK, no pass needed there." "Oh okay, 'forest,' so the HNF tag works there?" "No, that's NATIONAL forest, not STATE forest..."


I think this should be made "easier." I have a friend from out of state but that is in IN frequently for work and makes fun of "us" for this.


Or maybe HNF could get some $$ from the park trail passes to produce some sort of color-coded map of the state indicating what is needed where.

[jasonhilt]

The state parks/DNR/government are the ones that implemented the requirement for the passes.  I doubt they could tell you the actual rules.

[Willyjaybob]

Wait...so what you are saying is that government bureaucrats make things more confusing..? That's a lot for me to take in. May need a minute......

[MikeHufhand]

It's a great topic/issue for our HMBA Advocacy team to tackle with all the stakeholders.  The confusion, cost and complexity certainly doesn't help bicycle tourism now does it?!!!


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[mtbikernate]

As a bicycle retailer I will say that it is pretty confusing trying to explain to a customer what is required to ride the bike they just bought.
Want to check out Yellowwood? No pass required. But if you get into HNF, HNF trail tag required.
BCSP? You have to pay a gate fee, AND have a state park ride pass, but only if you're on certain trails. "But that pass work for all IN state parks???" "so I use THAT pass for Yellowwood?" "No, no, that's a state FOREST, not state PARK, no pass needed there." "Oh okay, 'forest,' so the HNF tag works there?" "No, that's NATIONAL forest, not STATE forest..."


I think this should be made "easier." I have a friend from out of state but that is in IN frequently for work and makes fun of "us" for this.


Or maybe HNF could get some $$ from the park trail passes to produce some sort of color-coded map of the state indicating what is needed where.

Three (relevant) government entities:
State PARK (many properties with trails)
State FOREST (fair number of properties with trails)
National Forest (really only one property with trails, Hoosier National Forest)


State Parks require: Lots of fees. Just to ride, Gate Fee + DNR Trail Pass.
State Forests require: fewer fees. To ride, DNR Trail Pass.
National Forests require: fewer fees. To ride, National Forest Trail Pass.


It is not that difficult to figure out. But Hoosiers have notorious difficulties understanding the differences between land management agencies, IME.

[Paul_Arlinghaus]

It's a great topic/issue for our HMBA Advocacy team to tackle with all the stakeholders.  The confusion, cost and complexity certainly doesn't help bicycle tourism now does it?!!!


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Your assuming that they care about tourism.  They don't!  The challenge is that most of our public lands are strapped for funding and when they see someone else have a fee, they want to charge a fee as well. 

Until our legislators fund our Parks, you will likely see more fees instead of less fees.

[klainet]

Send them to the Griffin Bike Park in Terre Haute! They just had their grand opening and the place is phenomenal!! something for literally everyone, all in one location on 300 acres. and best of all... No Entry Fee and open 24/7 all year!! weather pending like all trail systems of course.

[SurlyWill]

Wait...so what you are saying is that government bureaucrats make things more confusing..? That's a lot for me to take in. May need a minute......

In defense of the bureaucrats... it was the legislature that cut that redirected a lot of funding elsewhere.  I also believe you see a lot of asymmetry with what cycling costs DNR vs what other activities cost vs what they pay vs what off road cyclists pay to ride trails that are almost entirely kept by volunteers.