New MIC sister organization focuses on off-road access and safety, accepts donations

Posted on February 25, 2011

A new Motorcycle Industry Council sister organization, the Right Rider Access Fund, has the mission of promoting the safe and responsible use of off-highway vehicles, and preserving riders’ access to appropriate lands, by directly supporting riders and by supplementing the work of the MIC and two of its other sister organizations: the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, and the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association.
The Right Rider Access Fund is a 501(c)(3) charitable community benefit organization supported in part by the MIC, SVIA and ROHVA, which will provide partial funding and administrative resources for the organization. The industry associations’ professional staff will execute the fund’s mission. The fund also relies on contributions from individuals and businesses.
According to the fund, there are an estimated 14 million off-highway motorcycles, ATVs and recreational off-highway vehicles (i.e., side-by-sides) in use. “Enthusiasts need and deserve more help to ensure they can safely and responsibly operate their OHVs and access riding areas,” the fund’s president, Tim Buche, says in a press release. “By combining the existing support of the powersports industry associations with contributions from businesses and individuals, the financial resources available to support OHV enthusiasts will increase exponentially. Equally important, with industry expertise available to manage the work of the fund on a charitable basis, 100 percent of contributions go to benefit off-highway enthusiasts — none is lost to cover overhead, personnel expenses or fund-raising activities.”
The fund initially will support OHV riders through three programs:

The Safety, Education and Training Support Program will provide funding or other resources for safety, education and training initiatives.
The OHV Organization Support Program will provide funding or other resources to national, state and local OHV rider organizations for projects designed to promote OHV recreation and expand OHV riding opportunities. For example, major funding for National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC) will be granted through the fund.
The Access Preservation Support Program will coordinate, manage and administer specific rider-funded, legal action to lessen the burdens of government in connection with their access to public lands.

“By contributing to the fund you will be supporting a variety of educational and training programs designed by off-highway vehicle professionals,” Buche says. “You’ll also help ensure that riding areas are not arbitrarily designated as off-limits to off-highway recreationists and encourage respect for the environment. Contributors can designate their donation to any or all of the three programs.”
To donate to the fund as individuals, MIC, SVIA, and ROHVA employees opted to participate in a payroll deduction program. The first contributions were donated last week.
For more information about the Right Rider Access Fund and how to contribute, review the frequently asked questions at www.riderfund.org/faq.