Status and Summary Report on OHV Responsible Riding Campaign

Monaghan and Associates, a marketing research firm, conducted the 2001 study at the behest of the Colorado Coalition for Responsible OHV Riding, a coalition of off-road vehicle representatives, environmentalists and public officials.  Researchers surveyed Colorado off-road vehicle riders through a series of three focus groups.  

Monaghan and Associates found that the majority of off-roaders understand that staying on designated routes is “fundamental trail etiquette” and that going off trail is not “correct” off-road vehicle behavior.  The survey revealed that regardless of this knowledge “as many as two-thirds of adult users go off the trail occasionally.”  A significant percentage of riders, 15-20 percent, admitted to frequently breaking the rules and riding off of legal routes often.  Survey participants also stated that “others” ride off-route and cause most of the damage.

The key conclusion of the Colorado study:  “information and education
per se – will not result in substantial behavioral change” (emphases in
original).