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Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM)
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The Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) is a requirement of the 2005 Final Travel Management Rulehttp://www.fs.fed.us/r2/recreation/travel_mgmt/.
The MVUM displays National Forest System (NFS) routes (roads and trails) and
areas designated as open to motorized travel. The MVUM also displays allowed
uses by vehicle class (ex. highway-legal vehicles, vehicles less than 50
inches wide and motorcycles), seasonal allowances, and provides information
on other travel rules and regulations. Routes not shown on the MVUM are not open to public motor vehicle travel.
Routes designated for motorized use may not always be signed on the ground
but will be identified on the MVUM. It will be the public’s responsibility to reference the MVUM to stay on
designated routes for motor vehicle use. The MVUM will be updated annually,
in January, to correct mapping errors or discrepancies and update travel
decisions. The MVUM will provide information by ranger district in a black and white
map with no topographic features. It is a map for legal designations of where
you can travel with various motorized vehicles, but for additional reference
it is best used in conjunction with a Forest Visitor map or other detailed
map. The MVUM is free to the public and will be available at the
ranger district office and at the Supervisor’s Office. The MVUM is available
on this Web site and sections of it may be printed from your home computer. If you do not already have a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader you can download
a free copy from Adobe.
MVUM Maps:
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where can I get a MVUM?
Electronic copies of new or revised MVUMs will be posted on this Web site
as indicated above. They will be available through both the Rocky Mountain
Region and National Forest Service Web sites. Each district office will have
a hard copy of their MVUM for public viewing purposes prior to the arrival of
printed copies for public distribution. The public will be notified when printed MVUMs are available at the
respective district offices of the Pike and San Isabel National Forests and
Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands (free of charge); click here
for office locations and contact information. Other partners and distribution locations may be developed over time to
help disseminate maps. 2. How many MVUM's are there for the PSICC?
There is one map for the each of the eight PSICC
ranger districts. These are currently in various stages of being produced. 3. How do I print the MVUM?
A full-size version of the MVUM will vary in size and cannot be printed on
conventional home printers. A full-size version can only be printed from a
large plotter. Many local copy shops, engineering and survey businesses can
print the map. To be readable, only a portion of the MVUM can be printed on 8 ½” x 11”
paper using home printers. With Adobe Acrobat®, use the “Print Current View”
function to print the view on your screen. It is recommended that the legend
box be printed to aid in interpretation of the MVUM. 4. What does a MVUM show me?
Limited motor vehicle access may occur on routes not shown on the MVUM for
the purpose of administrative access by Forest Service personnel; for fire
and law enforcement; for emergency purposes; and by persons authorized by a
written special use permit or contract from the Forest Service. 5. Does the MVUM also show mechanized and non-motorized trails and
over-snow vehicle uses?
No, a visitor map or recreation opportunity map will provide information
on over-snow and non-motorized routes, including mechanized trails, hiking,
and horse trails. Over-snow vehicle use is exempted from designations on the
MVUM. Regardless of what other maps (including the Forest Visitor Map)
may show as motorized routes, only those routes identified on the MVUM are
designated as open to public motorized use and legal for public motorized
travel. 6. What do you mean by vehicle class?
By vehicle class we are referring to size or type of motorized vehicles.
The following are typical MVUM vehicle class and route designations:
It’s important to understand that routes and areas shown open to certain
vehicle classes does not mean they are maintained for or suitable for travel
using those vehicles. It simply means it is legal to use them. For example,
many low standard roads may be open to all motor vehicles. This designation
includes passenger cars, although it may not be prudent to drive this type of
vehicle on the route due to the condition of the surface or during inclement
weather. 7. What do you mean by a season allowance?
Some routes or areas may be open only during certain times of the year for
various reasons such as to reduce wildlife disturbance, protect users from
unsafe or impassable conditions and to reduce impacts to other resource
values, like soil, water, and vegetation. 8. Are there road and trail route marker signs on the ground?
Our goal on the PSICC is to have most, if not all, of our motorized travel
routes signed at primary junctions, at any given time. In some cases, a route
marker may exist at the entrance of the road/trail with symbols indicating
which classes of vehicles are allowed. Routes designated for motorized uses
will be identified on the MVUM. The MVUM is an enforcement tool to ensure
individuals are on the correct route. It is the responsibility of the user to
determine if they are on a route designated for the motor vehicle being used.
MVUM's will be developed for each forest nationwide. It is not only a tool
for motorized users, but also a consistent and standardized law enforcement
tool. 9. When will the MVUM become enforceable?
The MVUM becomes enforceable when the map has been posted to the Web and
is available to the public in a hard copy format. 10. After MVUMs are available to the public in map form and on the
Web, what will be the USFS enforcement strategy?
When new regulations are posted, the Forest Service provides some time to
educate the public about the specifics of the regulation. A law enforcement
officer contact with the public is a great opportunity to provide information
education and create awareness about MVUM. However, law enforcement officers
can issue a notice of violation anytime after the MVUM is publicly available.
11. How often will MVUMs be updated?
Motor vehicle use maps will be updated annually, in January, to correct
mapping errors or discrepancies and update travel decisions. |
