Drastic Revisions to the Travel Management Rule Announced

The USDA has announced plans to drastically revise the Travel Management Rule (TMR). Created during the Bush Administration in 2005 to manage off-road vehicle use on national forest land to provide access while preventing damage to geologically sensitive areas, wildlife, and other visitors.

Following two executive orders in May of this year regarding motorized vehicle use on public land, two existing Executive Orders issued over 50 years ago by Presidents Nixon and Carter were effectively rescinded. This led to the proposed revisions of the TMR.

​Highlights of proposed changes to the TMR include:

1. Currently, trails on public lands are closed to motorized vehicles unless marked open to motorized use (Motor Vehicle Use Maps). With the repeal of the TMR, this would flip to an open unless marked closed baseline. 
2. This proposed rule would eliminate National Minimization Criteria, which guide land managers to reduce negative impacts on soil, vegetation, and wildlife. 
3. Restrict, or vastly reduce, the public participation in rulemaking. Even though the USFS recently repealed the regulation that requires public input and engagement on the majority of its projects (NEPA procedure overhaul (April 2026) and Directive System Rewrite in July 2026)).
4. Exclude e-bikes from motorized classification, allowing them on all trails where regular bicycles ride.

Without the TMR, there is no guarantee that the public will know of or be able to engage in decisions regarding the future of motorized vehicles on public lands.

Public comments accepted through September 23, 2026: https://www.regulations.gov/document/FS-2026-0100-0001​