| Coastal A-Z [return to Table of Contents] Beach Driving Driving on the beach is a long-standing tradition in many areas of the United States, including Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts, portions of the New Jersey shore, North Carolina’s Outer Banks, Georgia’s islands, certain areas in Florida, North and South Padre Islands and other areas in Texas, and several areas in Oregon and Washington, including the Long Beach Peninsula shoreline. In many of these areas, access to the beaches for swimming, surfing, fishing or just a day at the beach would be very difficult, if not impossible without allowing beach driving. It is also widely recognized that beach driving can cause serious ecological impacts by potentially destroying nesting areas for sea turtles and birds such as the piping plover and damaging or destroying vegetation and dunes. Shore erosion can be accelerated by careless beach driving and vehicles on the beach can be a safety hazard to beach goers. In recognition of the potential impacts of beach driving, most areas that allow this practice regulate it in some way, including:
Volusia County in Florida is home of Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach, where there is a tradition of beach driving dating back to the early days of the automobile. Volusia County, like many other areas in the country, has tried to balance the need for and history of beach driving versus concern for the coastal environment by designating their beaches as Natural, Transitional and Urban.
In Texas, fifty-five miles of the beach at Padre Island National Seashore are accessible strictly via four-wheel-drive vehicle; 8.5 miles are available for standard passenger vehicles.  South Padre Island, TX -- credit: www.southpadrevacationrental.com  North Padre Island, TX -- credit: http://academic.emporia.edu The Surfrider Foundation Coastal Bend Chapter is committed to free and unrestricted access for all people to all Texas beaches in accordance with the Texas Open Beaches Act. Surfrider Foundation maintains that vehicle access is the key to beaches remaining accessible and not becoming effectively private beaches. In certain cases the Surfrider Foundation’s Coastal Bend Chapter supports the creation of pedestrian areas as long as vehicle access and parking are maintained on the beach itself as it is the case in the IB Magee and Port Aransas Beach Parks. More details here. One of the most high-visibility disputes regarding beach driving involves potential restrictions or prohibitions on beach driving at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.  Cape Hatteras National Seashore, NC -- credit: SELC SELC  Cape Point, Hatteras Island, NC -- credit: www.islandfreepress.org Many of the Outer Banks beaches are open to beach driving at least part of the year. The Outer Banks tourism web site lists beach driving rules here. Cape Hatteras National Seashore generally allows beach driving year-round. See their website or this one for more information on regulations. In July 2007 U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle issued an order which stated that because Cape Hatteras National Seashore did not have regulations to govern off-road vehicle (ORV) traffic, operating a vehicle on the seashore "without prior authority" was punishable by fines up to $5,000 and six months in prison. In response, a spokesperson for Cape Hatteras stated that with the exception of isolated closures for natural resource protection and pedestrian safety, ORV traffic would be allowed on the seashore while attorneys for the National Park Service reviewed the court order. As required by law, the National Park Service (NPS) is currently undertaking a process to develop future rules for driving at Hatteras. However, NPS admits the process will take at least three years to complete. Some scientists believe that many species could be eliminated from the Seashore in that time. Because of this extended delay in developing a plan for management of ORV access, two environmental groups filed a lawsuit to force immediate action. In February 2008, the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), representing Defenders of Wildlife and the National Audubon Society asked a federal judge to limit beach driving on approximately 12 percent of the seashore identified by the Park Service's scientists as being most critical to nesting shorebirds (see map). SELC asked the judge to halt driving on this portion of beach pending the outcome of a suit SELC filed in October, 2007. That suit sought to require the Park Service to implement a plan to manage beach driving that will also protect the resources of the region. The goal is development of a management plan that will continue to allow access to Hatteras by vehicle, but will control use to protect wildlife, safety and the overall environment of the Outer Banks. The Outer Banks Chapter of Surfrider Foundation is one of the parties working to achieve a balanced resolution of the beach driving issue at Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The chapter issued the following statement: The Outer Banks Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation recognizes the unique ecological, recreational and economic value of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. We further recognize that beaches are a public resource and should be held in the public trust for their preservation. We understand that for decades the Park Service has allowed access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches by Off Road Vehicles (ORV) with minimal restriction or oversight and that if not regulated correctly ORV use may detrimentally affect migratory species that nest in the area. The Outer Banks Chapter supports beach preservation and protection efforts, but feels that a temporary and or permanent ban on ORV access to these beaches could have an immediate detrimental impact on the Outer Banks economy, and severely limit public access to groups that appreciate, use, and support the protection of these coastal resources. We believe that a balance between access and preservation can be achieved. A tentative agreement settling the lawsuit was announced on April 16, 2008. The settlement allows driving on large areas of beach, but seasonally restricts vehicle use in several spots popular with both birds and fishermen. The settlement details areas to be restricted in 2008 to protect bird and turtle nesting areas. Among its requirements: bird nesting areas can't be made smaller to accommodate vehicles if erosion cuts off vehicle access. The park service, by March 15 of each year, must mark nesting areas on Bodie Island Spit, Cape Point, South Beach, Hatteras Spit, North Ocracoke and Ocracoke South Point. The park service must also set aside specific protection buffers around nesting areas for plover, the least tern, the oystercatcher and other waterbirds. The vehicle buffer is 1,000 meters for plover chicks, the highest level of protection. Officials also have the authority to expand the protected areas if they believe there has been vandalism of fencing, nests or plants. To protect turtles, the park service must close beaches to night driving between of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. from May 1 to Sept. 15 and allow night driving only under educational permits between Sept. 16 and Nov. 15. On April 30, 2008 U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle approved the settlement (Consent Decree) after receiving additional information from Cape Hatteras National Seashore Superintendent Mike Murray. References Cape Cod National Seashore – Oversand Beach Driving Cape Hatteras National Seashore – Beach Driving Crystal Coast (NC) Tourism Authority – Beach Driving DNR Coastal Resources Division – Beach Driving Authorization IslandFreePress – Consent Decree IslandFreePress – Consent Decree Maps IslandFreePress – Murray Declaration Long Beach Peninsula (WA) Visitors Bureau – Beach Driving NCBBA Guides for Off-Road Driving Outer Banks Beach Rules and Regulations OuterBanksFishing.com – 4X4 Beach Driving Southern Environmental Law Center Surfrider Foundation Outer Banks Chapter Surfrider Foundation State of the Beach Report – North Carolina Beach Access Surfrider Foundation Texas Coastal Bend Chapter Volusia County, Florida – Beach Driving and Parking |
