Clarification on Mountain Bike Access in Ontario Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves

For Immediate Release
06-15-06
Contact: Lora Woolner, IMBA Canada Coordinator

705-441-6901

IMBA Canada's June 13 press release, titled "IMBA Canada Monitoring Bicycle Access in Ontario Parks and Reserves", inspired significant attention from Ontario media and other groups. The release accurately stated that Bill 11, currently scheduled for a final vote in Ontario government, contains language that has the potential to limit mountain bike access in "wilderness class" provincial parks and conservation reserves.

Happily, last minute amendments to the Bill authorize the Minister to make exceptions that will allow limited low-impact access - including mountain biking - to continue at the Minister's discretion. Some media reports about Bill 11 did not emphasize this important fact.

Subsequent to IMBA Canada's release, the Bicycle Trade Association of Canada (BTAC) issued a release titled "Government of Ontario To Ban Bicycles from Provincial Parks". The BTAC release did not distinguish between wilderness class parks and other provincial park designations - important because the most popular mountain biking venues in Ontario are not in wilderness parks or conservation reserves.

In fact, only eight of Ontario's 319 provincial parks fall under the "wilderness class" designation, and none of these are currently popular riding destinations. While there may not be any threat of an overnight ban on mountain biking in Ontario's most popular riding areas, IMBA is monitoring the progress on a Bill that has precedent-setting implications for mountain biking nationwide.

Because there is no official forum for public comment at this time, IMBA asks those concerned to send their comments to IMBA Canada.

IMBA Canada, BTAC and other groups monitoring Bill 11 and its potential affects on Ontario mountain biking, strive to bring reliable information to the public. We hope this clarification will help Ontario cyclists understand the issue at hand. Please continue to log your comments on this matter with IMBA Canada by writing to .