IMBA Grades Mountain Biking Around the World

For Immediate Release
10-15-02
Contact: Dan Vardamis

303-545-9011

The IMBA Report Card is expanding. The Report Card is designed to provide an annual assessment of mountain bike access and advocacy progress for U.S. states, Canadian provinces and other countries.

In addition to a letter grade, each area's key trail riding opportunities and challenges are pinpointed. Grades are based on a number of factors: miles of singletrack open for riding, land manager attitudes, relations with other trail user groups, and the long-term prospects for mountain biking.

Online voting is combined with input from IMBA staff, representatives and local mountain bike advocates to determine final grades. Mountain bikers are invited to grade their state, province or country on IMBA's website during October. At the end of the polling period, IMBA will tally the results and provide a detailed analysis.

In addition to grading U.S. states, the online voting section includes Canadian provinces and all countries where IMBA has an affiliate club, patrol or Sprockids group.

"IMBA's Report Card is an effective way to measure the progress of the IMBA network," said IMBA's executive director Tim Blumenthal. "This is our third year of rating trail access, and we're determined to gauge our progress around the world and strategize for 2003."

To vote in the 2002 IMBA Report Card election or see results from previous years visit imba.com. Email IMBA advocacy coordinator Dan Vardamis at or call 303-545-9011 for more info.