Clout in the Capital

Your local land manager looks you in the eye and smiles. She or he knows your name, where you live and what you like to do in your spare time: ride your mountain bike. You have a relationship of trust and goodwill that spans years of trailwork projects, public meetings, occasional skirmishes and frequent wonderful moments in the sun.

This is a partnership. This is what keeps trails open for mountain biking.

Well, not completely.

More than 500 million acres of U.S. land is managed by the Federal government. Much of it is open to the public for a variety of uses, including mountain biking. Key decisions about access to this land are made in Washington, D.C. Funding determinations that shape the construction, management and maintenance of federal trails are made by Congress at the Capitol, the executive branch at the White House, or somewhere in between.

Having a strong presence and voice in Washington, DC, is crucial to the future of mountain biking. During the last year, IMBA significantly increased our efforts here. We enlisted a top-flight law firm, Hogan & Hartson, to help us resolve National Park trail access issues and to guide us towards a new partnership with this flagship agency.

This year, IMBA is upping the ante. We're working with Smith, Dawson & Andrews - another well known D.C.-based firm - on a variety of federal initiatives. SDA is helping IMBA designate its new trailbuilding partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They're assisting our efforts to inspire the National Park Service to designate new dirt riding opportunities. They're monitoring all federal legislation that relates to mountain biking. They're helping IMBA's grassroots leaders connect with their elected representatives in Congress.

Part of IMBA's federal plan includes closer work on tangible trail projects with the leaders of the key Federal land agencies: the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Army Corps and others. Earlier this month, nearly 20 IMBA staff, directors and field leaders spent a week in Washington attending the National Bike Summit, meeting with members of Congress and working to build our image inside the Beltway.

Out in the field, where the rubber meets the dirt, we have a generally positive reputation for responsible use, volunteer commitment and dedication to public land. In D.C., too many people still don't know mountain biking or IMBA's work.Out in the field, where the rubber meets the dirt, we have a generally positive reputation for responsible use, volunteer commitment and dedication to public land. In D.C., too many people still don't know mountain biking or IMBA's work.

In the world of politics and legislation, who you know still has a lot to do with what you achieve. First-name relationships with local land managers coupled with credible connections with U.S. Senators: now there's a formula that will help bring out the best in the mountain biking. Thanks to the support of IMBA members for our National Mountain Bike Leadership Fund and Mountain Bike Legal Defense Fund, we're making it happen.

- Tim Blumenthal

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	Clout in the Capital Your local land manager looks you in the eye and smiles. She or he knows your name, where you live and what you like to do in your spare time: ride your mountain bike. You have a relationship of trust and goodwill that spans years of trailwork projects, public meetings, occasional skirmishes and frequent wonderful moments in the sun. This is a partnership. This is what keeps trails open for mountain biking. Well, not completely. More than 500 million acres of U.S. land is managed by the Federal government. Much of it is open to the public for a variety of uses, including mountain biking. Key decisions about access to this land are made in Washington, D.C. Funding determinations that shape the construction, management and maintenance of federal trails are made by Congress at the Capitol, the executive branch at the White House, or somewhere in between. Having a strong presence and voice in Washington, DC, is crucial to the future of mountain biking. During the last year, IMBA significantly increased our efforts here. We enlisted a top-flight law firm, Hogan & Hartson, to help us resolve National Park trail access issues and to guide us towards a new partnership with this flagship agency. This year, IMBA is upping the ante. We're working with Smith, Dawson & Andrews - another well known D.C.-based firm - on a variety of federal initiatives. SDA is helping IMBA designate its new trailbuilding partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They're assisting our efforts to inspire the National Park Service to designate new dirt riding opportunities. They're monitoring all federal legislation that relates to mountain biking. They're helping IMBA's grassroots leaders connect with their elected representatives in Congress. Part of IMBA's federal plan includes closer work on tangible trail projects with the leaders of the key Federal land agencies: the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Army Corps and others. Earlier this month, nearly 20 IMBA staff, directors and field leaders spent a week in Washington attending the National Bike Summit, meeting with members of Congress and working to build our image inside the Beltway. Out in the field, where the rubber meets the dirt, we have a generally positive reputation for responsible use, volunteer commitment and dedication to public land. In D.C., too many people still don't know mountain biking or IMBA's work.Out in the field, where the rubber meets the dirt, we have a generally positive reputation for responsible use, volunteer commitment and dedication to public land. In D.C., too many people still don't know mountain biking or IMBA's work. In the world of politics and legislation, who you know still has a lot to do with what you achieve. First-name relationships with local land managers coupled with credible connections with U.S. Senators: now there's a formula that will help bring out the best in the mountain biking. Thanks to the support of IMBA members for our National Mountain Bike Leadership Fund and Mountain Bike Legal Defense Fund, we're making it happen. - Tim Blumenthal


Help \| Site Map \| Copyright