Spur Cross trade dies

IMBA Trail News
Volume 11, Number 5
November 1998

The proposed Spur Cross land trade in the northeastern Phoenix, Arizona, area collapsed on September 1 when developer John Lang decided to not pursue it further. Mountain bicyclists had opposed the trade because it would have converted prime riding areas near the city into private property.

The extremely complicated trade would have given the Tonto National Forest the 2,200 Spur Cross Ranch, north of Cave Creek, in exchange for 3,000 acres of public land south of Carefree. While those small towns supported the trade, the City of Scottsdale opposed it, along with 26 organizations. Tonto National Forest spokesperson Carl Taylor said the public opinion was "overwhelmingly" against the trade. Opposition became particularly acute when the complexity and uncertainty increased substantially as a result of the developer's efforts to satisfy Scottsdale.

IMBA and the Mountain Bike Association of Arizona thank all those who worked to protect these public lands.