Bike patrols forming in RI and MD

IMBA Trail News
Volume 12, Number 1
March 1999

New bicycle patrols are forming in Rhode Island and Maryland. The Rhode Island chapter of NEMBA is organizing to patrol in Arcadia Management Area, southwest of Providence near Exeter. Arcadia is an extremely popular riding area in a landscape with limited public lands and is getting lots of use. To join the patrol, contact Mike Morris at (401) 364-0786 or .

In Maryland, managers of the 13,000-acre Patapsco Valley State Park are making a bike patrol for cyclists that will complement the existing equestrian patrol. "We need cyclists to ride both the paved and unpaved roads and trails in the park and be the 'eyes and ears' of our rangers," explained PVSP manager Walter Brown. "Bike patrols can report downed trees on trails, washouts and other problems in places that rangers don't see on a regular basis." In addition, bike patrol volunteers will be allowed to perform on-the-spot trail maintenance as they ride the trails.

Riders trained for Patapsco will also qualify to patrol in any central Maryland state park, and the hours will be flexible to accommodate weather variability. The Patapsco patrol demonstrates the continuing improvement in the cyclists/managers relationship, coming on the heels of a closure proposal which was favorably resolved last year. The new patrol will have the cooperation of Mid-Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts, Maryland Mountain Bike Operators, and IMBA.

To become a volunteer or for more information on the volunteer bike patrol program, call PVSP manager Walter Brown or assistant manager Norm Wiley at Patapsco Valley State Park, (410) 461-5005.