Letters

IMBA Trail News
Volume 13, Number 1
Spring 2000

Roadless In California

IMBA should support the president's roadless initiative. Mountain bikers truly are conservationists and the roadless initiative is clearly a conservation-minded plan. Most mountain bikers would rather have less access than see more forest ruined. If we side with the non-conservation side, we will permanently associate ourselves with the ORV's and developers. This will hurt us as we work to improve relationships with other conservation groups such as the Sierra Club. The best course of action is for mountain bikers to work for a change in the Wilderness Act - replace the "mechanized" limitations with "motorized" - rather than looking for ways around the Wilderness Act. Simultaneously working for conservation and a reform to the Wilderness Act is the most environmentally responsible and beneficial long-term approach possible.

Michael Buckley
Columbus, OH

IMBA in India

I'm very fond of mountain biking, but I'm in India where very few people know about mountain biking. But there are lots of gnarly trails over here! I would like to spread this exciting sport to lots of people. Could you suggest how to organize maintenance of trails here?

P Praveen
Maharashtra, India

While most of IMBA's efforts are focused in North America, our international department has made significant headway for mountain bike advocacy around the world in the past year - specifically in Mexico and the UK (see story page 8). IMBA provides clubs and members around the world access and advocacy info. Visit www.imba.com or e-mail .

Tennessee Rain

Thanks to IMBA and Clif Bar for support on our Little Dark Holler trail effort. The bars were a huge factor for keeping volunteers smiling. Thirteen brave souls worked two days in cold rain and temperatures in the high 30's to clear and build this trail. The Forest Service is in shock with our efforts. The trail is a true example of what mountain bikers can do for a community.

Rob Horn
Johnson City, TN

Amazing Patrol

I wanted to let you know how amazed I was with the Vermont Mountain Bike Patrol. They handled all medical issues for us on-site. They were the most professional and courteous group I have ever worked with. Their response time was incredible, as was their attention to every detail. You have all done a fantastic job structuring your organization.

Jason G. Lillard
Randolph, VT

Fee Foe Fi Fum

The Recreation Fee Demo Project implemented by the U.S. Forest Service is another good intentioned idea gone very wrong. If you bought a Trail Park Pass here in Oregon last year you were counted by the Forest Service and reported to Congress as a vote in favor of the Fee Demo program - regardless of your view on it. The program has failed to support itself and few meaningful improvements have been accomplished - unless you count signage that explains where, how and when to buy your trail pass. We, the public, must take a strong stand to protect our heritage by opposing fees.

Paul Thomasberg
Bend, OR

The Fee Demo Project has worked well for a few IMBA clubs and affiliated patrols. At the Red Rocks Canyon National Conservation Area outside Las Vegas close to $5 million in entrance fees were collected in '99. Nevertheless, IMBA is opposing the expansion of the fee collection on federal land.

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	Letters IMBA Trail News Volume 13, Number 1 Spring 2000 Roadless In California IMBA should support the president's roadless initiative. Mountain bikers truly are conservationists and the roadless initiative is clearly a conservation-minded plan. Most mountain bikers would rather have less access than see more forest ruined. If we side with the non-conservation side, we will permanently associate ourselves with the ORV's and developers. This will hurt us as we work to improve relationships with other conservation groups such as the Sierra Club. The best course of action is for mountain bikers to work for a change in the Wilderness Act - replace the "mechanized" limitations with "motorized" - rather than looking for ways around the Wilderness Act. Simultaneously working for conservation and a reform to the Wilderness Act is the most environmentally responsible and beneficial long-term approach possible. Michael Buckley Columbus, OH IMBA in India I'm very fond of mountain biking, but I'm in India where very few people know about mountain biking. But there are lots of gnarly trails over here! I would like to spread this exciting sport to lots of people. Could you suggest how to organize maintenance of trails here? P Praveen Maharashtra, India While most of IMBA's efforts are focused in North America, our international department has made significant headway for mountain bike advocacy around the world in the past year - specifically in Mexico and the UK (see story page 8). IMBA provides clubs and members around the world access and advocacy info. Visit www.imba.com or e-mail . Tennessee Rain Thanks to IMBA and Clif Bar for support on our Little Dark Holler trail effort. The bars were a huge factor for keeping volunteers smiling. Thirteen brave souls worked two days in cold rain and temperatures in the high 30's to clear and build this trail. The Forest Service is in shock with our efforts. The trail is a true example of what mountain bikers can do for a community. Rob Horn Johnson City, TN Amazing Patrol I wanted to let you know how amazed I was with the Vermont Mountain Bike Patrol. They handled all medical issues for us on-site. They were the most professional and courteous group I have ever worked with. Their response time was incredible, as was their attention to every detail. You have all done a fantastic job structuring your organization. Jason G. Lillard Randolph, VT Fee Foe Fi Fum The Recreation Fee Demo Project implemented by the U.S. Forest Service is another good intentioned idea gone very wrong. If you bought a Trail Park Pass here in Oregon last year you were counted by the Forest Service and reported to Congress as a vote in favor of the Fee Demo program - regardless of your view on it. The program has failed to support itself and few meaningful improvements have been accomplished - unless you count signage that explains where, how and when to buy your trail pass. We, the public, must take a strong stand to protect our heritage by opposing fees. Paul Thomasberg Bend, OR The Fee Demo Project has worked well for a few IMBA clubs and affiliated patrols. At the Red Rocks Canyon National Conservation Area outside Las Vegas close to $5 million in entrance fees were collected in '99. Nevertheless, IMBA is opposing the expansion of the fee collection on federal land.


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