Letters

IMBA Trail News
Volume 13, Number 3
Summer 2000

IMBA welcomes reader letters and art. letters May be edited. Send to: or IMBA; po box 7578 boulder, co 80306 USA

Roadless Debate Rages

I am writing to disagree with IMBA member Pete Mauro's letter "Roadless Response," which appeared in Early Summer 2000 ITN. The roadless initiative is the boldest, most innovative, and impressive idea a President has championed for the environment since Roosevelt created the National Park system. All non-motorized users of the out-of-doors in the U.S. today should support this initiative. Shame on mountain bikers who do not. I have been riding since 1985, and have found no scarcity of riding trails and solitude on public lands, even as the popularity of the sport has grown. Once roads are built into roadless areas, the designation is lost forever. That's a hell of a long time. Mountain biking and ORV use are two separate issues and their use in Wilderness or roadless areas need to be divorced from one another. It is irresponsible and hypocritical to reject the roadless initiative and still remain true the sport of mountain biking. The two are not incompatible.

Jon Kirchoff
Birmingham, AL

Coast to Coast for Kids

Trips for Kids national expansion is plowing ahead full force. The program has gained so much momentum that we hired a fulltime program director, Corry Wagner. She is busy fielding calls for more information, planning a fundraising ride in October, and helping new groups get started. Currently, there are seven official Trips for Kids groups. They are located in Northampton, MA; Providence, RI; Gainesville, GA; Kansas City, KS; Austin, TX; Shiprock, NM, and San Rafael, CA. Most of the groups started their ride programs this spring. We are proud to say that Trips for Kids is introducing youth in seven different states to the joys of mountain biking.

Marilyn Price - President, Trips for Kids

(415) 332-8082

Two Good in Wyoming

I had the pleasure of meeting and riding with Joey Klein and Kathy Summers of Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew #2 this weekend as they blazed their way through Jackson. Great people: perfect for the Trail Care Crew. They really impressed our local USFS folks during National Trail Day work. Thanks for everything.

Mike Geraci
Jackson, WY