Diversity Builds in British Columbia Cycling Community

IMBA Trail News
Volume 14, Number 3
Summer 2001

British Columbia and Vancouver have received a lot of attention during the past few years as a hub of technical trails and freeriding. Yet this is only part of the BC mountain bike story. IMBA sat down with our British Columbia rep John Gowans ( ) to get his perspective on the reality of mountain biking and trail advocacy in Canada's west coast province:

IMBA: What's the mountain biking community like in Vancouver and BC?

John Gowans: British Columbia is well known as the birthplace of freeriding, and while freeriders have made a significant impact on the scene, our riding community is really quite broad and diverse. We have everyone from little kids to grandparents riding all types of trails, from the most technical to the most passive. There are also lots of competitive, recreational and advocacy-based clubs doing great work in all parts of the province. Youth cycling organizations are also an important part of the BC cycling community. This year, mountain biking will become an official BC high school sport, which means that it can receive funding for coaching, equipment and travel just like traditional sports such as basketball and baseball. At the BC High School Championships this year, we're expecting more than 400 students from at least 50 schools.

IMBA: Can you describe BC trail access?

Gowans: Like many places around the world, there is a lot of unauthorized trailbuilding going on in BC. Many of those trails have either been closed or have come to the attention of our local land managers. At the same time, many trailbuilders are working to meet the needs of both land managers and trail users. One of our larger land managers, the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) is very open to the current trends in mountain biking: they want to work with us to create solutions and let the sport continue to develop.

IMBA: Are local groups working with land managers?

Gowans: Yes. A great example is the work we are doing in Port Moody, BC. We had an area with a lot of unauthorized trails that was slated for closure. We began communicating with the city and they came to the conclusion that having riding trails in the park was an asset to the community. Now, we're working together to enhance existing facilities and build some new trails as well. In the end, the park will have more than 30 km of beginning and intermediate singletrack trails.

IMBA: Where is advocacy going on a provincial level?

Gowans: We're working hard to create partnerships with trail user groups and governmental organizations that build our legitimacy. We want to promote the idea that we might be new and different, but we are still very respectful of our natural lands.