IMBA Report Card 2001 - Does Mountain Biking Make the Grade?
Tracking new trails built by IMBA affiliated clubs is important. Keeping tabs of volunteer trailwork hours matters. But the real measure of our movement's success - and mountain biking's future - is what happens when you put this edition of IMBA Trail News down and head out to ride.
IMBA Trail News
Volume 14, Number 4
Fall 2001
Do you have a choice of appealing, legal trails to ride close to home? Are your rides fun and stress-free? Is mountain biking thriving in your community by engaging riders of all ages and abilities? These are key questions.
If any of your answers are "no" or "maybe," other questions arise. Are you and your fellow mountain bikers respected by local managers, government officials and other trail users? Does mountain biking receive fair treatment when it is covered by the local press? Is a local IMBA-affiliated volunteer group leading advocacy and trailwork projects?
Still, it's that basic first question - the one that considers local trail access - that is most important. The answer, measured state by state and for several Canadian provinces, is the backbone of the second edition of IMBA's Mountain Bike Report Card.
TRENDS: Are we winning or losing? Are there more mountain bike opportunities today than last year? Than five years ago? Than when IMBA started in 1988? Has the riding experience gotten better...or worse?
These are tough questions to answer definitively because worldwide, there are MILLIONS of miles of trails. Finding them, cataloging them, quantifying them and rating them is a daunting task--an effort that goes well beyond the current capabilities of IMBA, any federal agency or mapping company and perhaps even the Central Intelligence Agency or National Security Agency.
We may not be able to pinpoint the actual mileage of current trails, but we do know a few things about the status of our sport today:
- Mountain bike opportunities are generally improving. Every time we ask our members, they consistently say that trail access is better than it was one year ago, five years ago or beyond. IMBA members will build more than 1,000 miles of new trails this year worldwide. Some trails that were once closed to mountain bikers have reopened. This happened last summer in several Indiana state forests, for example.
- Land managers, at all levels, generally have a better understanding of mountain biking today than ever before. Most have had a chance to meet and get to know off-road cyclists. Many have worked closely with mountain bikers on trail projects and/or volunteer bicycle patrols. They are more aware of a full spectrum of viable trail management options--options that fall between all trails open to bicycle use all the time and all trails closed.
- The volunteer track record of mountain bike groups is excellent, and still improving. The average IMBA member devotes more than 18 hours each year to trailwork - a contribution that rarely goes unnoticed by government officials.
- People who enjoy mountain biking are moving into positions of political power and societal leadership. While we still have a long way to go in this area, chances are better now than ever that elected officials have actually ridden their bicycles on dirt. And if they haven't, their spouses, kids or cousins have.
- IMBA and our affiliates are more respected by the key Federal land agencies - the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service. Bicycling opportunities remain unduly restricted in National Parks, but we're making steady progress. We are starting to connect with other agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
- IMBA and our affiliates are recognized as trail construction and maintenance experts. We're leading the way in building and rerouting sustainable trails that are fun to ride and walk. Our Trail Care Crew and Trailbuilding Schools programs have high-profile, international reputations.
- Regional and local mountain bike groups are becoming more sophisticated and more effective. Groups like the New England Mountain Bike Association, Southern Off Road Bicycle Association and the Michigan Mountain Bike Association have developed professional leadership and impressive arrays of programs. These groups are inspiring other similar groups, coast to coast and beyond.
Thirteen years of hard work by IMBA staff, board, clubs and members is making a difference. Every year, our work improves.
THE FLIP SIDE: But every year the challenges increase.
- Open land continues to be developed for commercial and residential use at an astonishing rate.
- Population growth means that more people are using trails than ever before.
- Government agencies have generally not increased their trail funding to keep pace with the rate of increased trail use.
- Unauthorized trailbuilding by mountain bikers is shaking the confidence of land managers in our sport, and making some less willing to work with our groups.
- Aggressive, insensitive riding on crowded trails that are shared by cyclists, hikers and horse riders continues to poison our image and remains a key impediment to better access.
- North American kids (and their parents) lead lifestyles that are more sedentary than ever. The percentage of obese American adults has increased by 20 percent in the last 20 years. Bicycling is no longer a rite of childhood for most children.
ABOUT THE REPORT CARD: Overall, the grades in this year's
report card are slightly higher than last year. Several states have made
dramatic progress in improving their mountain bike opportunities. A few
have slipped. Frankly, we were too tough last year in our assessment of
several states and have tried to make corrections. We welcome your
comments: email
.
2001 IMBA Mountain Bike Access Report Card
| State | Grade | Phat | Flat | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | A | Endless public land and singletrack | Population growth |  |
| South Dakota | A- | Black Hills rule | Few maps, more crops than cyclists | |
| Alaska | B+ | Improving trails | Swamps and mosquitoes | |
| Arizona | B+ | Urban trails, Arizona Trail | Developers versus trails | |
| Arkansas | B+ | Womble & Ouachita, solid advocates | Ice storm damage |  |
| Florida | B+ | Sunshine State has super singletrack | Sprawl, sandy, sea level | |
| Kentucky | B+ | KYMBA unifies diverse state | Lack of media relations | |
| Massachusetts | B+ | NEMBA: Energetic regional group | Building pavement, not dirt | |
| Michigan | B+ | MMBA: Dynamic statewide org. | DNR bans new trails; urban sprawl. | |
| Nevada | B+ | Gambling = money for trails | Lack of riding info | |
| New Mexico | B+ | Federal agency & ski area support | Los Alamos fires, Santa Fe tension | |
| North Dakota | B+ | Medora becoming MB destination | A long way from anywhere else | |
| Utah | B+ | Slickrock and red rock | Lack of MB groups | |
| West Virginia | B+ | Not a flat inch in the whole state | Hunters come first | |
| California | B | State park progress; MB leadership | Lots of conflict | |
| Colorado | B | Jeffco trails national model | Crowded roads, crowded trails | |
| Delaware | B | Great trails in a tiny state | Nowhere to add trails | |
| Maine | B | 90 percent forested | Few organized trail systems | |
| Maryland | B | MORE: innovative & resilient | Unauthorized trailbuilding near DC |  |
| Montana | B | Progressive rec planning near cities | Bikers need to organize, long winter | |
| Nebraska | B | W. Nebraska = untapped singletrack | Not well organized | |
| North Carolina | B | Nantahalla & Pisgah NF awesome | Urban trails still restricted | |
| Oregon | B | Abundant, diverse riding | Portland access remains tricky | |
| Pennsylvania | B | KMBA becoming statewide force | State game land access threatened | |
| Texas | B | Effective multi-level bike advocacy | 97% private land | |
| Virginia | B | West VA: mountainous, great trails | Eastern VA: Baseball fields, not trails | |
| Wyoming | B | Wide open for mountain biking | Ranch closes key Laramie connector | |
| Georgia | B- | SORBA has political & financial clout | Where to ride close to Atlanta? | |
| Hawaii | B- | All State parks have MB routes | Restricted trail access near Honolulu | |
| Indiana | B- | DNR opened trails in state forests | Roadies and MBers must cooperate | |
| Missouri | B- | Kansas City and St. Louis have mo' | Access limited in state parks | |
| New Hampshire | B- | Rich trail tradition, White River NF | Long, legal rides are in south | |
| Oklahoma | B- | Oklahoma Earthbike Fellowship rocks | Flat and dusty | |
| South Carolina | B- | RTP funding helps build new singletrack | Yet to turn trail plans into reality | |
| Tennessee | B- | Vigilant advocates; lots of trails | Lack of central state organization | |
| Vermont | B- | Wooded, rolling & getting organized | Private land interrupts public trails | |
| Washington | B- | Middle Fork progress | Seattle singletrack access still limited | |
| Wisconsin | B- | WORBA: 12-years of MB leadership | Trails in south crowded | |
| Mississippi | C+ | Tri-county MBers make progress | Limited statewide leadership | |
| Alabama | C | BUMP: great organization & website | Mountain bikers lack state presence | |
| Connecticut | C | Better than 2000 grade reflected | Hiking-only trails limit northern riding | |
| Iowa | C | Solid clubs, improving MB leadership | Lack of federal land; agricultural | |
| Minnesota | C | New Twin City trails | Limited parks & trails near cities | |
| New Jersey | C | Good club momentum in S. Jersey | JORBA in transition | |
| New York | C | Adirondack model can be replicated | NYC: too many people, too few trails | |
| Ohio | C | New trails, new clubs, new energy | Cleveland and N.E. still shaky | |
| Rhode Island | C | Singletrack in Arcadia forest | Providence can't provide good riding | |
| Illinois | C- | DNR supports mountain biking | Shawnee Forest shuns bikes | |
| Kansas | C- | Flint Hills & riverside trails | More silos than singletrack | |
| Louisiana | D+ | Baton Rouge advocates solid | Limited trails, no leadership | |
Gaining Ground in Ohio
It's a good time to be a mountain bicyclist in Ohio...and it's getting better day by day. Creative shared-use partnerships, new bike clubs and expanding trail opportunities are building a tidal wave of Ohio off-road cycling momentum.
One of only a handful of its kind in the country, the Ohio Trails Partnership (OTP) brings together hikers, mountain bicyclists and equestrians to provide a unified voice that supports trail recreation and access. The coalition includes the Buckeye Trail Association, Ohio Horsemen's Council and the Ohio Mountain Bike Association (OMBA).
Each year on National Trails Day, OTP presents a symbolic check to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources representing the monetary value of their volunteer work. Since its inception in 1998, volunteerism has steadily increased, producing a total of almost 17,000 hours maintaining Ohio trails. A great example of this partnership was apparent at a recent IMBA Trailbuilding School near Columbus. Not only was the workshop well attended by hikers, but also a dozen equestrians volunteered for trailwork in an area that they are prohibited from bringing their horses.
Since Ohio's "D" on IMBA's 2000 access report card, five new clubs have formed all under the Ohio Mountain Bike Association (OMBA) umbrella. Creating one centralized OMBA website (joinOMBA.org) with links to all six chapters has unified and strengthened statewide advocacy.
New trail opportunities are evolving. None are more exciting than the 55,000 acres of reclaimed strip-mined land near Zanesville on American Electric and Power (AEP) property. With 255 volunteers and 1,800 hours of work, the first four miles of trail are complete with many more to be built in years to come.
Lake Hope (north of Athens) and Alum Creek (near Columbus) State Parks are other examples of success with 16 and five miles of singletrack respectively. Regular Saturday trail maintenance days are consistently improving the trail network at Alum Creek.
Much of the new-found success for Ohio mountain biking is the direct result of years of hard work and leadership by former IMBA state rep and IMBA webmaster James Buratti (who recently moved to San Marcos, Texas).
Recognizing the great potential for mountain bicycling but the shortage of areas to ride, local bike shops and industry leaders have stepped up their OMBA support. Kenda, Specialized, Yakima and Smith have all donated to trail volunteer days as well as Ohio-based retailers like Bike Source and Bike Warehouse.
By bringing hikers and equestrians into the fold, OMBA is accomplishing much more collectively than they could in isolation. Ohio is gaining momentum on many different levels and has improved their trail access and advocacy grade in just one year. More partnerships, more clubs and more trails have ignited Ohio's mountain bicycling energy and provide a roadmap for other struggling states to follow.
The net result for Ohio is a solid C in our 2001 Mountain Bike Access Report Card. While this may not seem like much, the possibilities for some type of B seem strong in '02. Now that would be progress.
Survey Results: Public Gives Mountain Biking a Good Grade
In a summer survey conducted on imba.com, IMBA asked mountain bikers to grade trail access - current and future - in their own states. The survey ran for two months and more than 1,400 votes were cast. The results were combined with input from IMBA state reps, IMBA staff, and mountain bike community leaders to establish the final grade for each state.
An analysis of survey grades reveals that the mountain biking public is consistently more positive about access than advocates - ranking their states a half letter grade higher, on average.
How to explain this? It could be because passionate advocates often get tangled in thorny trail issues and have no choice but to focus on problem areas. In many places, the work to keep trails open is so difficult that negative experiences overshadow positive ones - leading state reps to assign lower grades.
The mountain biking public, on the other hand, may remain unaware of access controversies and may not even know who manages the land. Their last few rides have all been fun and have unfolded on different, varied trails.
In the final analysis, this positive public perception is what matters. It is a tribute to the great work of the more than 450 IMBA-affiliated clubs and IMBA itself.
But we all know that access and the quality of the mountain biking experience itself could be better. Too many mountain bikers still have no choice but to drive a long way to find appealing rides. Too many trails remain seriously crowded, taking away from the quality of experience for all visitors. Lots of trails are severely eroded. Others are threatened by new development or by new management restrictions that could impose a ban on bikes.
Too many states are still saddled by a C rating. States that should score A's are struggling to maintain B's. This year's results tell us that we've still got lots of work to do.
Trail Care Crew Perspective on Access
In the three years we've been traveling as IMBA's Western Trail Care Crew, we've seen a huge improvement in mountain bike access. Land managers' attitudes are changing as they realize mountain bikers are a legitimate and responsible trail user group.
Mountain bikers are most successful in maintaining and improving trail access in areas where riders are actively involved in their community. We can't overstate the importance of an active bike club that connects individual cyclists with local bike shops and local land management agencies. Land managers want to hear from a single person representing a larger group; this makes it much easier for them to understand concerns and make informed decisions.
In contrast, areas with a handful of individual advocates (but a weak collective voice) often face frustration. Individuals may provide land managers with mixed or conflicting information.
In many cases, land management agencies that once viewed mountain bikers as a new management burden now consider them a key partner in trail management decisions and maintenance and construction efforts. Usually this esteemed status is the culmination of a series of positive steps.
One shining example is in Oklahoma, where the IMBA-affiliated Oklahoma Earthbike Fellowship hosted a very successful Trail Care Crew presentation to 50 Oklahoma State Parks personnel last spring, including the OK State Parks Director. Building on the existing positive relationship with State Parks (the result of past trailbuilding accomplishments at Roman Nose State Park), OEF used the Crew's presentation as a springboard and has earned a place at the table in the trail planning and management process in state parks and elsewhere in Oklahoma.
The biggest threat to mountain biking trail access remains urban sprawl - residential and commercial construction that obliterates hundreds of thousands of acres of open space a year. This threatens wildlife habitat and all outdoor recreationists, not just mountain bikers.
New Wilderness proposals are a second perplexing challenge. While Wilderness designation preserves natural land for perpetuity, bicycle use is banned in these areas. Many new Wilderness proposals include trails where mountain bikers are currently riding - opportunities that we don't want to lose.
Ironically, both of these challenges represent an opportunity for mountain bikers to partner with other trail users to save open spaces in a way that provides reasonable access for mountain biking. How well we address these issues will have a big effect on the future of mountain biking.
- Lisa Cramton and Joey Klein, TCC #2
Report Card Snapshot
Grading Beyond Our Borders
Mindful of our growing work outside the U.S., IMBA expanded the Mountain Bike Report Card this year to include four Canadian provinces and three United Kingdom countries. The Canadian grades appear below. For the UK, Wales leads the way with a solid B, followed by Scotland's B- and England's C.
IMBA is working to grow our grassroots network around the globe. In 2002, we will expand our report card to include more in depth reporting on Canada and Britain. We also plan to grade Australia, Italy and several other countries where we are active.
Canadian 2002 IMBA Report Card
British Columbia: A-
Phat: MB is mainstream; awesome organizations
Flat: Lack of sustainable trails
Alberta: B
Phat: Canadian Rockies epic riding
Flat: Calgary & Edmonton trail crowding
Quebec: B
Phat: Nordic & alpine ski areas support cycling
Flat: Classic urban restrictions
Ontario: C+
Phat: Solid advocacy groups
Flat: Lack of legal riding near Toronto
Biggest Access Improvement from 2000 to 2001
- Ohio: D to a C
- South Carolina: C to a B-
- Kansas: D to a C-
Biggest Access Dive from 2000 to 2001
- Maryland: B+ to a B
- New Jersey: C+ to a C
- Illinois: C to a C-
Five Phat and Flat Cities for Trail Access
Phat
- Denver
- Salt Lake City
- Phoenix
- Vancouver
- Boston
Flat
- Houston
- New York
- Cleveland
- Atlanta
- Calgary
