News Briefs - Northeast

IMBA Trail News
Volume 15, Number 3
Summer 2002

Two IMBA-affiliated clubs, MORE and MAMBO, co-signed a legal brief in support of Maryland's recreational immunity law, which protects public and private landowners from liability if they allow free public access to trails. In 2000, MORE successfully pressed the Maryland state legislature to add coverage to public lands, trails and bicycling, but the law came into question when a jogger sued a landowner. However, on June 21, Maryland's highest court turned down the jogger's claim, and according to IMBA Rep and lawyer, David Scull, "Park managers, utility companies and others worried about liability can now truly breath easier. Mountain bikers have taken the lead on this; as a result, landowners have protection they can take to the bank."

Delaware Valley Mountain Bike Patrol continues to perform monthly trail maintenance the fourth Saturday of every month in Philadelphia's Wissahickon Valley Park, and they need volunteers. Check dvmp.org for details.

The Jersey Action Riders Mountain Bike Club is celebrating its fifth anniversary by holding monthly beginner riding clinics. To register go to jerseyactionriders.org.

Another NJ IMBA-affiliate, Save Mercer and Ride the Trails (SMART) is completing a mapping project of Mercer County Park in West Windsor, and will be posting the new map and IMBA's Rules of the Trails on local kiosks.

The New England Mountain Bike Association has signed an MOU with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management (DEM) to train and support Trail Guides on many DEM properties. The guides will offer assistance and education to trail users and report problems to local land management.