Club Notes: The World

IMBA Trail News
Volume 15, Number 4
Fall 2002

IMBA's professional trail consultants spent August and September in the United Kingdom working with the country's largest land management agency, Forest Enterprise, to build trails and improve riding opportunities for cyclists. Trail gurus Joey Klein and Rich Edwards spent the visit teaching trailbuilding clinics and designing new routes in Scotland, England and Wales. Their work is part of a new agreement between IMBA and Forest Enterprise to develop trail systems that are appealing, sustainable and will enhance mountain bike tourism. IMBA and Forest Enterprise also want to manage unauthorized trail construction and minimize trail user conflict.

During the UK trip, IMBA made its first ever visit to Northern Ireland. Klein led a trail clinic in Belfast for land managers and government officials espousing the benefits of sustainable, shared use trails. IMBA plans to continue work in Northern Ireland in 2003.

After their stay in the UK, Klein and Edwards traveled to Italy, where they rebuilt a trail over a 2,000-year-old stone bridge on the Ligurian coast. The bridge is a key link in a popular trail in the area.

Finally, Klein and Edwards ran an IMBA booth at the prestigious Milan Bike Show. Forest Enterprise and other organizations in Europe funded the entire IMBA trip to the UK and Italy.