Letters to Editor
IMBA Trail News
Volume 16, Number 2
Early Summer 2003
Mississippi Madness
I want to respond to the D+ grade given to Mississippi in the 2002 IMBA Report Card. The IMBA affiliate Tri-County Mountain Bike Association, based in Jackson (MS), successfully negotiated the re-opening of 360 acres of public land in our town which had been closed to bicycling since 2001. We have more than 100 members, including family memberships. The group was featured in the local press as an asset to the community and mountain biking was presented as a sport the entire family can enjoy. We have upgraded existing trails and built new ones. Mountain biking is alive and well in Jackson.
Edley Jones
Jackson, Mississippi
Trail Crew Most Impressive
The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew is one of the most impressive positive actions in mountain biking today. The Friends of Haw Ridge (TN) had the opportunity to spend the weekend with Crew leaders Scott Linnenburger and Aaryn Kay learning the basics of sustainable trail construction. Both of these individuals were wonderful in their knowledge and their ability to communicate with the diverse range of attendees. Their focus on the importance of trail design, drainage, and flow made everyone look at trails in a different way. The suggestions they provided for dealing with user conflicts and working with local officials were amazing! Subaru of America should be commended for supporting a program that has such positive effects and demonstrates a true commitment to the environment.
Michael Blizzard
Knoxville, Tennessee
Chastise American Express
I would like to bring your attention to a recent American Express TV commercial. It depicts Jerry Seinfeld mountain biking out of control through some ancient ruins. The camera pans back and you see a trail of torn up ground fading into the horizon. Public perception of mountain biking is already severely challenged. We certainly don't need advertisements demonizing mountain bikers and our sport. This commercial only serves to reinforce a completely false image of mountain bikers destroying the environment. I encourge all IMBA members to send a note of protest to American Express.
Andrew Lee
Bellingham, Washington
