Club News: Southeast

IMBA Trail News
Volume 16, Number 4
Autumn 2003

The Southern Off Road Bicycling Association (SORBA) played a key role in acquiring and preserving urban fringe land that was slated for development. A 162-acre plot along Utoy Creek in southwest Atlanta was acquired by the city in early September. SORBA member Bruce Morton has been working since 1995 to preserve the land and provide a place for Atlanta mountain bikers to ride. Morton facilitated communication between the different groups that made the acquisition possible. There are currently no trails on the land, but future management plans will include shared-use trails. SORBA also hopes to develop a youth mountain bike program in the park. More info: www.sorba.org.

Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area in Arkansas recently opened to mountain bikers. Arkansas IMBA rep Don West and former Ozark Off Road Cyclists president Dave Renko spent the summer serving on a trail advisory panel for a new trail system at the park. The advisory panel will create a management plan this fall with trail construction slated to begin in spring 2004.

IMBA board member Jim Hasenauer spoke at an environmental conference September 6 in Asheville, North Carolina. Hasenauer talked about open space access and how mountain bikers are playing a key role in the fight to protect land. Response to Hasenauer's speech was very positive.