U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Shimano American Corporation - 1994
"Partners in Conservation" Cycling Events Showcase BLM Mountain Bike Trails
IRVINE, California 9/94 - Mountain bike enthusiasts in western Colorado, northern New Mexico and southwest Oregon can now experience additional riding opportunities on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands, thanks to new trails dedicated over this past summer.
Through a special partnership formed by the BLM and Shimano American Corporation, a leading bicycle component manufacturer, mountain bike cycling events have been held at Kokopelli's Trail, near Grand Junction, Colo., the Rinconada Trail, near Taos, N.M., and the Row River Trail, Cottage Grove, Ore., south of Eugene. Designed to create public awareness of mountain bike trails for riders of all levels, along with promoting cycling ethics and good stewardship of trails and other natural resources on public lands, the three BLM/Shimano-sponsored "Partners in Conservation" cycling events drew more than 600 people to BLM sites.
"One goal of the BLM/Shimano partnership is to promote new and underused trails on BLM lands, " said Chip Smith, project coordinator for the Shimano Cycling Initiative. "With more than 158 identified mountain bike trails on BLM lands, thre are plenty of riding opportunities besides overcrowded areas such as Moab's Slickrock Trail. The BLM recreational planners have done an outstanding job creating and improving the trails we showcased through the "Partners in Conservation" events, and we hope mountain bikers take advantage of these new locations."
At the Kokopelli's Trail event, the BLM and the Colorado Plateau Mountain-Bike Association (COPMOBA) formally opened the new Salt Creek Bridge. Springtime flooding of Salt Creek has created hazardous condition on the trail since its opening in 1989. Since the event, Shimano has assisted COPMOBA with fundraising activities for further conservation efforts and mapping and trail signage at Kokopelli's Trail.
Located in the Wild River Recreation Area at the confluence of the Red River and Rio Grande in north-central N.M., the 5.1-mile Rinconada Trail is New Mexico's first BLM trail constructed with funding provided by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act. The Trail was officially opened at the "Partners in Conservation" event. Shimano and the BLM is continuing to work with the Taos Outdoor Recreation Association (TORA) for on-going trail improvement and enhancements.
Previously a railroad line used by the timber industry, the BLM's Row River Trail near Cottage Grove, OR is a 14-mile rails-to-trails conversion running along the shores of Dorena Lake. As at other "Partner in Conservation" event locations, Shimano is assisting local groups in future conservation projects at the site. The Bicycle Federation of Oregon and the C.O.P.S. (Clean Our Parks & Streams) organization are the lead groups behind these activities.
"The events could not have been a success without the assistance we received from leading bicycle industry manufacturers, including Giant, Haro, Giordana, Camelbak, Ritchey, Roadmaster, Trek and Burley," said Shimano's Smith.
"We also want to acknowledge the support we received from the International Mountain Bicycling Association, the Rails-To-Trails Conservancy, and Men's Journal, Outside, Mountain Biking and VeloNews magazines."
At the 1993 Interbike International Bicycle Expo, Shimano signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the BLM, an accord that brings about the formal beginning of a unique recreational cycling and conservation partnership on the 270 million acres of public lands administered by the BLM. From the partnership agreement, the bicycle component manufacturer has formed the "Shimano Cycling Initiative" to develop programs to assist in the preservation of natural resources and promote mountain biking area on BLM lands.
