Trail Trends on Federal Land

Federal land management agencies with mountain bike opportunities:

• Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
• US Forest Service (USFS)
• National Park Service/RTCA (NPS)
• US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps)

Common trends:

1. Lack of funding
2. Backlog of maintenance
3. Increased reliance on volunteer labor
4. Pressure to convert single use trails to shared use

Specific trends and tips:

Bureau of Land Management

1. Mountain bike trails are governed by the 2002 Mountain Biking Strategic Action Plan
2. The BLM is open to new trail designations - especially in conjunction with partnerships and volunteer trail crews

U.S. Forest Service

1. Recreation is a disproportionately small part of the shrinking USFS budget
2. The future of trails is in partnerships and volunteers
3. Recreation gets 10 percent of the USFS budget, but 70 percent of income comes from recreation

Mountain bikers need to advocate at the federal level to reappropriate money within the USFS for recreational trails.

National Parks Service / RTCA

1. Managers are faced with a cumbersome process for new trail designation
2. Mountain bike access is determined by Park Superintendents - get to know them!

RTCA can assist clubs with design, partnership and organizational development, and public outreach.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

1. Largest provider of recreation of all federal land management agencies
2. The majority of projects are near lakes and rivers and close to urban centers
3. The very successful partnership with IMBA continues to expand - the ultimate goal: Dedicated Army Corps Trail Care Crew
4. Get to know Park Rangers - many are open to partnerships with clubs
5. Check out the guide to Corps land - www.corpslakes.us