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Land Protection and Mountain Biking

IMBA members highly value land conservation, clean water and clean air. The vast majority of mountain bicyclists enjoy riding in natural areas on narrow trails, away from roads, development and resource extraction. Our activity brings us closer to nature and fosters a desire for environmental protection. Backcountry travel by bicycle is demanding, yet highly rewarding, and cyclists wish to protect these experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions: Wilderness and IMBA

-- IMBA answers some frequently asked questions about Wilderness and mountain biking.

IMBA Supports These Land Preservation Bills (October 2007)

-- A list of land preservation bills in Congress that IMBA supports

Bicycling and Wilderness: A Mountain Biker's Guide to Wilderness Advocacy

Chapter 1: An Introduction to Wilderness
Chapter 2: What is Wilderness?
Chapter 3: Bicycles and Wilderness
Chapter 4: Who Manages Wilderness?
Chapter 5: How Wilderness Bills Become Law
Chapter 6: Wilderness Stakeholders
Chapter 7: Know Your Options
Chapter 8: A Closer Look at Additional Land Protection Options
Chapter 9: Formulating Your Position
Chapter 10: Negotiation and Legislative Language
Chapter 11: Communicating with Important Players
Chapter 12: Finding Resolution

Latest News

House Committee Passes National Landscape Conservation System Act

-- (03-19-08) On March 12, 2008, the House Natural Resources Committee passed H.R. 2016, the National Landscape Conservation System Act, with support from congressmen from both sides of the aisle and hearty support from the Bush Administration.

IMBA, Working Together to Protect Wild Lands

-- (10-09-07) Local Montana mountain bike advocates, working with IMBA, have been busy in recent months, meeting with Forest Service staff, elected officials and other stakeholder groups. Their goal is to protect Montana's wild lands, and to preserve sustainable backcountry recreation experiences.

TV News Video: Officials Mull Bicycle Ban On Some Colorado Trails

-- IMBA interviewed on story about possible closure of the Continental Divide Trail.

IMBA's Congressional Testimony Regarding the Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness Act

-- (07-09-07)

Action Alert Update: More Than 50 Montana Areas Still at Risk

-- (07-02-07) One year after generating nearly 4,000 comment letters from concerned mountain bikers, Montana advocates and IMBA continue to fight widespread proposed closures to backcountry trails.

Action Alert Update: Last-Minute Amendments Threaten Virginia Land Protection Bill

-- (06-27-07) Newly proposed amendments to the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act of 2007 (H.R.1011) threaten key aspects of the legislation built on widespread support.

Virginia Ridge and Valley Act Gets Congressional Hearing

-- (05-24-07) U.S. Representatives debate bicycle-friendly land preservation bill 

IMBA Testifies Before Congress in Support of Bicycle-Friendly Virginia Land Preservation

-- (05-07-07) New legislation (H.R.1011) would protect important areas as Wilderness and National Scenic Area

IMBA's Congressional Testimony Supporting Oregon's Mt. Hood Wilderness Bill (S.647)

-- (May 2007) Legislation that would protect valuable singletrack systems and the land around them as National Recreation Area

Senate Hears Mount Hood Protection Bill This Week

-- (05-01-07) This week, the U.S. Senate will hear the Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness Act of 2007, which will protect many important places to Oregon cyclists. Senator Ron Wyden (D) and Senator Gordon Smith (R) recently introduced S 647.

IMBA Supports Bicycle-Friendly Virginia Wilderness Bill

-- (02-15-07) Representatives of the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) and the Virginia Wilderness Committee (VWC) strongly support legislation introduced in Congress to protect parts of the Jefferson National Forest in southern Virginia as Wilderness and National Scenic Area.

IMBA Tracking Wilderness Bills Before Congress

-- (02-15-07) 2007 promises to be an active year for Wilderness bills. IMBA is tracking several bills that have already been introduced, and we expect others will be submitted in upcoming months.

Wilderness Bills Supported by IMBA in 2006

-- Legislation that protects our natural environment and preserves important trails for mountain bike use

Oregon Legislation Bodes Well for Cyclists

-- (09-20-06) Senator Ron Wyden (D) and Senator Gordon Smith (R) recently introduced the Senate version of the Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness Act.

Precedent Threatens Backcountry Singletrack

-- (08-30-06) A dangerous new Forest Service policy could close hundreds of miles of singletrack in two states.

Take Action to Save Idaho Singletrack

-- (08-24-06) The proposed Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act (H.R. 3063) passed through the U.S. House of Representatives last week and threatens 85 miles of world-class singletrack.

Landmark Bike-Friendly Wilderness Bill Passes House Committee

-- (07-20-06) The Mount Hood Stewardship and Legacy Act (H.R. 5025), sponsored by Congressmen Greg Walden (R-OR) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) has passed unanimously through the House Resources Committee, a significant step towards congressional approval.

Additional Montana National Forests Will Close More than 400 Miles of Singletrack to Bicycles

-- (07-18-06) A proposed Montana forest plan revision could set a dangerous national precedent by closing hundreds of miles of singletrack to bicycles.

Congress's Intent in Banning Mechanical Transport in the Wilderness Act of 1964 (pdf)

-- By Theodore J. Stroll. An article published in the Penn State Environmental Law Review, Autumn, 2004.

Take Action

Bicycling and Wilderness: What You Can Do

Land Protection Resources

Text of The Wilderness Act of 1964

Wilderness Links

State By State Analysis of the Bicycling and Wilderness Issue (2003)

Congress's Intent in Banning Mechanical Transport in the Wilderness Act of 1964 (pdf)

-- By Theodore J. Stroll. An article published in the Penn State Environmental Law Review, Autumn, 2004.

Mountain Biking and Wilderness Controversy Explored (off-site link)

-- A series of articles debating the topic. Wild Earth Journal, Spring 2003.

Mountain Bicycling and Wilderness, Navigating Unknown and Dangerous Rhetorical Terrain

-- By Jim Hasenauer. A paper presented to the Conference on Communication and Environment, 1999.

Forest Service Recommended Wilderness Policy

-- Understanding how the Forest Service manages lands recommended for Wilderness designation.

Bureau of Land Management: Wilderness Study Area Management

-- A summary of BLM policies for mountain bike management in Wilderness Study Areas

IMBA Special Report - Mountain Biking & Conservation (2002)

Mountain Bikers Care About Wild Places (2002)

Conservation Actions Performed By Mountain Bikers (2004)

IMBA and the Forest Service Roadless Rule

IMBA's Position on Proposed Utah Wilderness (1998)

IMBA Supports Wilderness for Artic National Wildlife Refuge (2002)

Great Contributors to the Wilderness Idea (Links)

Wallace Stegner on the Meaning of Wilderness (1960)

Land Protection Solutions

The Toolkit Approach to Preservation

-- A list of options for protecting public lands.

Alternatives to Wilderness Can Broaden Land Protection

-- IMBA's proposal for Protection Areas and National Conservation Areas, 2001.

Model Proposal for Protection Area

-- Legislative language for proposed Trabuco Protection Area in southern California.

Model Proposal for National Conservation Area

-- Legislative language for proposed Caples Creek National Conservation Area near Lake Tahoe.

Model Proposal for Non-Wilderness Corridor

-- Legislative language for proposed trail corridor near Cache Creek in northern California.

Cherry-Stemmed Trails

-- Language from the 2006 Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act.

Wilderness Statistics

Size of the Wilderness System (2003)

Wilderness Acres by State (2003)

Wilderness Acres by Agency (2004)

Challenging Wilderness Concepts

Congress's Intent in Banning Mechanical Transport in the Wilderness Act of 1964 (pdf)

-- By Theodore J. Stroll. An article published in the Penn State Environmental Law Review, Autumn, 2004.

Wheelchair Provisions Open Debate on Bicycling and Wilderness (1991)

Defining "Mechanical" with Webster's Dictionary

The Graded Wilderness