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Advocacy & Organizing
Clubs
- How To Start A Mountain Bicycling Club
- -- The basics from IMBA.
- Taking Your Club Professional
- -- 10 tips to hiring a staff person to help manage your organization.
- Energizing Your Mountain Bike Club
- -- Ideas to help re-invigorate your club.
- Maximizing Your Club's Internet Presence
- -- Five cheap and easy features to boost your group's website.
- 14 Tips to Make Your Club Politically Savvy
- -- How to build political muscle for your club.
- Seven Keys To An Effective Bicycle Advocacy Club
- -- By Mark Flint and IMBA listserve participants.
- Setting Your Advocacy Goals
- -- Use this worksheet to jot new ideas, tips, advice and new approaches to old problems.
- Maximizing the Effectiveness of Your Mountain Bike Patrol
- -- 7 ways to get the most out of your patrol unit.
- Achieving Tax-Exempt And Charitable Status For Your Mountain Bike Club
- -- A guide from IMBA.
- Getting Press for Your Mountain Bike Group
- -- A few tips that will help your group get more media attention.
- 9 Ways to Involve Freeriders in Your Club
- -- Ways to involve these passionate riders in your club for everyone's benefit.
- IMBA Club Insurance - Frequently Asked Questions
- --Details about the McKay Insurance special mountain biking club insurance policy.
- Quantify Your Club's Trailwork In-Kind Donations
- -- Make sure to tell your land managers.
- Ten Steps to Enhance IMBA in Countries Outside the U.S.
- -- How to enhance mountain bike advocacy internationally
- Meeting with Elected Officials and Their Staff
- -- A primer on what to say, wear, bring, expect and how to follow-up.
- 8 Tips to Raising Money from the Bike Industry
- -- Building bridges between the corporate world and your club.
- Shared-Use Coalitions
- --IMBA has compiled a partial list of shared-use coalitions from around the country.
- Reaching Out To Women Riders
- -- Five tips for bringing women into the sport.
- Tips for Increasing Political Acumen
- -- Tips will help you and your organization become more politically savvy.
- Organizing Women's Riding Groups
- -- Or, in the words of IMBA's women's riding group guru Kristin Butcher...."How to Organize the Awesomest Women's Ride Ever!"
Success Stories
Working With People
- Attracting and Keeping Trail Volunteers
- -- By Bill Harris and IMBA Listserve Participants.
- How to Organize Volunteer Workdays
- -- Advocate Mark Flint's Success Story on the Arizona Trail.
- Organizing Women's Riding Groups
- -- Or, in the words of IMBA's women's riding group guru Kristin Butcher...."How to Organize the Awesomest Women's Ride Ever!"
- Trail Liaison Best Practices Guide (pdf file)
- -- The Mid Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts' excellent guide to organizing trailwork events and being a year-round trail liaison
- Volunteer Management, 10 Steps for Successful Events
- -- By Ric Balfour and Holly Hill, Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew.
- Working with Land Managers, 12 Steps for Success
- -- By Ric Balfour and Holly Hill, Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew.
- Getting to Know Your Local Land Manager
- -- Ontario professional land use planner and trails enthusiast, Chris LaForest, helps mountain bikers understand the various types of land managers and how to work best with them.
- Eight Ways Mountain Bikers Can Help National Parks
- -- Here are eight steps you can take as a montain biker to help your local national park.
- Building a Trails Community
- -- 10 Important steps to fostering a cohesive constituency for trails.
- Creating Strong Partnerships for Trails
- -- Partnerships require certain kinds of communication.
- Declaration of Advocacy
- -- Here is a great article that appeared in issue #109 or Dirt Rag. It puts a fun spin on the trials and tribulations of mountain bike advocacy.
- IMBA's 7 Best Rules for Conference Call Etiquette
- -- A helpful handout for conference call participants.
Individual Action
- 10 Responsible Riding Tips
- -- The skinny on low impact riding. Sponsored by REI. (Also available as a color brochure.)
- Help! My favorite trail is being closed. What should I do?
- -- The basics from IMBA.
- How to Write an Action Alert
- -- Action Alerts are a terrific way to get the word out ‹ but only when they are carefully written, about a page in length, and bring the message home in an easily digested manner.
- 20 IMBA Tips That Don't Suck
- -- Simple things you can do anytime to help mountain biking - that don't suck!
- On-Line Petition Resources
- -- Easy way to demonstrate support for your cause.
- Ten Reasons to Join the National Recreation and Park Association
- -- How the NRPA can help mountain bikers.
Tourism and Economic Development
- “Guide for Promoting Bicycling on Federal Lands” (PDF)
- -- from the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Federal Lands Highways (FLH) Program
- Destination Mountain Biking: Positioning Your Community for Mountain Bike Tourism
- -- 14 tips to bring off-road cyclists to your area.
- Mountain Biking Tourism Success Stories
- -- Learn from other regions who are banking on mountain biking.
- 15 Tips from IMBA on Developing Mountain Biking Tourism
- -- Steps your community can take to promote mountain bike tourism.
- Marketing for Mountain Bike Tourism
- -- How communities can increase their appeal to mountain bikers.
- The Economic Impact of Outdoor Recreation in the United States (pdf file)
- -- (2006) The Outdoor Industry Foundation's report on outdoor recreation's $730 billion contribution to the economy
- The Economic Impact of Bicycling in the United States (pdf file)
- -- (2006) Paved and singletrack biking brings $133 billion annually to the U.S. economy.
- Sea To Sky Mountain Biking Trails Generate $10.3 Million (pdf file)
- -- (2006) According to a study conducted by the Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association (MBTA) in partnership with the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance (CSTA).
- The Economic and Social Benefits of Off-Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities
- -- National Bicycle and Pedestrian Clearinghouse Technical Brief.
- The Economic Benefits Of Mountain Biking At One Of Its Meccas
- -- A travel cost model (TCM) is used to estimate the economic benefits, measured by consumer surplus, to the users of mountain bike trails near Moab, Utah.
- Communities and Trails: Making the Connection
- -- Learn what's working in Flagstaff, AZ and Park City, UT.
- Strategies for Monitoring Tourism in Your Community (External Link)
- -- The purpose of this bulletin is to provide ideas for tracking local tourism activity. Arizona Cooperative Extension, University of Arizona, March 1999.
- Economic Impacts of Protecting Rivers, Trails and Greenway Corridors (External Link)
- -- Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance, National Park Service, 1995, Fourth Edition, Revised.
- Bicycling: Moving America Forward - A Bicycling Promotion Booklet (External Link)
- -- Bikes Belong's colorful booklet portrays bicycling and highlights its benefits to the economy, communities, health, families, and quality of life.
- Kelowna, British Columbia Mountain Bike Statistics and Community Profile (PDF file)
- -- (2007) This 30-page report includes mountain biking statistics, demographics, a participant survey, interviews, demand for biking facilities, key issues and solutions, partnership opportunities, best practices, and recommendations for managing mountain biking in the Kelowna area. It serves as an initial step in preparation of a Mountain Bike Strategy. Prepared by The City of Kelowna, Regional District of Central Okanagan, and BC Parks.
IMBA Federal Land Management Planning Center
- List of Federal Management Plans by State
- List of State and Federal Management Plans in California
- List of Plan Revisions Covered by IMBA and Mountain Bikers
- List of State and Federal Management Plans in California
The Mountain Bike Advocate's Guide to Planning and the United States Forest Service
- Chapter 1: What is a forest plan, why should I care and how do I get started?
- Chapter 2: Timeline of the forest plan update process
- Chapter 3: Reading the plan and making your comments count
- Chapter 4: How IMBA does it
- Chapter 5: Other ways to influence the planning process
- Chapter 6: Additional resources
- Chapter 2: Timeline of the forest plan update process
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
Sample Documents
- “Guide for Promoting Bicycling on Federal Lands” (PDF)
- -- from the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Federal Lands Highways (FLH) Program
- Sample Report Card Press Release for Individual Regions
- -- Use this tool to spread the word about your area's grade.
- How to Write an Action Alert
- -- Action Alerts are a terrific way to get the word out ‹ but only when they are carefully written, about a page in length, and bring the message home in an easily digested manner.
- Sample Letters to the Editor
- -- Ideas that make writing a letter to the editor easy
- Sample Forest Planning Comment Letter
- -- A sample letter to the National Forest Service.
- Sample Advocacy Poster for Bike Shops (pdf file)
- -- A simple way for shops to raise rider awareness about local advocacy issues.
- Candidate Mountain Biking Questionnaire Template
- -- IMBA has created this political candidates' questionnaire about mountain bicycling and recreation on the public lands to assist you.
- Equestrian Easement Guide (off-site link)
- -- Buy this $15 guide from the Equestrian Land Conservation Resource loaded with dozens of state examples of trail easement language that could also be used as a model for cyclists.
Memorandum Of Understandings (MOU):
- Example: MOU Between Biking Club and Private Property Owner
- -- Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) between the Austin Ridge Riders and the private property owner in Texas.
- Example: Proposal for Increased Singletrack Access for Mountain Bikes (pdf verion here)
- -- Excellent example from Bicycle Trails Council of the East Bay of a formal request submitted to Regional Park District Board of Directors, calling for action.
- Example: MOU Between Biking Association and Horse Council
- -- Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) between the Michigan Mountain Biking Association and the Michigan Horse Council.
- Examples: MOUs Between Biking Clubs and Land Management Agencies:
- Big South Fork Bicycle Club and Big South Fork NRRA Sign Partnership (December 2005) (pdf version here)
- North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department and IMBA Memorandum of Understanding
- NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance/IMBA Memorandum of Understanding 2002-2007
- U.S. Forest Service/IMBA Memorandum of Understanding, 2000-2005
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/IMBA Memorandum of Understanding, 2002-Present
- MOU between New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department and IMBA
- MOU between the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and IMBA (May 2005)
- MOU between the Blue Ridge Bike Club and the Division of Forest Resources (DFR) for Dupont State Forest.
- MOU between IMBA Affiliated Brushy Mountain Cyclists Club and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Property at W. Kerr Scott Reservoir
- MOU between North Tennessee Mountain Bike Association and Cherokee National Forest (MS Word version here)
- MOU between Tennessee Valley Authority and SORBA (2005)
- MOU between IMBA, BLM Colorado, and Bicycle Colorado (pdf file)
- Big South Fork Bicycle Club and Big South Fork NRRA Sign Partnership (December 2005) (pdf version here)
- -- A great example of a state level three-way formal agreement to promote bicycling and trail maintenance on BLM Colorado lands.
- Example: MOA Between City Government, Conservation Organizations and Biking Club
- -- Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the City of Austin, Austin Water Utility, Wildland Conservation Division Austin Metro Trails and Greenways, the Austin Ridge Riders and the Hill Country Foundation.
- Example: MOU Between a Biking Club and Park District (pdf version)
- -- MOU Between the Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists and the Three Rivers Park District.
- Example: Joint Resolution Between Biking Association and Horse Council
- -- Joint resolution between Michigan Mountain Biking Association (MMBA) and the Michigan Horse Council (MHC) regarding the North Country Trail.
- Example: License Agreement
- -- Canadian License Agreement from South Island Mountain Bike Society (SIMBS).
- Kelowna, British Columbia Mountain Bike Statistics and Community Profile (PDF file)
- -- (2007) This 30-page report includes mountain biking statistics, demographics, a participant survey, interviews, demand for biking facilities, key issues and solutions, partnership opportunities, best practices, and recommendations for managing mountain biking in the Kelowna area. It serves as an initial step in preparation of a Mountain Bike Strategy. Prepared by The City of Kelowna, Regional District of Central Okanagan, and BC Parks.
- Examples: Night Riding Documents:
- Night Riding Trail Monitor Agreement between Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE) and the Fairfax County Park Authority
- Bike Patrol Night Riding Program (pdf format)
- Night Riding Trail Monitor Agreement between Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE) and the Fairfax County Park Authority
Industry's Role
- Ten Things Bike Retailers Can Do to Boost Mountain Biking and Business
- -- Simple tips for bike shops.
- How to Get More Industry Involvement in Cycling Advocacy
- -- How advocates can do a better job of connecting with industry leaders.
- The Image of Mountain Bicycling
- -- Why looks matter. Jim Hasenauer, IMBA past President.
Misc
- IMBA Global Mountain Bike Advocacy Summit Speech
- -- Mountain Bikers: Environmentally Aware, Socially Responsible, Individually Proactive, by Jim Hasenauer.
- Stranger to Stakeholder to Partner: The Mobilization of Constituency on Public Lands
- -- Jim Hasenauer's presentation to the National Communications Association.
Land Protection Resources (Offsite Links)
- Conservation Easement Summary
- -- An informative introduction to conservation easements and a collection of links to success stories and other resources.
- Conservation Easement Handbook
- -- The second edition of this handy resource is now available for purchase. You'll find it chock full of instructions on drafting conservation easements, guidelines for lawyers creating easement language and practical tips for the layperson. It also includes a CD-ROM of sample documents. Definitely a great resource for helping you or your club to get rolling on protecting or acquiring trails-laden land. Read a summary here.
- Easement Guide for Equestrian Use
- -- Buy this $15 guide from the Equestrian Land Conservation Resource loaded with dozens of state examples of trail easement language that could also be used as a model for cyclists.
- Trust for Public Land's Conservation Finance Strategies
- -- If you're looking to purchase or protect land, check out this collection of information regarding fund raising and organizing conservation campaigns.
- Trust for Public Land Books and Reports
- -- A lengthy collection of publications, some free and some for purchase, detailing all aspects of the benefits of land conservation. Look for information on park management, open space conservation and economics.
