IMBA in Washington, D.C.

IMBA is the voice of mountain biking in Washington, DC, ensuring mountain bikers are well represented on Capitol Hill, in federal land agency headquarters and across multi-organization coalitions. IMBA's work in DC helps our 750 affiliated clubs secure better funding, more trails and improved policies for mountain biking nationwide.

Building Stronger Partnerships

Outdoor Alliance Coalition
The Outdoor Alliance, a coalition of six organizations, lobbies for legislation to improve recreational experiences for its individual members and the larger human-powered recreation community. Member organizations represent 100 million mountain bikers, hikers, kayakers, canoeists, backcountry skiers and climbers and include IMBA, the Access Fund, American Hiking Society, American Canoe Association, American Whitewater and Winter Wildlands Alliance.

Federal Land Management Agencies
IMBA has national memoranda of understanding with the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. These formal agreements have enhanced mountain biking at the national and local levels and given our affiliate clubs the ability to create new partnerships and trails. IMBA also works closely with the Federal Highway Administration and the Recreational Trails Program to build trails and educate trailbuilders.

America Bikes Coalition
America Bikes is dedicated to increasing the current level of $4.5 billion in bicycle-related funding for the 2009 federal transportation bill. Members of the America Bikes Coalition include IMBA, the Adventure Cycling Association, Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, Bikes Belong Coalition, League of American Bicyclists, National Center for Bicycling and Walking, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and Thunderhead Alliance.

Coalition for Recreational Trails
The Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT) is a federation of national and regional trail-related organizations that secured $350 million for dirt trails around the country in 2005. Its members work together to build awareness and understanding of the Recreational Trails Program, which returns federal gasoline taxes paid by off-highway recreationists to the states for trail development and maintenance.

Conservation System Alliance
Comprising 26 million acres of the BLM's most important scenic, historic and cultural landscapes, the Conservation System has yet to be congressionally recognized. Included in these lands are important areas for mountain biking in Fruita, Colorado and California's King Range. IMBA supports efforts of the Conservation System Alliance to raise the profile of these lands and their importance to the recreation and conservation communities.

Recreation Health Care Partnership
IMBA supports an important update to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) that would extend health care coverage to people injured while engaged in legal recreational activities including mountain biking. This important legislation will ensure proper health care benefits for trail enthusiasts everywhere.

Advancing Mountain Biking in Congress

Advancing important legislation is a crucial component of IMBA's presence in DC. Through a variety of means, IMBA staff and counsel strive for bicycle-friendly bills relating to land protection, recreation funding and other important programs.

IMBA is regularly asked to testify and submit comments on important legislation. This achievement is made more impressive by the fact that only a very small handful of stakeholders are asked to testify for a bill. Below is a partial list of recent IMBA testimony.

Virginia Ridge and Valley Act

Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness Act (2007) - PDF File

Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness Act (2006)

Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness Act (2004)

Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness Act (2007)

Land and Water Conservation Fund

Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act

Federal Appropriations for Public Lands (on behalf of Outdoor Alliance)

Affecting Key Issues

Many decisions in Washington, DC have a direct impact on local trail access and funding.

Land and Trail Protection
At any given time, Congress is considering several bills that could dramatically alter trail access for mountain bicyclists. Most recently, IMBA has covered bills affecting trails in Virginia, Oregon, Georgia, California, New Mexico and Colorado, and many more are expected to be introduced in the near future. Learn more about IMBA's land protection platform and the work we're doing to protect trails and public land around the country.

Trails Funding
Savvy IMBA clubs have received hundreds of thousands of dollars for new trails and IMBA works hard to improve federal programs that help create singletrack opportunities. Read more about the Recreational Trails Program.

Federal Land Management
All over the country, some of the best riding is on federal land. The U.S. Forest Service, BLM, National Park Service, Federal Highway Administration and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers together manage many thousands of miles of singletrack. IMBA constantly works with these land managers in Washington, DC to ensure positive trail experiences. Learn more about our partnerships with these management agencies.

Federal Planning Center
At any given time, dozens of areas of federal land are revising their management plans. These plans have a direct impact on trail access for mountain bikers and IMBA's planning center includes numerous resources to help local mountain bikers be effective advocates throughout the planning process.

Hosting Fun and Informative Events

Mountain biking should be fun, including the advocacy work in our nation's capital. IMBA provides opportunities for congressional staff, land managers and IMBA members to expand their knowledge of our sport while getting some fresh air.

National Bike Summit. IMBA is proud to be a leading sponsor of the National Bike Summit, hosted by the League of American Bicyclists. Each year, IMBA members gather with hundreds of passionate cyclists to walk the halls of Congress and show the power of our numbers. The Summit also includes an informative day of concurrent sessions covering the most important cycling issues, including those for mountain biking.

IMBA World Summit. The 2004 IMBA Mountain Bike Advocacy Summit featured informative seminars, awesome riding, parties, celebrity guest speakers and a chance to interact with other mountain bikers. Attendees spent a day in Washington, D.C., meeting members of Congress and their staffs to introduce them to IMBA and build awareness of our key issues.

24 Hours of DC. This marathon event took place April 6-7, 2005 with the simple goal to raise awareness of access and recreation issues and convince Congress that mountain biking deserves their support. Armed with talking points, handouts and lobbying advice, IMBA members met with elected representatives and staff about key legislation and how it impacts mountain biking. To top things off, we celebrated our success with an evening shindig.

Congressional Staff Bike Ride. Each year, IMBA and the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE) http://www.more-mtb.org/ coordinate a mountain bike ride for congressional staff members who work for U.S. senators and representatives. The event features fun guided rides for all ability levels at a local park.

Partner Organizations

Look through a partial list of the organizations and coalitions with which IMBA works in Washington, D.C.

Washington, DC Initiatives

Bicycle-Friendly Public Land Protection
IMBA believes in strong land protection designations that allow bicycling to continue.

Better Federal Funding for Trails
Together with America Bikes, the Coalition for Recreational Trails and others, IMBA works to improve the transportation bill and Recreational Trails Program funding levels for new singletrack.

Supporting the National Park Service Centennial Initiative
IMBA encourages efforts to revitalize the agency for its 100th anniversary in 2016. Among the NPS's chosen signature projects for this campaign is a proposal for new singletrack in Big Bend National Park.

Bicycling is Non-Motorized
As a quiet, human-powered, low-impact activity, mountain bicycling deserves to be managed alongside other non-motorized forms of recreation.

Recognition for the National Conservation Landscape System
IMBA supports work by the Conservation System Alliance to legislatively recognize 26 million of the BLM's most important acres for recreation and conservation.

Forest Service Roadless Areas
These 59.5 million acres provide some of the best mountain bicycling in the country.

IMBA Staff Profiles

Mike Van Abel. IMBA's executive director, Mike develops relationships with high-ranking agency officials and many partner organizations in Washington, DC.

Jenn Dice. As government affairs director, Jenn frequently travels to DC, working with land managers, meeting elected officials and growing our coalitions.

Kirk Bailey. A member of the firm Smith, Dawson and Andrews, Kirk is IMBA's public affairs and legal counsel in Washington, DC. Kirk has a wealth of experience in natural resource policy and the ability to navigate the complicated DC political scene.

Tom Ward. With more than two decades of experience in recreation management for California State Parks, Tom leads IMBA's California Campaign from Sacramento to preserve and enhance mountain bike opportunities in the Golden State. His work often finds him in Washington, DC, lobbying for California mountain bikers.

Drew Vankat. Drew is IMBA's policy analyst and lead researcher for policy in Washington, DC. He also coordinates IMBA's involvement in the National Bike Summit and provides individual members with the tools to be effective on Capitol Hill.

Schedule a Meeting With Your Elected Official

IMBA can help local clubs and individual advocates meet with their elected officials at home or on Capitol Hill. Our expertise can have you properly prepared and ready to get the most out of these important meetings. Click here for a primer and be sure to email Jenn Dice ( ) if you want more information.

Show Congress Mountain Biking Matters

There are many ways to leverage the support of elected officals for mountain biking and trails. IMBA's toolkit gives you the tools to invite them to groundbreaking ceremonies, a volunteer trailwork event, or a club meeting and show them the great work your club is doing.

News

IMBA's advocacy team is constantly alerting local mountain bikers to issues and policies that affect trails near them. Check out the most current action alerts here.

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	IMBA in Washington, D.C. IMBA is the voice of mountain biking in Washington, DC, ensuring mountain bikers are well represented on Capitol Hill, in federal land agency headquarters and across multi-organization coalitions. IMBA's work in DC helps our 750 affiliated clubs secure better funding, more trails and improved policies for mountain biking nationwide. Building Stronger Partnerships Outdoor Alliance Coalition The Outdoor Alliance, a coalition of six organizations, lobbies for legislation to improve recreational experiences for its individual members and the larger human-powered recreation community. Member organizations represent 100 million mountain bikers, hikers, kayakers, canoeists, backcountry skiers and climbers and include IMBA, the Access Fund, American Hiking Society, American Canoe Association, American Whitewater and Winter Wildlands Alliance. Federal Land Management Agencies IMBA has national memoranda of understanding with the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. These formal agreements have enhanced mountain biking at the national and local levels and given our affiliate clubs the ability to create new partnerships and trails. IMBA also works closely with the Federal Highway Administration and the Recreational Trails Program to build trails and educate trailbuilders. America Bikes Coalition America Bikes is dedicated to increasing the current level of $4.5 billion in bicycle-related funding for the 2009 federal transportation bill. Members of the America Bikes Coalition include IMBA, the Adventure Cycling Association, Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, Bikes Belong Coalition, League of American Bicyclists, National Center for Bicycling and Walking, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and Thunderhead Alliance. Coalition for Recreational Trails The Coalition for Recreational Trails (CRT) is a federation of national and regional trail-related organizations that secured $350 million for dirt trails around the country in 2005. Its members work together to build awareness and understanding of the Recreational Trails Program, which returns federal gasoline taxes paid by off-highway recreationists to the states for trail development and maintenance. Conservation System Alliance Comprising 26 million acres of the BLM's most important scenic, historic and cultural landscapes, the Conservation System has yet to be congressionally recognized. Included in these lands are important areas for mountain biking in Fruita, Colorado and California's King Range. IMBA supports efforts of the Conservation System Alliance to raise the profile of these lands and their importance to the recreation and conservation communities. Recreation Health Care Partnership IMBA supports an important update to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) that would extend health care coverage to people injured while engaged in legal recreational activities including mountain biking. This important legislation will ensure proper health care benefits for trail enthusiasts everywhere. Advancing Mountain Biking in Congress Advancing important legislation is a crucial component of IMBA's presence in DC. Through a variety of means, IMBA staff and counsel strive for bicycle-friendly bills relating to land protection, recreation funding and other important programs. IMBA is regularly asked to testify and submit comments on important legislation. This achievement is made more impressive by the fact that only a very small handful of stakeholders are asked to testify for a bill. Below is a partial list of recent IMBA testimony. Virginia Ridge and Valley Act Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness Act (2007) - PDF File Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness Act (2006) Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness Act (2004) Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness Act (2007) Land and Water Conservation Fund Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act Federal Appropriations for Public Lands (on behalf of Outdoor Alliance) Affecting Key Issues Many decisions in Washington, DC have a direct impact on local trail access and funding. Land and Trail Protection At any given time, Congress is considering several bills that could dramatically alter trail access for mountain bicyclists. Most recently, IMBA has covered bills affecting trails in Virginia, Oregon, Georgia, California, New Mexico and Colorado, and many more are expected to be introduced in the near future. Learn more about IMBA's land protection platform and the work we're doing to protect trails and public land around the country. Trails Funding Savvy IMBA clubs have received hundreds of thousands of dollars for new trails and IMBA works hard to improve federal programs that help create singletrack opportunities. Read more about the Recreational Trails Program. Federal Land Management All over the country, some of the best riding is on federal land. The U.S. Forest Service, BLM, National Park Service, Federal Highway Administration and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers together manage many thousands of miles of singletrack. IMBA constantly works with these land managers in Washington, DC to ensure positive trail experiences. Learn more about our partnerships with these management agencies. Federal Planning Center At any given time, dozens of areas of federal land are revising their management plans. These plans have a direct impact on trail access for mountain bikers and IMBA's planning center includes numerous resources to help local mountain bikers be effective advocates throughout the planning process. Hosting Fun and Informative Events Mountain biking should be fun, including the advocacy work in our nation's capital. IMBA provides opportunities for congressional staff, land managers and IMBA members to expand their knowledge of our sport while getting some fresh air. National Bike Summit. IMBA is proud to be a leading sponsor of the National Bike Summit, hosted by the League of American Bicyclists. Each year, IMBA members gather with hundreds of passionate cyclists to walk the halls of Congress and show the power of our numbers. The Summit also includes an informative day of concurrent sessions covering the most important cycling issues, including those for mountain biking. IMBA World Summit. The 2004 IMBA Mountain Bike Advocacy Summit featured informative seminars, awesome riding, parties, celebrity guest speakers and a chance to interact with other mountain bikers. Attendees spent a day in Washington, D.C., meeting members of Congress and their staffs to introduce them to IMBA and build awareness of our key issues. 24 Hours of DC. This marathon event took place April 6-7, 2005 with the simple goal to raise awareness of access and recreation issues and convince Congress that mountain biking deserves their support. Armed with talking points, handouts and lobbying advice, IMBA members met with elected representatives and staff about key legislation and how it impacts mountain biking. To top things off, we celebrated our success with an evening shindig. Congressional Staff Bike Ride. Each year, IMBA and the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE) http://www.more-mtb.org/ coordinate a mountain bike ride for congressional staff members who work for U.S. senators and representatives. The event features fun guided rides for all ability levels at a local park. Partner Organizations Look through a partial list of the organizations and coalitions with which IMBA works in Washington, D.C. Washington, DC Initiatives Bicycle-Friendly Public Land Protection IMBA believes in strong land protection designations that allow bicycling to continue. Better Federal Funding for Trails Together with America Bikes, the Coalition for Recreational Trails and others, IMBA works to improve the transportation bill and Recreational Trails Program funding levels for new singletrack. Supporting the National Park Service Centennial Initiative IMBA encourages efforts to revitalize the agency for its 100th anniversary in 2016. Among the NPS's chosen signature projects for this campaign is a proposal for new singletrack in Big Bend National Park. Bicycling is Non-Motorized As a quiet, human-powered, low-impact activity, mountain bicycling deserves to be managed alongside other non-motorized forms of recreation. Recognition for the National Conservation Landscape System IMBA supports work by the Conservation System Alliance to legislatively recognize 26 million of the BLM's most important acres for recreation and conservation. Forest Service Roadless Areas These 59.5 million acres provide some of the best mountain bicycling in the country. IMBA Staff Profiles Mike Van Abel. IMBA's executive director, Mike develops relationships with high-ranking agency officials and many partner organizations in Washington, DC. Jenn Dice. As government affairs director, Jenn frequently travels to DC, working with land managers, meeting elected officials and growing our coalitions. Kirk Bailey. A member of the firm Smith, Dawson and Andrews, Kirk is IMBA's public affairs and legal counsel in Washington, DC. Kirk has a wealth of experience in natural resource policy and the ability to navigate the complicated DC political scene. Tom Ward. With more than two decades of experience in recreation management for California State Parks, Tom leads IMBA's California Campaign from Sacramento to preserve and enhance mountain bike opportunities in the Golden State. His work often finds him in Washington, DC, lobbying for California mountain bikers. Drew Vankat. Drew is IMBA's policy analyst and lead researcher for policy in Washington, DC. He also coordinates IMBA's involvement in the National Bike Summit and provides individual members with the tools to be effective on Capitol Hill. Schedule a Meeting With Your Elected Official IMBA can help local clubs and individual advocates meet with their elected officials at home or on Capitol Hill. Our expertise can have you properly prepared and ready to get the most out of these important meetings. Click here for a primer and be sure to email Jenn Dice ( ) if you want more information. Show Congress Mountain Biking Matters There are many ways to leverage the support of elected officals for mountain biking and trails. IMBA's toolkit gives you the tools to invite them to groundbreaking ceremonies, a volunteer trailwork event, or a club meeting and show them the great work your club is doing. News IMBA's advocacy team is constantly alerting local mountain bikers to issues and policies that affect trails near them. Check out the most current action alerts here.


Help \| Site Map \| Copyright