Start a Patrol Group
Patrol groups consist of certified NMBP members who have completed IMBA’s training requirements and who work together in a given area to assist land managers and trail users. Official NMBP groups are registered with IMBA, providing them legitimacy with land managers, special training materials and access to industry support and best practices.
New patrol groups forming in 2012 and beyond are required to work in conjunction with an existing IMBA chapter or club, or become an official IMBA club with a membership base and leadership positions. Solo patrollers are not allowed.
The advantages of having an organized patrol group are many. The more people you have, the less you have to demand of each individual patroller and the more the patrollers can cover your local trails. Running an organized group also streamlines interactions between patrol groups, mountain-biking clubs and land managers. A group with a leadership structure is able to take advantage of opportunities that arise, such as working at events, gaining access to trails previously closed to mountain bikers or being able to act on local issues that affect cyclists. An organized group is more readily recognized as professional, capable and reliable by land managers, local business and potential sponsors.
Where do we begin?
Start by downloading the Best Practices Handbook to help guide you.
This is a rough outline to help guide you in getting started:
1. Decide where you might like to patrol. Be reasonable. A new group is often a small group and should start small. Don't propose to a land manager that you can patrol 100 miles of trail right away.
2. Decide what kind of organizational structure and leadership the group needs to have. The more you can divide up responsibilities, the easier it will be to grow and maintain the patrol.
3. Put together a plan of when, where, who, how and why. Set up meetings with the land manager(s) to present it and begin a relationship with them. Don't forget to maintain that relationship! Figure out everything from emergency proceedures to maps to how the land manager wants your patrollers to report their activities.
4. Ensure at least one of your members is trained as an instructor to teach your patrol members. The land manager(s) might also be willing to do the training, especially if any trail volunteer program is already in place.
5. Recruit! Recruit! Reach out to local clubs, advertise in bike shops and at trailheads. Schedule a training session. Arrange for a CPR/First Aid class if you can, or at least let people know where they can get the training. Attempt to get a group discount.
6. Patrol! Regularly report your hours and activity to the land manager(s). Update them on trail conditions.
7. Keep up relationships. Schedule social events for your patrollers. Work with bike shops to set up an incentive program to reward active patrollers for their service. Make sure people are enjoying what they do. Set up a group website to easily inform members of activities and to make yourself known to local mountain bikers looking for a way to volunteer.
How do we sign up?
To sign up your patrol group, download the registration form (WORD Document | PDF Document) and mail or fax it to IMBA with payment. There is no online registration for groups at this time. Please note that in order to be listed on the patrol group page, your group must be current in the IMBA system. Group dues are $40 annually and enable us to provide you with resources and support. Thank you!
FAX: 303-545-9026
IMBA
PO Box 7578
Boulder, CO 80306
How much is this going to cost and how do I pay for it?
Great question. We encourage you to seek grant money from your city and/or local bike shops. Specialized dealers can offer grants from swag to cash that can get your patrol group started. Sponsorship from a local bike shop can also enable your patrollers to recieve discounts and can pave the way toward an incentive program that rewards the most active patrollers.
Here is a rough breakdown of the costs:
Club membership with the NMBP: $40/annual
Tubes for patrollers: (Pending)
Individual costs:
- Individual patroller membership with NMBP: $50/annual
- Lightweight first aid kit from Adventure Medical (pro deal available to registered patrollers via Promotive.com): $15-$60 depending on size and contents
- Official NMBP jersey: $40
- First Aid/CPR training from the Red Cross: $75
- Small bike repair toolkit: (What most people already have is sufficient)
Total cost per person to get started: $180-$225
Total cost for 10 people to get started: $1,800-$2,250 + the $40 patrol group dues
If you plan to go above and beyond trail patrol duties to include working at events, then you will likely need a table, portable shelter, one comprehensive toolkit, one comprehensive first aid kit, large water container, floor pump(s), extra tubes and maybe some folding chairs. Consider those items as well when formulating your proposal and seeking grant/sponsorship money.
