For Immediate Release 4/20/2016
Contact Mark Eller
IMBA Communications Director
303-545-9011 ext. 115
mark.eller@imba.com
Yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan energy bill, the first major overhaul of energy law in nine years. The bill also permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), an important source of funding for recreation at the state and local levels. The Senate’s version of the bill must now be reconciled with the House’s energy bill before it can be signed into law.
The LWCF has been hailed as America’s best conservation program. In its 50-year history, LWCF has helped build trails, parks, river put-ins, trailheads and access to climbing areas in 50 states. Some of the popular mountain biking destinations that have benefitted from the LWCF include:
In the recent push to ensure that the LWCF would receive full authorization, IMBA joined with human-powered recreation groups in the Outdoor Alliance, sending messages to supporters in key states and urging them to contact their Senate leaders about the importance of the LWCF to the mountain bike community. The outreach proved to be effective, as none of the targeted Senators opposed the LWCF funding.
“This success exemplifies the power of IMBA’s coalition work,” said Bruce Alt, Vice President of Government Relations. “The mountain bike community is just one group in a larger collection of outdoor recreation stakeholders. In order to be effective, we must continue to emphasize collaboration with the Outdoor Alliance and other supportive partners.”
The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) is a 501(c)3 non-profit educational association. Its mission is to create, enhance and preserve great mountain biking experiences. Since 1988, IMBA has been bringing out the best in mountain biking by encouraging low-impact riding, volunteer trail work participation, cooperation among different trail user groups, grassroots advocacy and innovative trail management solutions. IMBA represents our members, supports our chapters and our work benefits the mountain biking community. Learn more at IMBA.com.
As IMBA's communications director, Mark Eller publishes newsletters (both print and electronic), special reports and web pages to illuminate all of the organization's activities. Eller has worked for IMBA since 2005. Before that he was a magazine editor, working for publications ranging from Rock and Ice to Vegetarian Times.
As IMBA's communications director, Mark Eller publishes newsletters (both print and electronic), special reports and web pages to illuminate all of the organization's activities. Eller has worked for IMBA since 2005. Before that he was a magazine editor, working for publications ranging from Rock and Ice to Vegetarian Times.
View complete profileResponsible riding is our simplest, and a very powerful, advocacy tool. Want more trails? Want to maintain access? Want everyone to like us? Start by being good to your fellow mountain bikers and the other users we share trails with. Know the rules; ride responsibly.
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The guidance on this website, and in other IMBA documents, is for reference only and should not be interpreted as a standard, specification or regulation. Mountain biking is inherently risky and could result in injury or death.
