gopherhockey
05-30-2007, 05:11 AM
For Immediate Release
05-30-07
Contact: Drew Vankat
<SCRIPT type=text/javascript inserter="Spam Vaccine 1.3"><!--spam_vaccine( new Array("\d\r\e\w", "", "\i\m\b\a", "", "\c\o\m", ""), new Array() ) ;//--></SCRIPT>drew@imba.com (drew@imba.com) <NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT>
303-545-9011
"Recreation is firmly entrenched in the roots of American conservation," says IMBA Executive Director Mike Van Abel. "Historically, protection of wild areas has been driven largely by those who sought solitude, serenity and personal challenge on foot or horseback. IMBA is pleased that Congress now recognizes the same spirit in mountain bicyclists and is welcoming our activity in protected landscapes."
As a new crop of land preservation bills embodies this paradigm shift, IMBA and its network of affiliated clubs are offering support for legislation with bicycle-friendly provisions. Bills in Oregon, Virginia and Georgia would allow mountain bicycling to continue in protected landscapes, while others include trail reroutes or boundary adjustments to permit continued access to important singletrack trails.
IMBA fully supports bills utilizing a variety of protective land designations, including Wilderness, National Scenic Area, National Conservation Area and National Recreation Area. "These are proven designations Congress has used in the past that can be written to provide stringent, lasting protection for our trails and surrounding areas," says IMBA Government Affairs Director Jenn Dice.
The new crop of legislation reflects the hard work and dedication of many local IMBA advocates who have worked extensively with other stakeholders to build consensus on designations, boundaries, trails and other provisions. In Virginia, mountain bikers helped include nearly 12,000 acres of National Scenic Areas, while Oregon leaders were instrumental in negotiating for a National Recreation Area designation to protect their favorite trails.
Other land protection bills are in the congressional pipeline. IMBA encourages local mountain bikers to reach out to congressional delegations and stakeholder groups early in the process and make sure mountain bike interests are well represented.
"We've often been caught unnecessarily on the wrong side of the land preservation fence because federal agencies do not allow bicycling in designated Wilderness," says Dice. "But Wilderness is not the only means for protecting public lands. These bills prove that strong preservation doesn't require sacrificing bicycle access. Mountain bikers care dearly about their trails and the lands surrounding them, so were extremely gratified that decision makers are considering all of the options before them."
Recently Introduced Land Protection Bills
Virginia: Virginia Ridge and Valley Act (H.R.1011)
Contains nearly 12,000 acres in two National Scenic Areas that will allow mountain biking.
Includes provisions for a sustainable reroute of a popular bike and horse trail.
Colorado: Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness Act (H.R.2334)
A minor boundary adjustment on the Park's west side will allow for the possible construction of a 16-mile shared-use trail along the shores of scenic Grand Lake, Shadow Mountain Reservoir and Lake Granby.
Oregon: Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness Act (S.647)
The proposed 36,000-acre Mount Hood National Recreation Area maintains access to important singletrack around the mountain.
Encourages decommissioned Forest Service logging roads to be converted to singletrack for mountain bikers.
Creates special funding for recreation and allocates one position on a new recreation working group for a mountain biking representative.
Georgia: Chattahoochee National Forest Act of 2007 (H.R.707)
Bill would establish the 13,382-acre Mountaintown National Scenic Area and preserve access to important singletrack.
Additional Information from IMBA
IMBA's Land Preservation Frequently Asked Questions (http://www.imba.com/resources/wilderness/wilderness_faq.html)
Land Preservation Toolkit for Mountain Bike Advocates (http://www.imba.com/resources/wilderness/wilderness_toolkit.html)
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05-30-07
Contact: Drew Vankat
<SCRIPT type=text/javascript inserter="Spam Vaccine 1.3"><!--spam_vaccine( new Array("\d\r\e\w", "", "\i\m\b\a", "", "\c\o\m", ""), new Array() ) ;//--></SCRIPT>drew@imba.com (drew@imba.com) <NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT>
303-545-9011
"Recreation is firmly entrenched in the roots of American conservation," says IMBA Executive Director Mike Van Abel. "Historically, protection of wild areas has been driven largely by those who sought solitude, serenity and personal challenge on foot or horseback. IMBA is pleased that Congress now recognizes the same spirit in mountain bicyclists and is welcoming our activity in protected landscapes."
As a new crop of land preservation bills embodies this paradigm shift, IMBA and its network of affiliated clubs are offering support for legislation with bicycle-friendly provisions. Bills in Oregon, Virginia and Georgia would allow mountain bicycling to continue in protected landscapes, while others include trail reroutes or boundary adjustments to permit continued access to important singletrack trails.
IMBA fully supports bills utilizing a variety of protective land designations, including Wilderness, National Scenic Area, National Conservation Area and National Recreation Area. "These are proven designations Congress has used in the past that can be written to provide stringent, lasting protection for our trails and surrounding areas," says IMBA Government Affairs Director Jenn Dice.
The new crop of legislation reflects the hard work and dedication of many local IMBA advocates who have worked extensively with other stakeholders to build consensus on designations, boundaries, trails and other provisions. In Virginia, mountain bikers helped include nearly 12,000 acres of National Scenic Areas, while Oregon leaders were instrumental in negotiating for a National Recreation Area designation to protect their favorite trails.
Other land protection bills are in the congressional pipeline. IMBA encourages local mountain bikers to reach out to congressional delegations and stakeholder groups early in the process and make sure mountain bike interests are well represented.
"We've often been caught unnecessarily on the wrong side of the land preservation fence because federal agencies do not allow bicycling in designated Wilderness," says Dice. "But Wilderness is not the only means for protecting public lands. These bills prove that strong preservation doesn't require sacrificing bicycle access. Mountain bikers care dearly about their trails and the lands surrounding them, so were extremely gratified that decision makers are considering all of the options before them."
Recently Introduced Land Protection Bills
Virginia: Virginia Ridge and Valley Act (H.R.1011)
Contains nearly 12,000 acres in two National Scenic Areas that will allow mountain biking.
Includes provisions for a sustainable reroute of a popular bike and horse trail.
Colorado: Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness Act (H.R.2334)
A minor boundary adjustment on the Park's west side will allow for the possible construction of a 16-mile shared-use trail along the shores of scenic Grand Lake, Shadow Mountain Reservoir and Lake Granby.
Oregon: Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness Act (S.647)
The proposed 36,000-acre Mount Hood National Recreation Area maintains access to important singletrack around the mountain.
Encourages decommissioned Forest Service logging roads to be converted to singletrack for mountain bikers.
Creates special funding for recreation and allocates one position on a new recreation working group for a mountain biking representative.
Georgia: Chattahoochee National Forest Act of 2007 (H.R.707)
Bill would establish the 13,382-acre Mountaintown National Scenic Area and preserve access to important singletrack.
Additional Information from IMBA
IMBA's Land Preservation Frequently Asked Questions (http://www.imba.com/resources/wilderness/wilderness_faq.html)
Land Preservation Toolkit for Mountain Bike Advocates (http://www.imba.com/resources/wilderness/wilderness_toolkit.html)
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