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IMBA and NPS announce mountain bike projects for 2006

Pilot mountain bike trail programs will be carried out in three national park and national recreation areas.

From the International Mountain Bicycling Association

Three Pilot Programs Unveiled

The pilot mountain bike programs will be carried out in Big Bend National Park (Texas), Fort Dupont National Park (Washington, DC) and Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio). Each of the three programs is unique, but all will involve substantial study of the recreational benefits and potential impacts that mountain biking brings to national park units.

Big Bend National Park (Texas): John King, Big Bend's superintendent, says his park is close to initiating an Environmental Assessment study, a necessary first step toward creating opportunities for singletrack riding in the 801,000-acre park. "I expect that we'll be able to start the study in a matter of weeks," says King. "First, we'll find out if mountain biking is appropriate for Big Bend. If the results of the study are favorable, we'll move forward with a rule-making procedure that would open the way for mountain biking in non-Wilderness areas."

Jeff Renfrow, a local mountain bike advocate with the Big Bend Trails Alliance, is excited about the prospect of working with park staff and IMBA. "We are especially honored to be a part of a process that we hope will lead to the creation of additional mountain biking opportunities in the national park system," says Renfrow.

Fort Dupont National Park (Washington, DC): Fort Dupont provides a unique opportunity for singletrack mountain bicycling inside the Beltway with eight miles of the Fort Circle National Recreation Trail open to biking. However, the trails are in need of repair to make them more environmentally sound. "National Capital Parks-East is very excited about the opportunity to work with IMBA and its local affiliate, the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts," says Superintendent Gayle Hazelwood. "The assessment of the hiking and biking trails within the Fort Circle Parks will greatly assist our park with the goals of improving both trail sustainability and visitor access and enjoyment of the trail system."

Dan Hudson, for Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE), added: "The Fort Circle Trail is a great resource for trail users on the east side of town. There are segments where erosion has become a concern. MORE is excited to help repair and protect this valuable resource."

Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio): "We are keenly interested in examining mountain bicycling as a possible component of our next trail management plan revision," says Bill Carroll, deputy superintendent at Cuyahoga.

While the timetable for establishing a pilot mountain bicycling program in Ohio is still in development, local bike advocates are hopeful that preliminary studies will be approved. "The park is only 15 minutes from downtown Cleveland, and is no more than an hour and a half from more than 4 million residents of northeast Ohio. This trail has the potential to become one of the best in Ohio and a destination for the entire region," says Mike Farley, of the IMBA-affiliated Cleveland Area Mountain Bicycling Association.

Nine Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew Visits Proposed

In addition to the three pilot programs, the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crews hope to visit as many as nine National Park units in 2006. The Trail Care Crews will provide expert advice on trail etiquette and rider education, managing mountain bikes, trailbuilding and trail repair. The Crews will work with local mountain bike clubs, other trail user groups, community leaders and park staff to foster communication and collaboration. Visits have been proposed for these parks:

• Big South Fork National Recreation Area (Tennessee)
• Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (Minnesota)
• Saguaro National Park (Arizona)
• Chattahoochee National Recreation Area, Cochran Shoals Unit (Georgia)
• Homestead National Monument of America (Nebraska)
• Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park (Tennessee)
• Whiskeytown National Recreation Area (California)
• Mammoth Caves National Park (Kentucky)
• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii)

"According to a recent survey, a majority of Americans want to see more opportunities for active recreation in national parks, including bicycling," says IMBA Executive Director Mike Van Abel. (Read the Outdoor Industry Association study conducted by the Leisure Trends Group.) "IMBA couldn't be more excited to help the National Park Service with developing appropriate bike opportunities at a dozen parks next year."

40 National Parks Units Already Offer Mountain Bike Access

More than 40 NPS units already provide mountain bikers with the opportunity to explore their parks on dirt roads and trails. Visit IMBA's National Park Service Resource Page for a list of parks with mountain biking and additional information.

Bringing mountain bicycling to national park units that do not already have bicycle access does not happen overnight. New riding opportunities (including the IMBA/NPS pilot programs) require detailed study by park officials, as well as special rule-making procedures for each park. Also, land that is protected as Wilderness, as well as proposed Wilderness, can not be considered for mountain bicycling.

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