GHORBA is mentioned in the IMBA News!




> IMBA Singletrack Update - April 2005
>
> In this update:
>
> -- EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE NEXT IMBA TRAIL NEWS
> -- ADVOCACY SUCCESS IN HOUSTON
> -- MORE SUCCESS IN NEW JERSEY
> -- MOUNTAIN BIKERS PUSH CONGRESS AT IMBA'S 24 HOURS OF D.C.
> -- HELP SAVE FANTASY ISLAND IN TUCSON, ARIZONA
> -- WORLD MOUNTAIN BIKE CONFERENCE
> -- MOUNTAIN BIKING TO CONTINUE AT NISENE MARKS
> -- IMBA TRAIL GRANTS AVAILABLE
> -- SAVE THE DATES
> -- SEATTLE'S BACKCOUNTRY BICYCLE TRAILS CLUB IS HIRING
> -- SUPPORT IMBA'S LEGAL DEFENSE FUND
> -- IMBA JERSEY NOW AVAILABLE
>
> -----
>
> EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE NEXT IMBA TRAIL NEWS
>
> The Spring 2005 IMBA Trail News will be in your mailbox soon. We have a
> big
> announcement in this issue that you won't want to miss. To make sure you
> are
> a member and receive IMBA Trail News email us at membership@... or
> call
> 888-442-4622
>
> ADVOCACY SUCCESS IN HOUSTON
>
> Houston, Texas has long been a battle ground for mountain bike access. In
> 2001 IMBA rated Houston the worst city for trail access in the country.
> Things have changed dramatically in the past four years. Thanks to
> outstanding work from local advocates and the IMBA-affiliated club Greater
> Houston Off-Road Biking Association (GHORBA), mountain bikers have become
> valuable partners for city land managers, and have gained access to miles
> of
> new trail. Check out a recent story about the Houston mountain biking
> success from the Houston Chronicle at
> http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3125617
>
> MORE SUCCESS IN NEW JERSEY
>
> Similar to Houston, New Jersey has been an area of contention for mountain
> bikers for more than a decade. A 2000 article in Outside Magazine
> presented
> a scene where cyclists and anti-mountain bikers were one step short of
> fisticuffs. While there is still a lot of work to be done, things are
> much,
> much better just a few years later. For the full scoop check out this
> recent
> article in a prominent New Jersey newspaper:
> http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1111905582189710.xm
> l
>
> MOUNTAIN BIKERS PUSH CONGRESS AT IMBA'S 24 HOURS OF D.C.
>
> Mountain bikers converged in the U.S. capital April 7 for the newest
> 24-hour
> event: IMBA's 24 Hours of Washington, D.C. Attendees spent the entire day
> on
> Capitol Hill, meeting with their U.S. representatives, senators and staff
> to
> introduce IMBA and key mountain biking issues.
>
> The group's highest priority was to encourage lawmakers to support the
> Recreational Trails Program - a small but important program in the massive
> six-year transportation bill now working its way through Congress.
>
> The House has already approved a transportation bill that funds the
> Recreational Trails Program at $503 million over six years, however the
> Senate Environment and Public Works Committee's version of the bill
> slashes
> the program to $270 million over five years. More at:
> http://www.imba.com/news/news_releases/04_05/04_07_mtb_lobby.html
>
> HELP SAVE FANTASY ISLAND
>
> The amazing trail system in Tucson, Arizona, known as Fantasy Island is
> threatened by development. Mountain bikers are urged to support the
> Fantasy Island Conservation Alliance and the Sonoran Desert Mountain
> Bicyclists who are leading the critical effort to save these trails.
> http://www.savefantasyisland.org
>
> WORLD MOUNTAIN BIKE CONFERENCE
>
> The North Shore Credit Union World Mountain Bike Conference on
> Sustainability will take place June 1 - 3, 2005, in North Vancouver, BC,
> Canada. Join IMBA and other mountain biking leaders for three days of
> education, networking and discussion covering the environmental, social
> and
> economic issues surrounding mountain biking. IMBA Canada is a sponsor.
> http://www.nsmbfc.com/conference
>
> MOUNTAIN BIKING TO CONTINUE AT NISENE MARKS
>
> A legal settlement has been reached between California State Parks and a
> group of citizens who sued to ban mountain biking in Nisene Marks State
> Park
> near Santa Cruz, California.
> http://www.imba.com/news/news_releases/04_05/04_11_nisene_open.html
>
> IMBA TRAIL GRANTS AVAILABLE
>
> In 2005, a variety of IMBA cash grants are available to groups seeking to
> jump-start their trail improvement projects (listed below). Visit
> http://www.imba.com/resources/grants for details.
>
> Kona/IMBA Freeriding Grants: IMBA-affiliated groups in North America can
> apply for seven $1,000 awards to support the development of freeriding,
> downhilling, and dirt jumping projects. The application deadline is May 1,
> 2005.
>
> NORBA/IMBA Trail Tune-Up Grants: Now in its seventh year, NORBA/IMBA Trail
> Tune-Up Grants fund projects that create or improve trails used for
> mountain
> bike racing. The $500 grants can also be used to improve trails for race
> training and recreational riding, but race courses receive the highest
> consideration. Applications are due by June 1, 2005.
>
> IMBA/CLIF Bar Trail Preservation Grants: IMBA-affiliated clubs are invited
> to apply for $500 cash grants to support trail restoration and
> preservation
> work. Projects must promote environmental education and inspire
> conservation
> in the mountain biking community. Forty grants totaling $20,000 have been
> distributed since the IMBA/CLIF Bar Trail Preservation Grants program was
> established in 2001. The application deadline is July 1, 2005.
>
> SAVE THE DATES
>
> June 4: National Trails Day
> September 24: National Public Lands Day
> October 1: Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day
>
> SEATTLE'S BACKCOUNTRY BICYCLE TRAILS CLUB IS HIRING
>
> Do you dream of a day when the Pacific Northwest has as many mountain bike
> trails as hiking trails? Join a team who can make it happen. Seattle's
> Backcountry Bicycle Trails Club is hiring a paid, part-time Volunteer
> Director. They are also seeking volunteers to help with advocacy and
> marketing. Details: http://www.bbtc.org
>
> SUPPORT IMBA'S LEGAL DEFENSE FUND
>
> Sadly, those who oppose mountain biking still pressure public agencies to
> restrict our sport. Sometimes the precise, powerful voice of top-notch
> attorneys is the only way to effectively counter unwarranted accusations
> that "mountain bikers are killing the forest!" But this work is also
> expensive, and we need your help. Stay tuned to your mailbox for IMBA's
> Legal Defense Fund campaign. When you receive our letter, please return
> your
> donation as soon as possible. Contributors of $30 or more will receive a
> limited edition "Free the Trail" t-shirt.
>
> NEW IMBA FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP REPORT
>
> IMBA staff just completed a 24-page, full color newsletter highlighting
> the
> work we did with federal land agencies in 2004. A must have for land
> managers or any advocate who works with these agencies. More info:
> http://www.imba.com/news/news_releases/02_05/02_13_fed_report.html
>
> IMBA JERSEY NOW AVAILABLE - $50
> http://stores.yahoo.com/imba/immer.html
>
> IMBA ENEWSLETTER ARCHIVES
> http://www.imba.com/news/enewsletters/index.html
>
> -----
>
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