IMBA CLUB ENEWS - NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 2005

ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS AND RESOURCES
* NEW IMBA WEB RESOURCES – WILDERNESS, FOREST SERVICE AND MORE
* MOUNTAIN BIKES AND “BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES”
* SPREAD THE WORD: 50 MOUNTAIN BIKERS FOR 50 STATE TRAIL COMMITTEES
* SCHEDULE HOLIDAY DISTRICT MEETINGS WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
* THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, THANK LAND MANGERS FOR SINGLETRACK

FOREST SERVICE SPECIAL SECTION
* US FOREST SERVICE PLANS TO WATCH
* OHV INVENTORIES IN YOUR NATIONAL FOREST – THEY MAY AFFECT BIKE ACCESS
* MAKE SURE MOUNTAIN BICYCLISTS SHOW UP AT ROADLESS TASK FORCE MEETINGS

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE SPECIAL SECTION
* NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PLANS TO WATCH
* BIG SOUTH FORK NATIONAL PARK AND BICYCLE CLUB SIGN PARTNERSHIP
* IMBA LOOKING FOR NPS ADVOCATES

REGIONAL NEWS
* NORTH DAKOTA SIGNS MOU, CREATING IMBA'S THIRD STATE PARTNERSHIP
* HOOSIER MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION RECEIVES $150,000 RTP GRANT
* MOUNTAIN BIKE ADVOCATE WINS NATIONAL REI AWARD
* RICHMOND BIKE CLUB RECEIVES GRANT FOR URBAN MTB TRAIL

MISC
* TAKE A 10-MINUTE MOUNTAIN BIKE SURVEY
* PASS IT ON . . . FORWARD ENEWS TO YOUR CLUB LISTS
* HOT DEALS AT IMBA'S WINTER SALE

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ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS AND RESOURCES

* NEW IMBA WEB RESOURCES – WILDERNESS, FOREST SERVICE AND MORE

Check out some of the valuable new resources at imba.com:

Bicycling and Wilderness: A Mountain Biker's Guide to Negotiating Wilderness
Politics
http://www.imba.com/resources/wilderness/wilderness_toolkit.html
BLM Trail Opening Process
http://www.imba.com/resources/agencies/blm_trail_policy.html
BLM Wilderness Study Area Management
http://www.imba.com/resources/wilderness/blm_wsa.html
Forest Service Trail Opening Process
http://www.imba.com/resources/agencies/usfs_trail_policy.html
Forest Service Recommended Wilderness Area Management
http://www.imba.com/resources/wilderness/usfs_wilderness_policy.html
IMBA's 7 Best Conference Call Etiquette Rules
http://www.imba.com/resources/organizing/conference_call.html

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* MOUNTAIN BIKES AND “BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES”

Each year, IMBA’s sister organization the League of American Bicyclists (LAB)
awards Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC) rankings to cities across the country
and the world. Their very successful program helps foster improvements to bike
lanes, infrastructure and facilities. Entire community initiatives are
organized around garnering a future bicycle friendly status. Mountain bikers
should learn about local plans and volunteer to help. This is also a chance for
mountain bike advocates to form alliances with transportation advocates. Trail
access could be a critical part of the plan, but only if you are involved in the
process. Community bike planning can and should include trails so make sure
your mountain bike club has a seat at the table. To learn more about the
program visit: http://www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org/index.htm

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* SPREAD THE WORD: 50 MOUNTAIN BIKERS NEEDED FOR 50 STATE TRAIL COMMITTEES

If you live in one of the following 30 states, you do not have mountain bike
representation on the state committee that doles out Recreational Trails Program
(RTP) funding. As an IMBA rep or club leader, we need you to step up and get
involved. Whether you volunteer yourself or find a budding advocate who you
want to develop for future leadership, someone needs to write your state and
offer to help. Take a look at the 30 states left and if your state is listed,
forward this email to list servs, club members, and any mountain biker you know.
This campaign won’t stop until we get 50 mountain bikers on 50 state trails
committees so please spread the word.

30 states still need representation:
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa,
Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New
York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina,
South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

How to apply and learn more about the RTP program:
http://www.imba.com/resources/grants/rtp_campaign.html

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* SCHEDULE DISTRICT MEETINGS WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS DURING THE HOLIDAYS

If the upcoming holiday season has you thinking of home, you’re not alone. Each
winter members of Congress take a short break from the hustle and bustle of
Washington, D.C. to visit their home districts. These hard workers don’t just
relax over a cup of eggnog, they’re out courting the electorate. Many are
meeting with community groups, speaking at events and generally making
themselves available. Take advantage of this time-honored tradition to let your
representative know how much trails mean to the recreation community. Mountain
bikers should visit their congressional representative’s website for clues about
their holiday schedule. Request a meeting or simply corner them at the next
community event. Thank your representative for legislation they supported (like
the Recreational Trails Program), talk to them about Wilderness legislation or
bring up a state or local trails issue. To learn more about how to schedule a
meeting visit: http://www.imba.com/resources/organizing/meeting_primer.html

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* THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, THANK LAND MANGERS FOR SINGLETRACK

Each holiday season, IMBA asks members to pause to thank land managers for their
tireless effort on behalf of trails. IMBA reps, clubs and members can receive
free thank you postcards to mail to their local land officials. Please take time
to give thanks. Request the cards here:
http://www.imba.com/news/news_releases/10_05/10_12_thanks.html

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FOREST SERVICE SPECIAL SECTION

* US FOREST SERVICE PLANS TO WATCH

Mountain bike access for the next 15 years is at stake in the following national
forests. If you or your club isn’t involved, you need to get going and IMBA can
show you how. IMBA has made it easy at:
http://www.imba.com/resources/organizing/forest_toolkit.html

California’s Six Rivers National Forest: Travel Management planning underway
Colorado’s Cimarron-Comanche National Grasslands: Send comments now!
Colorado’s Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forest: Send
comments now!
Colorado’s Pike-San Isabel National Forest: Starting soon
Idaho’s Panhandle and Kootenai National Forests: Expecting drafts in February
2006
Mississippi National Forests: Send comments now!
Montana’s Lewis and Clark National Forest: Travel Management planning underway
Montana’s Lolo, Flathead, Bitterroot National Forests: Expecting drafts in
Winter 2006
Montana’s Nez Perce and Clearwater National Forests: Expecting drafts this
month!
North Carolina’s Uwharrie National Forest: Expecting drafts in Fall 2006
Oregon’s Malheur, Umatilla, Wallawa-Whitman National Forests: Expecting drafts
in Summer 2006
Utah’s Ashley National Forest: Send comments now!
Washington’s Colville, Okanogan, Wenatchee National Forests: Send comments now!
Wyoming’s Shoshone National Forest: Currently underway

For a complete list of approximate forest plan timeline updates, visit:
http://www.fs.fed.us/emc/nfma/includes/LRMPschedule.pdf

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* OHV INVENTORIES IN YOUR NATIONAL FOREST – THEY MAY AFFECT BIKE ACCESS

The USFS is undergoing a national plan to designate trails for OHV use. In some
places there will be inventories of existing trails. It is critical that
mountain bike advocates become familiar with their local forest process and find
out if cyclists are included. Time and again, the Forest Service has said the
OHV inventory does not include bicycles on the local and national level, but it
is important to find out your forest's process and plans for rule making. Since
the OHV inventory only focuses on OHV accessible trails, it may miss some of the
non-motorized trails we currently ride. It is important that cyclists continue
to be managed with other non-motorized uses. Contact jenn@... or
drew@... for more information.

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* MAKE SURE MOUNTAIN BICYCLISTS SPEAK UP ABOUT ROADLESS AREAS IN YOUR STATE

Governors from 39 states have until next November to petition the USDA Forest
Service to ask that their roadless areas receive permanent protection. It's
vital that mountain bikers voice their support for protecting roadless areas and
lobby for a bike-friendly approach to land preservation. Some states have a
roadless task force and are conducting public meetings. Clubs need to attend
hearings and/or write letters. With 58.5 million acres of public land at stake,
cyclists need to be involved. Read more here at: http://roadless.fs.fed.us/

Talking points:
* Mountain bicyclists care about the land and want to see roadless areas
protected from development
* Bike-friendly land protections will ensure outstanding backcountry
experiences, preserve state's economy and enhance quality of life
* Wilderness protection, which bans bicycle access, is not appropriate for many
of these areas
* In your written or oral testimony, provide as much specific information as
possible about the affected areas that you ride and why they should be protected

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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE SPECIAL SECTION

*NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PLANS TO WATCH

Visit the NPS Planning homepage for additional dates and information:
http://www.planning.nps.gov/plans.cfm

A list of units with upcoming comment periods:

Washington’s Olympic National Park: Drafts published this month
Virginia’s Great Falls Park: Comments due December 15
Florida’s Big Cypress National Preserve: Drafts published Spring 2006-7
Cumberland Gap National Historic Park: Comments due January 15, 2006
South Dakota’s Badlands National Park: Comments due January 10, 2006
Wisconsin’s Apostle Islands National Lakeshore: Drafts published Fall 2005-6
Oregon’s John Day Fossil Beds National Monument: Drafts published Fall 2005-6
Saguaro National Park: Currently underway. Drafts published Summer 2006
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Currently underway.

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*BIG SOUTH FORK NATIONAL PARK UNIT AND BICYCLE CLUB SIGN PARTNERSHIP IN
TENNESSEE

Congratulations to Big South Fork Bicycle Club and National Mountain Bike Patrol
for signing a partnership agreement with Big South Fork National River and
Recreation Area (http://www.nps.gov/biso/index.htm/). The bike club maintains 15
miles of singletrack open to bikes and has an active National Mountain Bike
Patrol in the park. The club purchased a mountain bike for NPS staff to help
the bike patrol and are a very active volunteer partner. This local partnership
dovetails from IMBA’s national partnership signed earlier this year to bring
more mountain biking to National Parks across the country. The local agreement
will be posted at imba.com later this month.

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*IMBA LOOKING FOR NPS ADVOCATES

If you have a good relationship with your local National Park unit or are
working with them to expand trail access, please contact IMBA Government Affairs
Director Jenn Dice at 1-888-442-4622 x 103. We would like to help your
initiatives.

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REGIONAL NEWS

* NORTH DAKOTA SIGNS MOU, CREATING IMBA'S THIRD STATE PARTNERSHIP

In November, the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department (NDPR) and IMBA
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement. The North Dakota MOU is
similar to productive partnerships IMBA has established in Virginia and New
Mexico. Doug Prchal, director of the North Dakota Parks and Recreation
Department, commented: “We share similar goals and philosophies for providing
multi-use trails for the public’s enjoyment, using sustainable trail design and
construction techniques.” View a .pdf of the agreement:
http://www.parkrec.nd.gov/Acrobat/imba.pdf

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* HOOSIER MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION RECEIVES $150,000 RTP GRANT

After receiving the worst IMBA report card grade in the nation a few years ago,
Indiana’s Hoosier Mountain Bike Association is turning heads. They helped
secure an $150,000 Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant to build 10 more
miles of trail at Brown County State Park. The first state park to allow
mountain biking, Brown County is quickly becoming the most popular mountain bike
destination in Indiana and is drawing tourists from as far away as Kentucky and
Michigan. IMBA Trail Solutions will help with the project. In addition to miles
of new cross country trail through thick forests and steep hills, the project
will include a beginner trail, two new trailheads and a connector path to park
campgrounds.

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* MOUNTAIN BIKE ADVOCATE WINS NATIONAL AWARD FROM REI

Texas Bicycle Coalition (TBC) director and Dallas Off-Road Bicycle Association
(DORBA) leader Jeanne Patterson received one of six national REI Stewards for
the Environment awards. The program is intended to provide annual recognition to
local environmental heroes who have made an impact and inspired others to become
environmental stewards. Jeanne helped create the Texas Trail Doctors, modeled
after the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crews, that travels throughout Texas and
teaches sustainable trailbuilding. In 2005, under Jeanne’s inspiration DORBA
conducted 9,000 volunteer hours of trailwork. She also started the Texas PayDirt
program, a Women's Mountain Biking Clinic and Retreat, and Kids' Kup, which
teaches riding skills, rules, safety and stewardship to more than 500 kids
annually. Through her continued involvement and leadership, Jeanne has helped to
change perceptions of Texans regarding bicycles, cyclists and their relationship
with the environment. The TBC received a $20,000 grant because of Jeanne’s great
work to advance environmental stewardship.

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* RICHMOND BIKE CLUB RECEIVES GRANT FOR URBAN MTB TRAIL

A $6,400 grant will go to the Richmond chapter of the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road
Enthusiasts (MORE) to complete the final phase of the Northtrail. Dubbed the
“Maymont Fence Project” by trailbuilders and riders, this last leg of the trail
will be complete once a fence is moved in historic Maymont Park and the trail is
built beside it. The Northtrail is part of an extensive network of urban
mountain bike routes within the city's James River Park System. These unique and
exciting trails enhance opportunities for recreation and adventure in downtown
Richmond. They also serve as courses for numerous mountain bike events,
including the Nissan XTERRA’s East Coast Championship Race.

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MISC

* TAKE A 10-MINUTE MOUNTAIN BIKE SURVEY

Researchers at the University of Colorado, the University of New Mexico and the
University of Padua in Italy want to know about you and your mountain biking.
The study will show land managers what type of trail cyclists prefer. Take the
survey at: http://bike.colorado.edu/

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* PASS IT ON . . . FORWARD ENEWS TO YOUR CLUB LISTS

You are a liaison between IMBA and your individual members so please feel free
to forward our eNewsletters to your membership or post it on your website. Each
month we send a general Singletrack eNewsletter that goes to all dues paying
IMBA members and a Club eNewsletter to IMBA affiliated groups. We want you to
spread the word about all the great things happening for mountain bikers on the
state and national levels. Even more important, we want you to be ready the
next time an advocacy crisis looms and we need a mass lobby effort to save
trails. What is ours is yours so please forward liberally.

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* HOT DEALS AT IMBA'S WINTER SALE

You'll find a wide selection of gear on sale at our online store. Hurry -- the
sale ends Dec. 11. http://stores.yahoo.com/imba/immer.html

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