IMBA, Working Together to Protect Wild Lands

By Guest Writer, 10-09-07

Two weeks ago my column, Creating Quiet Trails Doesn’t Need to be Noisy, created quite a controversy among cyclists. In the column, I suggested the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) was an adversary to the process of creating quiet trails where only non-motorized recreation is allowed, because these efforts often include Wilderness where land managing agencies have decided to prohibit mountain biking. In calls and emails and in the comment section of the column, IMBA took the opposite view, a friend of quiet trails proposals, even if the plan includes some Wilderness and loss of trail access for mountain bikers. I invited the organization to write a guest commentary presenting the group’s point of view, and here it is.--Bill Schneider

Local Montana mountain bike advocates, working with the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), have been busy in recent months, meeting with Forest Service staff, elected officials and other stakeholder groups. Their goal is to protect Montana’s wild lands, and to preserve sustainable backcountry recreation experiences.

One success was highlighted in New West on September 27. The Helena Cycling Club, Great Divide Cyclery, Great Divide Cycling Team and the Highlands Cycling Club were instrumental in creating the High Divide Trails agreement, which includes proposals for new Wilderness areas and other lands set aside for quiet recreation. IMBA, a non-profit organization, supports these Montana groups. We hope the quiet trails areas will also receive permanent protection.

IMBA and our local advocates are committed to working with other stakeholders. We recently met with staff at the Montana Wilderness Association, discussing our common values and laying the groundwork for additional collaborative working groups in the state. By growing the community of land preservation champions, we can protect more acres more quickly and encourage inclusive, lasting forms of land protection. Montanans can look to several other states for models of broad coalitions working together to create Wilderness and bike-friendly legislation.

In Virginia’s Jefferson National Forest, local IMBA advocates worked with the Virginia Wilderness Coalition, hunting groups and many other stakeholders to create a land preservation bill that will provide enduring protection for 55,000 acres of public land. IMBA representatives agreed to more than 40,000 acres of Wilderness and requested similarly stringent protection and continued bicycling in 11,600 acres of proposed National Scenic Areas. This is a legislative designation that permanently protects natural resources and can be customized to best suit local needs. Just as for Wilderness, it would take an act of Congress to change or remove a National Scenic Area.

Across the country in northwestern Oregon, IMBA advocates helped shape a collaborative proposal driven by the Oregon Natural Resources Defense Council that will preserve forever the wild character of Mt. Hood. The U.S. Senate bill requests 128,660 acres of Wilderness (doubling present levels in the area), 81 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers and 34,000 acres of National Recreation Area, where bicycling is permitted. IMBA supports expanding the National Recreation Area designation to other key areas and including provisions to prohibit mining, resource extraction, logging and motorized access.

Bicycle-friendly land designations can be customized on a case-by-case basis in the law. Some can encourage backcountry trail maintenance, others can permit certain levels of stewardship harvesting and still others can be identical to Wilderness while allowing bicycling. All should protect against the primary threats to our wild lands.

The Oregon bill also specifies an annual infusion of approximately $800,000 for trails and recreation in the Mount Hood area, a serious boon for rural communities and the cash-strapped Forest Service. This is one example of the benefits of bringing together a diverse set of recreation and preservation advocates to improve the local environment and economy.

In these states, and in Montana as well, IMBA’s advocacy efforts are not about gaining access to every trail. There are instances where bicycling may not be feasible or appropriate. When sensitive plants, wildlife or weather-related seasonal conditions are present, trails should be closed to all forms of recreation (hiking, bicycling, horse use, etc.).

All recreation has impacts on the land, but a growing scientific consensus shows the environmental impacts of bicycling are similar to hiking and less than horse or OHV use. The most robust study to date, funded by the National Park Service, found bicycling trails to be the narrowest, least eroded and least muddy. It also stressed the importance of sustainable trail design in mitigating the sediment and vegetative effects of all recreation activities. (Marion, 2006)

Diverse non-motorized activities are socially compatible on front- and backcountry trails. Nearly all trail users report positive encounters with others, including on one of Colorado’s most popular high alpine routes, the Monarch Crest Trail, open to hikers, bicyclists, equestrians and motorcyclists.

Scientific inquiry into user conflict also reveals a serious disconnect between perception and experience. One independent survey of 370 hikers found 89 percent of those who encountered a mountain biker reported no dissatisfaction, while 69 percent of those who never came across a bicyclist thought such a situation might degrade from their experience. Further, the most comprehensive review of user conflict studies reports no inherent incompatibility among different trail activities. Even popular trails that allow hikers, bicyclists, equestrians and motorcyclists can be highly successful. A visitor satisfaction survey in one Colorado county asked respondents to rate various amenities, including the Monarch Crest Trail, arguably Colorado’s most well-known high alpine route. The Monarch Crest was the only county resource that met or exceeded every person’s expectations. More information on these studies can be found here.

IMBA strongly believes partnerships are the best model for protecting land and responsible recreation. We hope the High Divide Trails agreement is the first of many examples of other constituencies working with Montana mountain bicyclists to preserve cherished wild areas and the experiences they provide. If you’d like to learn more about IMBA’s policies, visit our online Wilderness FAQ.