The International Mountain Bicycling Association and the National Park Service will undertake 12 partnership projects for 2006. These new projects stem from a collaborative agreement between the two organizations signed in May which facilitates on-the-ground teamwork and the development of models for future collaboration. The projects include three pilot programs, one each at Big Bend National Park in Texas, Fort Dupont National Park in Washington, DC, and Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio. These pilot programs involve enhancing existing MTB trails and, in the case of Cuyahoga Valley, adding mountain biking trails to the recreation infrastructure.
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 at parks throughout the country, including Big South Fork National Recreation Area in Tennessee; Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in Hawaii; and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area in California.
IMBA stated that bringing mountain bicycling to national park units that do not already have bicycle access will not happen overnight. New riding opportunities 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, will not be considered for these mountain bicycling programs.
