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Show THE ZEPHYR/ APRIL-MAY 2005 SILVER | BULLETS earn negotiations. - In Oregon, mountain bikers have answered a Wilderness proposal for the Mt. Hood National Forest with an alternative that would maintain access to singletrack while protecting all the areas in the original plan. The alternative specifies some land parcels to be managed like Wilderness, but allow bicycling. - In Idaho, access to 85 miles of singletrack near Sun Valley is threatened by proposed Wilderness. IMBA and local riders are working with government officials to preserve this important cycling destination. IMBA’s third focus is direct communication with key federal land agencies that manage Somewhere recreation, set Wilderness regulations and oversee Wilderness Study Areas. IMBA ite Waa cw te eae SCOTT SILVER MOUNTAIN BIKE LEADERS SHOW THEIR TRUE COLORS ON WILDERNESS... I'll let this news release from the International Mountain Bicycling Association speak for itself. continues to meet regularly with federal agency officials and develop strategies to manage trail use on public lands. IMBA recently challenged a BLM land management plan that would ban bicycling in a Wilderness Study Area. Finally, IMBA will continue to evaluate the future of federal land protection and how each agency regulates bicycling in Wilderness Areas. IMBA believes current federal Wilderness regulations unnecessarily prohibit mountain biking and are not based on valid resource protection concerns. Contributing to this debate is a recently published legal analysis of the Wilderness Act of 1964. Written by attorney Ted Stroll and published in the Penn State Environmental Law Review, the article investigates the Wilderness Act and argues that the current bicycle ban is inconsistent with Congress’ original intention. IMBA remains firmly dedicated to land conservation and believes that Wilderness designation is just one of many tools that may be entployed to protect wild places. IMBA’s policy and position on Wilderness is determined by its nine-member board of directors with assistance from IMBA staff and consultants. WWW.WILDWILDERNESS.ORG IMBA Announces Strategy for Wilderness and Mountain Biking For Immediate Release 02-10-05 Contact: Pete Webber, pete@imba.com 303-545-9011 IMBA communications director The blanket ban on bicycling in Wilderness Areas and its effect on future trail access continues to be a focus for the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) in 2005. IMBA is pursuing a four-part strategy to protect access for mountain bicycling while preserving natural areas. IMBA believes mountain biking, a low-impact, muscle-powered recreation, is an appropriate use of trails on public lands and is consistent with the values of Wilderness land protection which includes recreation in natural landscapes. When proposed Wilderness Areas include significant mountain biking opportunities, IMBA pursues boundary adjustments and alternative land designations that protect natural areas while preserving bicycle access. IMBA supports new Wilderness designations where they don't close PUBLIC ACCESS...THE FIGHT GOES ON Quoting LA Times columnist Christopher Reynolds’ parting words after writing his 70th "Wild West’ report and before hanging up his spurs: “Washington needs reminding that This Land Is Our Land. If citizens’ groups don’t rise up, the federal government is going to push ahead with plans to make us pay more and more for access to land we already own. Under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act that was signed into law last year, the Forest Service and a handful of other agencies have a 10-year authorization to bill us for stepping into all sorts of priceless landscapes that used to be free.” The federal government IS going to push ahead with plans to not only make us pay more singletrack bicycling opportunities. IMBA members highly value land conservation, clean water and to access our lands, the federal governments IS also going to push ahead with Disneyfying clean air. The first part of IMBA’s strategy is to continue to build clout in the U.S. capital where IMBA staff, volunteer advocates and a prominent D.C. law firm are lobbying to influence proposed Wilderness legislation and protect bicycle access. This includes pending Wilderness bills that would close hundreds of miles of singletrack in California, Oregon, Virginia, Idaho and Washington. Mountain bikers are urged to attend IMBA’s “24 Hours of D.C.” April 6-7 for a targeted lobbying campaign. In 2004, bicycle advocates held 140 face-to-face meetings with government officials during IMBA’s lobby day, championing key mountain biking and Wilderness issues. Second, IMBA will mobilize and lead its grassroots network to participate in local negotiations over Wilderness lands expansion. It is essential that IMBA, cycling clubs and individuals speak strongly those priceless landscapes in an effort to increase the perceived recreational value of these lands so that access to them can be sold to paying customers at top-dollar prices. That must for mountain biking in the early stages of Wilderness discussions. Through education, outreach, community building, partnerships and media relations, mountain bikers can influence and support appropriate Wilderness bills. is certain. Whatis still undetermined is whether the People of this nation will passively accept what their government is doing to them and to their public lands. What is yet to be determined is whether citizens groups will rise up in defense of preserving that which, until recently, was both Wild and Free. To anyone and everyone who has even a passing interest in Americas’ National Parks, forests, rivers, mountains, deserts and streams, PLEASE do not passively accept the Corporate Takeover of Nature and the Disneyfication of the Wild. That is what your government and their recreation/tourism industry partners are working to achieve. Whether they succeed is entirely dependant upon what you and I and our friends, neighbors and communities do in the next few months. If we do nothing, then we might as well all hang up our spurs and pack it in. - In Virginia, mountain biking leaders recently negotiated a compromise on a Wilderness proposal that protects lands and preserves bicycle access in the Jefferson National Forest by using a National Scenic Area designation. - In northwest California, a Wilderness bill threatens to close more than 170 miles of trails to mountain biking. IMBA is committed to shaping a bill that is better for cycling and will continue “Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.” -Dylan Thomas y Werd nner GET YOURSAT’ BACK OF BEYOND BOOKS OR ORDERONLINE: WWW.CALEN 2005 CALENDARS DARS.COM |