IMBA: Why bicycle access is important in Missouri's parks, recreation areas, and tourism areas
Thanks to MoBikeFed member Celeste Koon, we were alerted recently to a proposed new area plan for the Ozark National Scenic Riverways in south-central Missouri that proposes, for the first time to allow mountain biking on some of the trails in the Scenic Riverways area. Since then, we have been able to work with mountain biking clubs throughout Missouri, the Interational Mountian Biking Association (IMBA), and MoBikeFed members like you to mobilize a significant number of comments in support of mountain biking and road biking in the Scenic Riverway.

(Deadline for public comments on the mountain biking proposal is TODAY, February 7th, 2014 at midnight. Find out more or submit comments here.)
Steve Schneider, South Central Regional Director of IMBA, wrote an excellent letter in support of mountain biking in the area--one that really sums up why mountain biking, and bicycling in general, is important to Missouri's national parks, state parks, and other recreation and tourism areas:
Ozark National Scenic RiverwaysMichael Reynolds, Midwest Regional DirectorNational Parks Service601 River Front DriveOmaha, NE 68102-4226RE: Draft General Management Plan/Wilderness Study/Environmental Impact StatementDear Mr. Reynolds,Thank you for the opportunity to provide input on the Ozark National Scenic Riverways Draft General Management Plan/Wilderness Study/EIS. This letter contains the formal comments of the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). We at IMBA, urge you to give increased consideration for mountain biking for this and future plans. We oppose the no-action plan, which will continue the prohibition of mountain biking on all trails within the Scenic Riverways. With mountain biking currently disallowed on all existing trails and bicycling on the roads discouraged by the Scenic Riverways web page, it does not allow visitors the full range of recreational options available from other state and national areas.Missouri was named “Best Trail State” of 2013 which has a large and active mountain bike population with IMBA chapter affiliations that if given the opportunity, would use, enhance, and help maintain public access for these trails including all usergroups.Founded in 1988, IMBA leads the national and worldwide mountain bicycling communities through a network of 80,000 individual supporters, 750 affiliate clubs, and 600 dealer members. IMBA teaches sustainable trail building techniques and has become a leader in trail design, construction, and maintenance;? encourages responsible riding, volunteer trail work, and cooperation among trail user groups and land managers. Each year, IMBA members, chapters and supporting organizations conduct more that 750,000 hours of volunteer trail stewardship on America’s public lands and are some of the best assistants to federal, state, and local land managers.Bicycling is low impact, active recreation that enhances the visitor experienceMountain Bicycling is Low Impact: Numerous scientific studies exist regarding the natural resource impacts of mountain biking showing that mountain bicycles do not disturb the environment any more than hiking, and significantly less that equestrian and motorized uses.*Active Recreation: Bicycling broadens the recreational offerings and helps Americans get exercise. It connects people with the natural world and is fun. Fun, active recreation directly contributes to the physical and mental well being of the people of the United States.Relevancy for Youth: Many parks lack relevance with today’s youth – bicycling is a great way to help kids fall in love with parks and become future stewards. According to the Outdoor Industry Foundation, bicycling is the number one gateway activity that gets kids outside and ultimately interested in other activities such as hiking, camping, and fishing. Kids don’t fall in love with the outdoors at a visitor center or information kiosk, they want to explore and have fun.Improves Visitation and Visitor Experience: Visitation numbers are down at many NPS units. Improving opportunities for bicycling and promoting trails tourism could benefit economic conditions for nearby communities. Once inside the Park, visitors on trails traveling by foot or bicycle can immerse themselves in the natural experience rather that simply observing it from roads inside cars and RVs.Mountain Bikers Volunteer: Many NPS trails are in disrepair. Annually, mountain bicyclists conduct almost one million hours of trail work on public lands. Volunteers from the mountain bike community can help build environmentally sound, sustainable trails.Thank you for your time and careful consideration of our comments. We look forward to a productive relationship in the future. Please feel free to call us (303) 545-9011 (Boulder Office) or email (steve.schneider@imba.com), If we can be of further assistance.Respectfully Submitted,Steve SchneiderSouth Central Regional DirectorInternational Mountain Bicycling Association*See Jeffrey L. Marion, Assessing and Understanding Trail Degradation: Results from Big SouthFork National River and Recreational Areas, United States Department of Interior (2006) (finding thatbicycle trails were the least eroded, narrowest, and least muddy of the trails studied, including hiking,equestrian, ATV, and mixed-used trails;? Luke Chiu & Lorne Kriwoken, Managing RecreationalMountain Biking in Wellington Park, Tasmania, Australia, Annals of Leisure Research, Vol. 6, No. 4,339-361 (2004) (finding no significant difference in the surface wear on a control plot by hikers andmountain bicyclers);? and John Wilson & Joseph P. Seney, Erosional Impacts of Hikers, Horses,Motorcycles and Off-Road Bicycles on Mountain Trails in Montana, Mountain Research andDevelopment, Vol. 14, No. 1, 77-88 (1994) (finding no difference between the erosional impacts of hikersand mountain bicyclers in a controlled study, and noting that horses cause the most erosion as doesmotorcycle riding on wet trails).
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