Bicycles may not be ridden in designated Wilderness Areas. This restriction can create a dilemma for those attempting to balance the Value of Wilderness with their special desire to promote and enhance mountain bicycle ACCESS. In a situation analogous to Wilderness rock-bolting, this dilemma is not easily resolved.
Bicycle ACCESS is the primary concern of IMBA. Climbing ACCESS is the primary concern of THE ACCESS FUND. Both organizations are attempting to internally develop - and externally promote - Wilderness policies that meet their own special interests.
The following policy statement was found at the web site of International Mountain Bicycle Association.
Additional information about IMBA and their unsavory, yet pragramtically justified, links to the motorized recreation community can be found by clicking here.
The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) was recently invited to join the Utah Wilderness Coalition (UWC). In response to this invitation, IMBA solicited input from its members and on April 25, 1998, hosted a Utah Wilderness Forum in Park City, Utah. In addition to IMBA's board, staff and members, represented groups included the Blue Ribbon Coalition, Bureau of Land Management, Emery County and Utah state officials, Sierra Club, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, Utah Trail Machine Association, Utah Wilderness Coalition, and the Wilderness Society.
The IMBA board of directors voted not to join the UWC, but committed to work as a partner with the UWC to protect all of the lands in their proposal, although not necessarily all as designated Wilderness. IMBA's board also committed to working with the UWC on other mutual goals.
IMBA's policy regarding Wilderness is as follows:
1. IMBA is committed to protecting wildlands and open space while allowing for appropriate bicycle access.
2. IMBA values the role the 1964 Wilderness Act has had in protecting wild places. IMBA believes that additional Wilderness designations are warranted and will support these when appropriate.
3. Bicyclists must be at the table when Wilderness decisions are being made. IMBA is committed to maintaining access to traditional and important bicycle trails through attention to Wilderness boundaries and the use of alternative land protection designations (e.g., National Conservation Areas, Wild and Scenic River Zones, Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, National Monuments, etc.).
4. IMBA is not advocating the introduction of mountain bikes in existing designated Wilderness areas. However, IMBA believes that bicyclists are appropriate, muscle-powered trail users that are compatible with the philosophy of the 1964 Wilderness Act and the intent of Congress to exclude motorized "mechanized transport" from Wilderness areas. In 1984, the definition of "mechanized transport" was extended to mountain bikes without adequate data, experience or input.
IMBA is a 10-year old organization that supports environmental initiatives such as the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act and other efforts to acquire and preserve open space at local, state and national levels. In the mountain bike community, IMBA fosters the ethics of minimal impact recreation, volunteerism and resource stewardship.
To see how IMBA is willing to dance with the devil himself, read
the following Gary Sprung article on the web site of the Blue Ribbon
Coalition.
Scott Silver, Executive Director,
Wild Wilderness
248 NW Wilmington Avenue, Bend OR 97701
Phone (541) 385-5261 E-mail: ssilver@wildwilderness.org