Well, it appears that IMBA has done its job: it has successfully engaged President Bush in expanding recreational opportunities on all Federal land. This is a big deal, as previously bicycles were listed as recreational vehicles, legally equivelent to 4x4s and ATVs.
I think it is interesting to see that mountain bikers pulled this off...for a few reasons. First, politics. Mountain bikers tend to be more progressive than your average citizen. The real issue at hand is if mountain bike organizers are smart enough to look beyond differences to see potential for gaining ground. I was out riding a couple years ago with the local mountain biking association, and I made mention of the need to engage our President to expand mountain biking opportunities. I remarked that he has even taken the press corp and Secret Service out mountain biking on his ranch, leaving many in the dust, as well as his knack for crashing and ability to take it in stride (like all good mtn bikers do, right?!) Someone with a big mouth and small brain started rambling on about how "W ain't no mountain biker... blah blah blah... Republicans suck... blah blah blah...". Excuse me, the guy rides a mountain bike, rides it off road on his ranch, what else does he have to do? Oh, the guy has different political views than you, so we as a special interest group should not engage him. Real smart. Not so much. Luckily, the national/international level organizers at IMBA have enough gray matter to understand the importance of our 43rd President of the USA also being the first Mountain-Biker-in-Chief.
Mountain bikers have proved the importance of grass roots organizing, not to talk about issues, but to actually address them. Through IMBA and its local affiliates, mountain bikers have come together to build and maintain trails. This action is both positive and tangible, as it addresses the issue, poor trail conditions, with positive action: trail maintenance. Most special interest groups tend to target politicians, policy makers, and use protest and bribery to create change. This tactic has been pretty successful for most special interest groups, and it is interesting that IMBA chose a new course that really creates a paradigm shift for organizations seeking to create change. Over the 20 odd years of IMBA's existance, it has helped create and maintain a lot of trails throughout the US. Local land managers that are starved for resources are becoming heavily influenced by organizations like IMBA and its local affiliates, as they are addressing issues relevant to mountain bike access and public land management: facility maintenance. Other user groups in contrast tend to view the issues of access and management/maintenance differently.
Hikers, bird-watchers, and equestrians tend to engage senior level managers, and vie for their influence to determine how the government's limited resources are used, as well as to determine who will be restricted from public lands. These older user groups (both in their demographic age range as well as span of existence) has never attempted to provide any additional input, beyond taxes. IMBA however, has radically altered this paradigm, getting a younger group of outdoor recreationalists (demographically, and the activity is also no more than 30 years old) together to create something lasting: trails. Their input over the past 20 years has created a great deal of influence, and if President Bush's policy moves forward, the local land managers will be more empowered. As bikers develop and maintain trails, local land managers will be influenced by who is 'showing them the money', or who is proving the least impact and greatest INPUT, not just talking to Congress and senior level park officials (like Sierra Club tends to do).
Hikers, bird-watchers, and equestrians tend to engage senior level managers, and vie for their influence to determine how the government's limited resources are used, as well as to determine who will be restricted from public lands. These older user groups (both in their demographic age range as well as span of existence) has never attempted to provide any additional input, beyond taxes. IMBA however, has radically altered this paradigm, getting a younger group of outdoor recreationalists (demographically, and the activity is also no more than 30 years old) together to create something lasting: trails. Their input over the past 20 years has created a great deal of influence, and if President Bush's policy moves forward, the local land managers will be more empowered. As bikers develop and maintain trails, local land managers will be influenced by who is 'showing them the money', or who is proving the least impact and greatest INPUT, not just talking to Congress and senior level park officials (like Sierra Club tends to do).
Either way, it is great news for mountain bikers. Overall, this policy could benefit the parks, mountain bikers, and create some positive and drastic changes for other user groups that operate in an increasingly obsolete mindset.
