July 14, 2005 – For the second time in a year, the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) has been asked to testify before the U.S. Congress regarding proposed Wilderness. Today, July 14, IMBA’s Jim Hasenauer will provide testimony on the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act (S.128/H.R. 233), a bill that threatens to ban mountain biking from 170 miles of singletrack trails.

Hasenauer, a mountain biking pioneer and former IMBA president, will speak on the importance of singletrack in the proposed 300,000-acre Wilderness area before the U.S. House Resources Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health.

IMBA remains dedicated to land conservation and believes that the Wilderness designation is just one of many tools that should be employed to protect wild places. Bicycling is banned in all Wilderness areas. When proposed Wilderness areas include significant mountain biking opportunities, IMBA suggests diverse land designations that protect natural areas while preserving access for bicycles. Hasenauer will make those and other key points to congressional leaders.

In September 2004, IMBA board member Chris Distefano spoke before the U.S. Congress about proposed Wilderness in Oregon.

“IMBA is committed to representing mountain bikers at the highest level of government,” said IMBA government affairs director Jenn Dice. “By influencing decisions in Washington, D.C., we’re able to provide more trails on the ground, or in cases like Wilderness bills, help prevent trail closures for mountain bikers across the country.”

Read IMBA’s written testimony here: http://www.imba.com/resources/wilderness/imba_ca_testimony.html

To lend your voice to IMBA’s California Wilderness campaign, go to: http://www.imba.com/news/action_alerts/07_05/07_06_ca_wild.html

Learn about an innovative bike-friendly Wilderness bill in Virginia: http://www.imba.com/news/action_alerts/07_05/07_07_virginia.html

Bicyclists in Oregon have proposed diverse designations to protect public lands and preserve bicycling access near Mount Hood: http://www.imba.com/news/news_releases/06_05/06_14_mount_hood.html

Not a member? Join IMBA today at http://www.imba.com