MOUNTAIN BIKING
Ottawa is North American “Urban Hot Spot” Mountain bikers unite to smooth the trail ahead By Vicki Thomas WHAT COMES to mind when you think of mountain bikers? How about outdoor enthusiasts working as a community to develop sustainable trails for all levels and types of cyclists? Probably not. That could soon change, however, if the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) and a handful of dedicated mountain bikers have their way With the popularity of mountain biking in the National Capital Region, a serious image makeover is long overdue. The rubber really hit the dirt when the IMBA decided to lend its credibility and political voice to the cause. All too often, mountain bikers clash with hikers, dog walkers, land owners and site managers. There is too much controversy over who is doing the most environmental damage, who should be using the trails, and who should have the right to use them. The IMBA is helping to smooth the way in the National Capital Region, where the mountain bikers’ favorite playground is Gatineau Park. This past summer, the IMBA made its second visit to Ottawa in as many years. With the mandate to create, enhance and preserve trails for mountain bikers worldwide, the IMBA’s presence is strongly needed here. Established in California in 1988, the IMBA has been working to bring out the best in mountain biking by promoting www.OttawaOutdoors.ca
low-impact riding, volunteer trailwork participation, co-operation among diverse trail user-groups, and innovative trail management solutions. Several years ago, Dominique Larocque, owner and director of LaRocca XC Mountain Bike School in Ottawa, asked IMBA representatives to come to Ottawa. They did in 2003 and again in September 2004. Larocque organized the first visit because she was concerned with the trail situation at Camp Fortune. The second visit came with some additional fanfare and exposure. After a successful session with IMBA representatives Mark Schmidt and Lora Woolner in 2003, Larocque decided to put Ottawa on the IMBA map. In 2004, Ottawa was designated as an “Urban Hot Spot,” one of just two in North America — the other is Indianapolis. As an Urban Hot Spot, Ottawa benefited from IMBA trailbuilding sessions. Schmidt and Woolner are treating Ottawa as a priority because it’s Canada’s capital and huge numbers of mountain bikers are faced with dwindling access to urban trails. “In Ottawa, we really need to reach out to the community and let people know this is not a hopeless situation,” says Schmidt. “There are one million people in the area and not a lot of places to ride. The wide multi-user trails do not meet the needs of the users. We can promote the idea that single track trails can
be built in a sustainable way.” Larocque says it’s essential for the growth of mountain biking in the area and for improving the image of mountain bikers: “We have a bad image here in Ottawa. Trails are being closed. At Camp Fortune, trails were being developed that were not manageable.” The IMBA has a mandate to debunk the myth that mountain biking is harmful to the environment. Studies collected by IMBA and environmental scientists show that mountain biking is actually less harmful to the environment than hiking or horseback riding. A 1994 study conducted by John Wilson and Joseph Seney of Montana State University demonstrated that there was no significant difference in impact between hiking and bicycling. Studies such as these support mountain bikers who feel they are locked in a constant battle with the National Capital Commission (NCC) over Gatineau Park trail use. Mountain bikers have seen trail access become more and more limited in recent years, especially at Camp Fortune. Comments from cyclists on Ottawa’s most popular mountain biking web site — www.mtbkanata.com — show that conflict between mountain bikers and the NCC has been on-going. Surfing the web site also reveals that many mountain bikers believe that the NCC is not particularly interested in trail development and sustainability. Michel Dallaire, Manager of Recreational Services Gatineau Park for the NCC, says that’s simply not true: “We’ve been promoting IMBA’s rules of the trail. This is the basis for mountain biking in the Gatineau Park.” He welcomes the presence of IMBA in the park and specifically at Camp Fortune. Dallaire sees the influence of IMBA representatives such as Schmidt and Woolner as a windfall for mountain biking. OTTAWAOUTDOORS SPRING/SUMMER 2005
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