Vancouver Island Mountain Biking (VIMB)

Trail Ninja · Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 6:18 pm Post subject: Province Wide MTB Advocacy Group?

This thread on NSMB.com starts out a little weak but gets good after a few posts.

http://bb.nsmb.com/showthread.php?t=132725
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Lorien · Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 8:41 pm Post subject:

**** yeah.
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Trail Ninja · Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 9:04 pm Post subject:

Lorien · Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 5:45 am Post subject:

I don't know, but I don't see why there can't be both.
Truth be told, I'm not sure what IMBA is doing to promote mtb in BC.
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SOOKE MOUNTAIN CYCLE- Each of the three words by themselves spell fun to me. All three together, even better.
-Freak Brother

www.sookemountaincycle.com
www.sookebikeclub.com

James Brown · Guest

Let me start off by saying, that IMBA is developing a pilot program in Ontario called the Regional Advisory Council (RLC). The council will be made up of volunteers from various clubs who wish to identify advocacy issues in their area. The RLC they will identify the common ground issues and provide strategic direction to IMBA Canada.

Key point to remember is, although it will become a nation wide program, each provincial RLC will only consist of members from that province. So the BC RLC will consist of BC members and BC specific issues, no out of province influences to skew the focus. Also, complete autonomy is critical, we don't want you to lose your voice, your club, your issues under the guise of an umbrella organization.

The reason we are starting in Ontario is, this was born from last falls Ontario Mountain Bike Summit breakout sessions. But let me be clear, IMBA sees this as a goal for each province and we are working towards that. Also, there seems to be more push back towards mountain bicycling in some Ontario government sectors than what we are currently dealing with in BC. Our Ontario IMBA Rep, Jason Murray is on the front line working out the kinks which we discuss regularly on our conference calls.

Additionally, IMBA is a recognized and respected organization within governments at many levels. We have the most influence of any mountain bicycle advocacy organization in the world. Combine that with our publications and partnerships that national, provincial and regional land managers have adopted suggests we are the best organization to speak on your behalf.

Now to address the question as to what I as the IMBA Canada BC Rep have been doing for mountain bicycling in BC, here you go:

1. As a member of the Trails Advisory Committee for the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, I attended every meeting over the two years of its development. The final result, a plan now in front of government for approval and many mountain bike clubs working with MTCA on pilot programs.
2. I was instrumental in setting up a Canadian based IMBA Affiliate Club insurance program and continue to enhance the benefits for our clubs.
3. As a member of the Mountain Bike Tourism Association I contributed to the BC Tourism Mountain Bike Tourism Plan – released in March 2010.
4. As a member of the BC Regional Advisory Committee, I along with 5 others reviewed and recommended proposals from 53 applicants to receive federal grants distributed through the National Trails Coalition. The end result was 3.1 million dollars of funding for trails in BC:
• All 3 MTB club proposals were accepted, IMBA Affiliate Clubs
• 15 of the 21 Non-Motorized permit mountain biking or 71%
• 23 of the 35 awarded proposals permit mountain biking or 66%

I won’t list the local and regional issues I have dealt with as they are specific to that area and too numerous to count. Keeping in mind this is a part time position, I don’t get paid to sit on my hands and many people can attest to that.

Lorien · Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 10:38 am Post subject:

excellent, James, I'm glad you chimed in here.
_________________

SOOKE MOUNTAIN CYCLE- Each of the three words by themselves spell fun to me. All three together, even better.
-Freak Brother

www.sookemountaincycle.com
www.sookebikeclub.com

Trail Ninja · Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 10:43 am Post subject:

Thanks James. In my opinion an organization like IMBA is our best bet.

Any idea of a timeline to get the BC RLC going. I'm working on our local club to join IMBA. Then I'd consider joining our local club.
_________________
Building trails since 1964.

James Brown · Guest

GregB · Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 12:05 pm Post subject:

wow, all very good stuff indeed. If there is anything that is being released to the press James, please feel free to send it my way and I will be happy to post it up on the site and forward it to others around the area.

Thanks!
Greg
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