Environmentally Friendly Mountain Bike Trails
Using Science to Keep Mountain Bike Trails Open
Did you know that scientific research shows when trails are properly designed and maintained, mountain bikes are an environmentally responsible and sustainable use of public lands?
Did you know that the 'footprint' of mountain bikes on trails is similar to or smaller than impacts from hiking, and appreciably smaller than impacts from equestrian or ATV use?
For tens of millions of people, riding a mountain bike is a healthy way to enjoy our natural outdoor heritage. As more riders come to appreciate the recreational opportunities on public lands, land managers and policy makers are faced with an increasing demand for more bike trails. Some groups argue that mountain bikes are detrimental to wild places and should be banned. How are land managers to decide?
At Shimano we believe that decisions and policies determining recreational uses of public lands should be based on the best available science, research and professional natural resource management tenets.
In partnership with the U.S. Department of Interior - Bureau of Land Management Arizona State Office, Dr. Pam Foti and Northern Arizona University, Dr. Dave White and Arizona State University and 2-time Canadian national mountain bike racing champion, Elladee Brown, we sponsored extensive research in five major geographic regions to determine the ecological impacts of mountain bikes.
As a result of this unprecedented research effort we are pleased to provide a guide to: Planning & Managing Environmentally Friendly Mountain Bike Trails.
Planning & Managing Environmentally Friendly Mountain Bike Trails
Mountain Bike Guidebook