Jason Murray, the IMBA Ontario Representative, contacted us with a disturbing report of a proposed ban on mountain biking in the Windsor (Ontario) area. There are links in the report below, so that you can add your support to local riders
IMBA was formed in 1988 by a group of Californian mountain bikers concerned about the closure of trails to mountain biking. 21 years later we've made a lot of progress, but we are still seeing closures. Not as many as before, but one closure is still one too many.
It appears that misinformed politicians and city staffers are still labouring under the assumptions that mountain biking causes undue environmental impact, that we aren't a passive activity, that our use is not compatible with environmentally sensitive areas, that our sport is "aggressive" ... I could go on, but I think I've made my point. No doubt some of you have experienced these attitudes as well.
In Windsor this has resulted in the local riders losing access to Brunet Park. In late September LaSalle's council voted to ban mountain biking on the property. It was covered in the local press at CBC and the Windsor Star.
Peter Goldhawk of the Rocket Mountain Biking Club has been leading the efforts to have this ban reversed, or at the very least opened back up for discussion. I've been exchanging e-mails with him over the past couple of weeks and it seems all is not lost, but things still look pretty dim. The town is offering the use of some flat, non-forested farm land (sounds boring to me), but even that won't be available for 2-3 years. Not a good compromise, in my opinion.
Please lend your support, and if you think you can help in any tangible way get in touch Peter at savebikinginbrunet@hotmail.com.
International Mountain Bicycling Association (Canada)PO Box 23034, Kitchener, ON, N2B 3V1phone: 647-333-6241imba.com/canada
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