The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) has just released their eighth annual Report Card and Oregon has been named the “Top Dog” in the U.S.
In their official press release they mention local mountain bike club, the Portland United Mountain Pedalers (PUMP).
Here’s more from IMBA:
“Our reasons for making this selection go beyond outstanding riding. There’s also a statewide plan for developing trail recreation that should be inspirational for the rest of the Union. On top of that, Oregon’s standout bike clubs – like the…..Portland United Mountain Pedalers (PUMP) and others who are working diligently to protect trail access. They’ve even helped shape a bike-friendly land management plan for Mount Hood – no small trick.”
Here in Portland, it seems like we’re lagging behind other parts of Oregon. I would love to see more partnerships between PUMP and other groups to open up more acreage in Forest Park to mountain bikes. The recent completion of Firelane 5 is fantastic, but we still need more places to ride.
There is also an ongoing effort for an urban, mountain-bike skills park (like this one in Seattle) but I haven’t heard an update on that in a long time.
This recent good news from IMBA, along with singletrack trails being a new criteria for going Platinum, should provide local mountain bikers with the momentum to make some exciting things happen in 2007.