Wilderness/Mountain Bicycling Groups Reach Agreement On Jefferson National Forest Wilderness Proposal

For Immediate Release
06-20-04
Contact: Gary Sprung
gary@imba.com
303-545-9011
Mark Miller
540-464-1661

RICHMOND, VA -- Representatives of the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) and the Virginia Wilderness Committee (VWC) praised last week's introduction of legislation to protect parts of the Jefferson National Forest in southern Virginia as Wilderness. The groups worked hard to find compromises to accommodate everyone's uses while protecting the forest.

The "Virginia Ridge and Valley Wilderness and National Scenic Areas Act of 2004," introduced last Thursday by U.S. Representative Rick Boucher and U.S. Senator John Warner would designate four new Wilderness areas, additions to five existing Wilderness areas, and two National Scenic Areas.

"IMBA has long supported land preservation, but Wilderness is always a tough one for us because it categorically bans bikes," said Gary Sprung, IMBA's senior national policy advisor. "In other states, that has led to serious disagreements between cyclists and Wilderness advocates. But the Virginia Wilderness Committee worked hard to understand and accommodate mountain bicycling. They made many boundary adjustments and supported National Scenic Areas for the two areas with significant bicycling trails."

The National Scenic Areas proposed for Crawfish Valley and Seng Mountain would allow bicycling, but prohibit mining, road building, logging, and motorized travel (with minor exceptions). Fire fighting would be permitted as well as maintenance of existing wildlife openings.

"We did give up some trails that were important to bicycling in the proposed Raccoon Branch Wilderness," Sprung noted. "But we consulted with local cyclists and most agreed that the agreement made sense."

The bill includes a provision that encourages the USDA Forest Service to build a bypass trail around Raccoon Branch, to facilitate long-distance bicycle travel.

"This wilderness legislation is the product of years of work," said Mark Miller with the Virginia Wilderness Committee and the Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition. "We are happy and excited that the mountain bicycling community has joined us in what has been a two-year effort. The agreement between IMBA and VWC provides a framework for future cooperative efforts in Virginia. For now, we must all now work together to help the Virginia delegation get this bill passed."

IMBA has already encouraged its members to contact the Virginia Congressional delegation to support the bill.