UK MOUNTAINBIKE CONFERENCE 2015

IMBA Europe - CTC – OpenMTB conference close

KEEP THE MOMENTUM

ADVOCACY

o In most EU countries, MTB advocacy is still in its infancy or even non-existing

o Reactive instead of proactive

o Fragmented: traditional structures vs online communities (fewer obligations) and little cooperation / coordination

TRAIL BUILDING

o Growing numbers of (voluntary) trail care groups

o Development of new trails mostly initiated from a tourism perspective

www.imba-europe.org

A LITTLE BACKGROUND HOW IS MTB ADVOCACY AND TRAIL BUILDING ORGANIZED ACROSS EUROPE?

MTB ACCESS INDEX (2015)

www.imba-europe.org

EUROPEAN MTB SURVEY 2015

www.imba-europe.org

ADVOCACY CONTINUUM

www.imba-europe.org

WHERE WOULD WE PUT THE UK? BIGGEST DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, WALES & N-IRELAND?

• ‘Closed unless open’

•High demand advocacy programs

ACCESS

•Constituency grows

• Sufficient numbers & resources

POLITICAL CLOUT

•Recognition equal resource impacts

•Asked to give input new land management policies

MUTUAL IMPACT

•Mutual respect

•Outdoor alliances

•Development of sustainable trails

TRAILS COMMUNITY

1. Organize and empower the grassroots

2. Build sustainable trails

3. Involve industry stakeholders

4. Build land manager partnerships

5. Cultivate a trails community

TOOLS TO ADVANCE MOUNTAIN BIKING

www.imba-europe.org

There’s no one size fits all solution for each EU country

Factors to take into account:

o Decision making (legislation/policies): national or state level?

o Ratio number of private and public landowners

o Presence of existing cycling bodies

o Number of clubs / MTB groups (density)

o Chosen objectives

o Mountain bikers wishes / needs

o Business case / funding

WHICH ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE TO CHOOSE?

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o Coalitions / Consortiums

o Scottish Mountain Bike Development Consortium | DMinS

o Slovenian Mountain Bike Consortium | odprimopoti.sl

o Traditional Cycling Bodies: NTFU (NL), Danish Cycling Union

o Mountain Bike Advocacy Assoc.: IMBA Espana, IMBA Italia, NOTS (NO), DIMB

(DE), CeMBA (CZ)

o Foundations: Mountain Bikers Foundation (FR)

o Online community: Upmove Mountain Sports Community (AU)

o Mixed: ATBV (POR), mountain biking, hiking & trail running

EXAMPLES

www.imba-europe.org

Mark Slater, CTC Volunteer Support Officer

CTC MOUNTAIN BIKE PERSPECTIVE

www.imba-europe.org