So I've been thinking for months about what organisation to join: BC; CTC... you know, the usual.
BUT, I went back to an old thread on which someone mentioned IMBA, which seems pretty moribund in these parts nowadays (although, I would be interested in knowing what happened in light of the survey IMBA Europe ran last year).
That said, I wonder how effective IMBA actually was, and how effective its apparent replacement, OpenMTB, will be. Not that I would in any way knock them and the people involved. I just wonder about the reason they haven't gained much traction in the UK.
Certainly in Canada, where I was a member of IMBA, it was very vocal. But I think it was also the only voice for trail access in the country.
Any thoughts? Anyone on here involved that can proffer some insight? I would be happy to have my perceptions quashed if they are off-base!
don't think you're far off base. 'IMBA who now?'
I looked to try and buy one of their trail building books last year and couldn't get one.
not aware of the survey you mention.
Del - email me re: book, I may be able to help timsellors[at]gmail[dot[com
IMBA - some great people with the best of intentions, did some good stuff, weren't always effective, suffered from classic problem where people want them to do stuff and provide the solution but IMBA couldn't, could only help people do stuff themselves, was involved with them for a long time whilst also being part of SingletrAction, last slow and painful breaths a couple of years ago whereas in reality it probably became ineffective before that.
In Scotland there's an organisation Developing MTB in Scotland (IIRC) which was/is pretty effective and funded (paid for a chap called Graham MacLean, again IIRC). [url] http://www.dmbins.com/ [/url] Don't know so much about them.
Think it's backed by Govt or FC(Scotland) or various things so better cash backing, dedicated officer etc etc, tied into the fact MTB centres in Scotland are a tourist draw so they have decided to invest a bit more. Source of potential info though Scotland-centric.
OpenMTB - fledgling UK-wide group AFAIK, met some of the guys who helped start it off, current SingletrAction chair has been to the odd meeting. Seems promising but I think the issue will always be whether it can find some cash to pay people to do it as a job, rather than rely on key roles to be filled by volunteers. I think this is why any national representative organisation has had problems, so far. And when looking at setting up another body that will need money you have to wonder whether it wouldn't be better as part of an existing organisation e.g. CTC. Benefits of existing systems, scale etc.
For my 2p, and if you actually want to physically "do" something find whatever local, semi-official group exists in your area (e.g. SingletrAction, PMBA, Cock Hill etc etc) and get involved. If you just want to put a few quid into something cycling rights related then CTC. Nothing wrong with that, something better than nothing.
Just my thoughts and a bit of personal experience. By no means gospel 😎
cheers dude, requirement has passed.
I don't think I would be stretching too much to say that IMBA in North America was quite impressive from the outset due in part to the fact that they were as much about the environment as about MTBing [i]per se[/i]. Almost like an auxiliary Greenpeace, but with Mountain Biking as its primary catalyst.
I seem to remember professionally-produced newsletters dedicated to trail erosion issues, including articles dedicated to types of soil, and other educational items.
I know that even Mrs SR supported my involvement with them on the basis that she could see it was more than an organisation made up of a bunch of like-minded, well-intentioned folk with about the same administrative skills as me.
I wonder if IMBA might have become something much bigger had it got stuck in with wider questions, including forest maintenance, water use, transport, etc.
I would add that I don't know that IMBA UK was [i]not[/i] about these things, and that it did not try to go beyond the specific issues related to MTBs; just that whatever they did do didn't seem to have the appeal of their N. American cousins.