Not so Public Lands
Did you know that the legislature is trying to take our public lands? Right now, they are looking for ways for the state to control Federal lands in Idaho. Yep, that would include the riding around Sun Valley, McCall, and even some in the Foothills.
That’s why BAMBA joined forces with Idaho Rivers United, Boise Climbers Alliance, Winter Wildlands Alliance and others to call it like we see it – a bad idea for all of us that ride, camp, climb, paddle and ski in Idaho.
For more, you can read our letter here: http://outdooralliance.net/documents/Outdoor%20Recreation%20Fed%20Land%20Transfer.pdf
Lowes BAMBA Volunteer Day
Come join Lowe’s employees work on a few projects including improvements on grass berm, pump track, and laying pavers for picnic table patio next to pump track.
Lowe’s will provide food for breakfast and lunch. Please RSVP so we know how many to expect for food purchase.
Check out the “Lowes Bamba Volunteer Day” event and sign up on Facebook. Let your friends know you are coming, and get them to join in the fun!
Bamba Movie Fundraiser – “Not Bad”
Mark your calendars for August 15th! Join BAMBA at The Northgate Reel Theatre for a celebration and fundraising event. We will be showing “Not Bad”, the new bike short film by Anthill and a portion of Redbull’s “We – A Collection of Individuals” a ski/boarding film to celebrate the proposed terrain park. A raffle and some news to immediately follow. All proceeds will go towards funding an exciting new flow trail project at the bike park. More details coming soon. -tickets will be limited to the first 250 people due to our venue.
Ticket sales start at 6:30.
Movie tickets are $10! Raffle tickets will be $5!
Watch a trailer:
Flow Trails
Check out this WSJ article about flow trails and the Forbidden Fruit flow trail in Sun Valley.
Call to Arms
Fellow Riders:
We hope you have seen the positive changes that have begun to take hold at the Eagle Bike Park over the last year. The City of Eagle has demonstrated their commitment to the park by signing a lease agreement with the county, committed much needed funds for the maintenance and development of the trails… and hired a new parks and recreation director along with two part time trail coordinators. The city is also in the midst of creating a five year plan which comprehends the usage needs of all user groups and has already reached out to our biking community for our input during a meeting that many of you may have attended in February. While this increased level of support was unanimously supported by the vote of the full council, the park’s most ardent supporters has been three key council people —Mary Defayette, Mark Butler and Norm Semanko.
As you may know, Norm Semanko resigned recently leaving a vacancy on the council. The Mayor is in the process of trying to fill that opening and is holding a city council meeting [today], Tuesday (4/2) at 7PM (Eagle City Hall) to seek public comment on his potential selection to fill that seat. BAMBA is advocating that the City appoint an appointee who, like Mary, Mark and Norm, possesses a progressive mindset in regards to the Eagle Bike Park. The city council also needs to know that we not only support the positive direction that has been taken by the city but also directly support the council members who made these positive steps possible–namely Mark and Mary.
While on a ride last week, I met a family from California who came to check out the park. They were curious where they needed to pay to use the park. They were shocked to find out this incredible (free) resource that was managed by the city. They said this type of park would never be possible back home. We are so lucky to have the park and now more than ever, the park needs us. If you have ever said to yourself, “I really should show up to the next trail day and put in some time…” then showing up on Tuesday (4/2) at 7PM to show your support for those who continue to make this park possible maybe the best hour you could contribute to the future of the park. Please consider attending the meeting and voice publicly your support for the park and those who are making this support possible–Mary Defayette and Mark Butler.
Thank you.
Mark Pyper
Bikes Belong and the peopleforbikes.org campaign
We’re all doing our part to make bicycling better in the U.S., whether it’s clearing brush from a local mountain bike trail or funding a new bike path in a community without one. Bikes Belong shares your commitment to safe, accessible, well-maintained bicycle facilities, and we were delighted to help your organization with the Downhill trail phase of the Eagle Bike Park project in 2009. Now we’re asking for your help to spread the word about a campaign to promote better biking across the country.
A new movement – spearheaded by the Bikes Belong Foundation – called Peopleforbikes.org is working to make the vision of great paths, lanes and trails a reality. We have created a simple pledge of support for better bicycling in America and we’re working to get one million people to sign it. The goal is to establish a unified, powerful voice for bicycling that will show our elected leaders and the public that bicycling is important and should be promoted.
We at Bikes Belong encourage you to sign the pledge today and pass it along to your members, friends, and family to sign, too. It is quick, easy, and free, and it will help the future of bicycling. All we need is your name.
Here’s the link to sign the pledge. If you would like to include information on your organization’s webpage or in your newsletter, go to www.peopleforbikes.org/downloads for web banners and logos.
Nearly 200,000 people have already signed the pledge, including Lance Armstrong, Gary Fisher, and bike-friendly Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. We all know that life is better when it’s experienced on two wheels. Now let’s take this message to millions of people coast to coast.
Thank you,
Zoe
Zoe Kircos
Bikes Belong
Bikes Belong: Putting More People on Bicycles More Often
Sign the pledge to unite one million voices for better bicycling in America at www.peopleforbikes.org