Save the Continental Divide Trail!

The US Forest Service is threatening to ban bikes from the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST). If you are not familiar with the CDNST, it stretches 3,100 miles along the Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. It is one of only a handfull of National Scenic trails and one of only two (including the NCT) that allows bikes in non wilderness areas.

All that could change if the Forest Service implements a draft rule that "would encourage land managers to kick bikes off existing routes, and not include us on future segments."

This action on behalf of the Federal Government does not bode well for cyclists, of whom there are 40 million in the United States. If the forest service kicks cyclists off the CDNST, what's next? How about the NCT?

The Continental Divide Trail Alliance, which coordinates advocacy efforts for the CDNST, has a lot of information online about the trail. Their site is worth checking out. The CDTA recognizes that "mountain biking is not a form of motorized travel, the CDTA believes that mountain bikers should have qualified access to the Continental Divide Trail outside of Wilderness and National Parks ..." It's interesting that the CDTA uses the moto "The Trail Unites Us."

Let's stay united and stick up for our rights. Uniting non motorized, muscle powered user groups for the interest of the whole trail means more advocates for the trail in the end.

IMBA has the skinny online now, along with info on how you can help. Don't delay. Make your voice heard!