Photo courtesy of IMBA
According to the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA), mountain biking contributes $133 billion annually to the U.S. economy. Interest in mountain biking continues to grow and evolve, especially with the rise of new trends such as bikepacking, gravel riding, and electric-assist mountain bikes (e-bikes). When the Pennsylvania Environmental Council wanted to explore this growing interest and opportunities for mountain biking within a half day’s drive of Pittsburgh, they hired Cycle Forward to plan a Summit and develop supplementary reports.
Dates: January – June 2024
Client: Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC, returning client)
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Outdoor Assets: Outdoor recreation areas with existing – or the potential for – mountain biking trails in North Central Appalachia (PA, MD, NY, OH, and WV)
Project Type: Research, Community Engagement, Summit Facilitation
Collaborator: Just-Trails
Project Background
PEC recognized the potential for mountain biking to transform North Central Appalachia into a thriving hub for outdoor recreation and activation. This region, which was mapped out for the purpose of this project, consists of parts of five states: Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia.* PEC envisioned a Summit for communities within the region to discuss the sustainable growth of mountain biking. To achieve this, PEC hired Amy and Julie Judkins of Just-Trails to develop an initial report on the state of mountain biking, organize and facilitate an in-person Summit, and summarize findings and recommendations in a post-Summit report.
Approach
In collaboration with PEC, Amy and Julie identified subject matter experts within the region to be part of an advisory committee. The committee met monthly to discuss the pre-Summit report as well as the kinds of conversations to be included in the Summit. Amy and Julie collaborated with PEC staff to produce the pre-Summit report, “Preparing for Sustainable Mountain Biking Growth in North Central Appalachia.”
On April 30, 2024, Amy and Julie facilitated a daylong discussion on mountain biking – what is believed to be the first Summit of its kind in the North Central Appalachia region.* Topics included the prioritization of community needs, accessibility and inclusivity, multi-state collaboration, and more. The Summit brought 42 individuals together for two diverse panel discussions and interactive brainstorming sessions.
Overall, the discussion focused on a community-centered approach. Trail and tourism efforts must prioritize the needs of communities and land managers to avoid negative impacts.
Amy then worked with Julie to write a recommendations report following the Summit. In a few words, the project approach was to research, gather together, collaborate, and refine (with the end result being an actionable recommendations report, “Advancing Community-Centered and Sustainable Mountain Biking Growth in North Central Appalachia”).
*Technically, the region under consideration includes the Appalachian
Regional Commission’s (ARC) designated subregions of Northern and North Central
Appalachia, but the term “North Central Appalachia” is being used for purposes
of this work. The intent is to hold the boundaries softly, and support multi-state
collaboration using MTB as the thread.
Panel #1: From Research to Renewal: Igniting Local Economies for Lasting Impact
From left to right: Amy Camp, Jessie Powers (Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia), Ta Enos (PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship), Danny Twilley (Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative), and Anthony Duncan (International Mountain Bicycling Association)
Panel #2: Path of Progression for Local Riders
From left to right: Julie Judkins (Just-Trails), Corey Lilly (Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative), Monica Garrison (Black Girls Do Bike), Alyssa Crawford (Venture Outdoors), Mike Kuhn (PA National Interscholastic Cycling Association League), and Christine Iksic (3 Rivers Outdoor Co.)
Deliverables
Deliverables included the pre-summit report, the daylong Summit, and the post-summit recommendations report.
Pre-summit report: “Preparing for Sustainable Mountain Biking Growth in North Central Appalachia.”
Post-summit report: “Advancing Community-Centered and Sustainable Mountain Biking Growth in North Central Appalachia”
Impact
The North Central Appalachia Mountain Bike Summit is believed to be the first summit of its kind in the region. Mountain biking advocates and coaches, environmental organizations, funders, municipalities, and others with a vested interest in the area gathered together for a dynamic conversation. When asked what they were leaving with, participants shared words such as “hope,” “inspiration,” and “connection.” The post-Summit report encourages continued conversation and collaboration along with the following recommendations:
- Establish a network structure through a coalition or alliance
- Create a strategic, community-driven vision to guide MTB investments
- Identify gaps through mapping and prioritization
- Engage communities and activate MTB trails
- Secure long term sustainable funding for trail developments and maintenance
