From Committed to Created: More Trails in 2022
IMBA wants to see 250 communities create more trails close to home by 2025. It’s no small order. It can be a long, tough process to get from that initial vision for trails to tires rolling on fresh tread. IMBA is able to support trail champions and community partners at any step and every step in the trail process. Great trails take access, advocacy, engagement, funding, planning, design, construction, and ongoing stewardship. IMBA’s expertise in the path to more and better trails is unparalleled.
In 2022, 45 new communities eager for trails engaged with IMBA’s programs and expertise. Now, 380 communities are pursuing trail opportunities. When communities commit to trails is when the path to more trails is clear: 37 new communities committed in 2022 and are now planning for trail construction. And for 33 communities, the wait was over. These 33 communities created new trails and saw their vision come to life. IMBA’s work toward more trails and counting continues, so everyone has a great place to ride.
Access
Fueled by years of momentum, mountain biking saw a sprint finish with two massive access successes in 2022. The Bonneville Shoreline Trail Advancement Act was passed into law to improve trail connectivity in Utah, while mountain biking became federally protected in Colorado’s newest national monument. In both cases a new precedent was set that can be modeled to protect and enhance mountain bike access in many communities.
Twelve years in the making, access for mountain biking is explicitly protected in the designation of the new Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument. IMBA’s recommendations to preserve all existing trail access and protect trails through bike-friendly Recreation Management Areas were incorporated into the monument.
A new law adjusts land management boundaries to further a long-distance trail while creating more trails close to home in the Salt Lake Valley. The Bonneville Shoreline Trail Advancement Act has been led by mountain bikers and its passage is the culmination of years of hard work by trail champions, local partnerships, and creative collaboration.
Advocacy
IMBA rallied mountain bikers to speak up on ten national and local trail issues in 2022, while advising on dozens more. At the federal level, mountain bikers played a big role in the prominence of the BOLT Act’s swift movement through the House and Senate. IMBA’s 13,600 most engaged advocates are a consistent and compelling voice on Outdoor Alliance partner issues. Locally, mountain bikers in Ohio, Arizona, Colorado and Michigan coordinated advocacy efforts statewide.
“State-level support can be a key ingredient to transforming local communities and trails, and provide much-needed support for outdoor recreation in general. Being connected to other advocates in the state can help amplify the challenges mountain bikers face.”
–Anthony Duncan, IMBA Director of Local Programs
16 Bills Supported | 182 Agency Meetings | 40 Local Assists | 1800 Letters Written
Planning & Design
What’s in a plan? For IMBA trail planners, it’s poring over maps to survey a landscape, weeks in the field to learn every environmental detail, and as many meetings as it takes to understand a community’s vision for more trails. The planning team worked across the country on trail plans for singletrack, stacked loops, bike parks and projects supporting student NICA leagues.
21 states | 46 active projects | 860 miles planned | 148 miles designed
Funding
Of the 380 communities engaged with IMBA for more trails, dozens of projects are planned and approved, but hinge on finding the funding to create more trails. As more federal funding for recreation became available in 2022, IMBA honed in on connecting funds to communities. Through grants, resources, listening and leverage, IMBA directly supported 38 communities with funding, and gave IMBA Local leaders the spotlight to share funding successes and advice.
IMBA programs and partnerships continue to fund more trails and counting across the country.
- 16 Dig In projects raised $102,000 in 2022.
- 10 new Trail Accelerator grants were awarded $122,500 for professional trail plans.
- $139,000 went to to 12 mountain bike projects through National Forest System Trail Stewardship grants.
Construction
IMBA’s Trail Solutions construction team created more trails in partnership with ten communities in eight states in 2022, from Wisconsin to Georgia; West Virginia to Utah. The team crafted a variety of trail experiences, ranging from smooth flow to technical gnar. In communities like Columbus, Georgia where IMBA planned a multi-year, phased build, IMBA built green trails first to attract new riders, and has been back annually to build more challenging, progressive trails.
71% xc & flow | 19% technical & rocky | 10% gravity & jumps
Partners in Columbus
“Trail Solutions has been tremendously helpful. They’ve built really great trail, created a good master plan which is the core of what we partnered with them to do. What you don’t see is how many phone calls they’ve taken for us and all that they’ve taught me through this process.”
–Blake Melton, trail champion, Standing Boy Trails, Georgia
Impact in Cedar City
“The journey to build beyond what was here started about seven years ago, and IMBA was in the very beginning planning stages of it all. ... They are all top-notch professionals. IMBA has built a fantastic trail that millions of people will eventually ride, I am sure of it.”
–Dave Jacobson, trail champion, Iron Hills Trail System, Utah
Stewardship
Work days, rides, events and education: community stewardship sustains our trails. IMBA welcomed 22 new IMBA Local Partners in 2022, growing the network of volunteer stewards who keep local trails in tip top shape. Nationally, IMBA worked through Trails are Common Ground to promote trail respect, inclusivity, safety and awareness through trail etiquette guidance and eMTB education. IMBA’s Ride Vibes series took that message local, sharing community voices and stories promoting trail kindness.
Your Support
Individual philanthropy is making the difference in how communities learn about planning trails and attracting local stakeholder support for projects. Supporters who believe in the power of trails for healthier and happier communities are invited to join the like minded group comprising Singletrack Society. Foundations are invited to join other leading foundations backing strong IMBA programs that move trail concepts to construction.
Membership in the Singletrack Society grew by more than 20% in 2022. Fueled by generous trail philanthropists who recognize how to help IMBA protect and create trails, these advocates also love getting together to ride in spectacular locations.
IMBA’s foundation partners delivered grants that accelerated trail development, provided coaching to local advocates, advanced the trail responsibility campaign Trails are Common Ground, and met the needs of underserved communities. Foundations seeking to advance outdoor recreation, health, and well-being, are finding a home at IMBA.
Corporate partners not only provided financial support, but helped lift awareness about volunteerism, advocacy, and IMBA’s mission. In 2022 IMBA was proud to work closely with Freehub Magazine on BikeTown, a film featuring the story of mountain bikers, unlikely partnerships and the communities they create.
Engagement
Hands-on education is the first tool in the trail toolbox. In 2022 IMBA led 14 educational workshops for partners in communities across the country. Site-specific workshops included four Trail Care Schools for volunteers and two Trail Management Schools for land managers. Trail Labs: Foundations in Arkansas and Utah welcomed representatives from 22 states and Navajo Nation, all eager to learn more about what trails close to home could mean for their communities.
IMBA Strength
IMBA continued to strengthen its sources of income, expense control and balance sheet. Despite inflationary pressures, costs were controlled well without sacrificing delivery on IMBA’s mission, and donors continued to support the success they are seeing in more trails close to home.
IMBA increased annual revenue by nearly $1 million in 2022. It allowed IMBA to expand community engagement work to assist more communities in their backyards, and grow the planning and design team to accelerate the pace of professional trails.
2022 Total Revenue: $7.4 million
2022 Total Expenses: $6.9 million
2022 Net Revenue: $515k
Philanthropic mountain bikers, leading mountain bike companies, and foundations recognized IMBA’s strong role to create, enhance, and protect great places to ride for everyone. IMBA’s total 2021 revenue increased $1.5 million over 2020 revenue.
2021 Total Revenue: $6.5 million
2021 Total Expenses: $4.9 million
2021 Net Revenue: $1.5 million
IMBA thanks trail champions worldwide for your efforts toward more trails close to home.
"My first mountain bike experience was on a borrowed hybrid bicycle on steep river bluff trails in Nebraska. Stretching the limits of center-pull brakes and 35c tires, I was hooked! Mountain biking has since provided me with the most amazing life experiences as a rider, advocate, trail builder, promoter, retailer, coach and racer. Making all of that even more amazing are the wonderful people I have come to know and ride with along the way. Hit me up and let’s go ride!"
Meet our teamKent McNeill
CEO
