NAT'L PARKS RULE CHANGE WOULD BENEFIT BICYCLING
According to a Nov. 24th Bicycle Newswire article, "An upcoming National Park Service (NPS) rule change could greatly benefit mountain bicycling by improving the administrative process for opening trails to bicyclists. IMBA has been asking the agency to revise its policies since 1992, because the current 'special regulations' process is needlessly cumbersome and treats bicycles like motorized vehicles.
"The NPS has said the proposal for new rules will be formally announced later this year. IMBA hopes the enhanced procedure will allow park superintendents to make trail access decisions locally, instead of being tied to a Washington-based, multi-year regulatory journey. The new rule would treat bicycling like other non-motorized trail users, such as equestrians.
"The suggested NPS rule change would only apply to places where including bicycling is deemed non controversial, and would maintain current requirements for environmental review and public notice. Opening a trail to bicycling must be done in compliance with the National Park Service Organic Act, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Historic Preservation Act, and all NPS General Management Planning processes..."
Source: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/5eabf4">http://tinyurl.com/5eabf4</a>;
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Title: "Expected Rule Change Would Benefit Bicycling in National Parks"
Authors: Jenn Dice and Drew Vankat, IMBA