News: Shimano and IMBA Release MTB Study

Enjoying the outdoors is as natural as riding a bike and Shimano American Corporation and the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) have teamed up to promote how important the activity is. Shimano is a major manufacturer of bicycle components and IMBA is a national advocate for responsible riding and trail construction. Together they are releasing the new document, The Economics and Benefits of Mountain Biking at the National Bike Summit in Washington D.C. March 4 – 6, 2008.

More than 1 in 5 Americans age 16 and over ride a mountain bike, and contribute $26 billion annually to the American economy while enjoying the sport. Kozo Shimano said, “We want legislators, policy makers and the public to understand how significant mountain biking is to both the economy and to keeping people healthy.” One recent cost benefit analysis concluded that every dollar invested in trails led to almost three dollars in direct medical benefit. The World Health Organization recommends riding a bike to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Mountain bikers are also dedicated conservationists who volunteer their time, labor and money to protect the natural and cultural resources where they ride. IMBA Executive Director Mike Van Abel commented, "From the beginning, IMBA members have embraced a stewardship ethic that benefits conservation of our natural lands and waters. This timely publication shows how that conservation mindset also gives back with economic benefits."

Scientific research has shown mountain biking to be a low impact environmentally sustainable activity with no more impact on natural resources than hiking, and far less than many other recreational activities.

Kozo Shimano added, “To put the activity in perspective, 50 million Americans ride a mountain bike – more than 1 ½ times the number of people who play golf. “

Photo: Alan Davis

Reader Comments

Posted Fri Mar 7, 2008, 10:17 AM — By Ricky Dee

I started riding a mountain bike 4 years ago. I was hooked right at the beginning. It is a great exercise and more importantly it's fun. Why you need some study to tell people the benefits of riding a bicycle seems silly. When I was a kid me and my friends all rode bicycles. That's why I think I love riding today. Most people are lazy and don't like to exercise because it causes pain and people don't like pain so they don't do it. I hope Shimano and IMBA will not use this study to get tax dollars for developing trails or anything else. We have enough people sucking away other peoples money for every program that can be thought of. Riding a bike is great and more people should do it. But, let's not use tax dollars to promote the sport.

Posted Mon Mar10, 2008, 12:59 PM — By Grant Lamont

In regards to the study and Tax $$ towards trails I would like to say grab all the tax dough you can.They use taxes to kill, maim and alienate people all over the world so what is wrong with using it to benefit lives. Are the highways, sidewalks, stadiums and recreation centres all self-supporting? I think not! This may be as close as the U.S. gets to health care and trails are much better than pharmacuetical subsidies. Hopefully gas will go to $5 a gallon and maybe some of the lazy porkers will ride a bike.

Posted Tue Mar11, 2008, 11:57 AM — By Mike Ripley

I started riding 18 years ago and it changed my view on the world and is a source of health and wellness that I hope to give to my kids. More people after high school give up exercise and become 20-40 lbs overweight and loose the relationships that they once had to encourage activity. The mountain bike community needs to reach out and partner up with big companies to showcase riding and the positive effects it can bring to the general public who have for one reason or another lost touch with this love of the bike and exercise. I approve of using tax dollars to promote healthy lifestyles and the more people on bikes, the less in health care costs you and I will have to pay over the long term.

Posted Fri Mar14, 2008, 6:01 PM — By Deanne

We are lucky in Rossland, BC that the local governments have recognised the social, environmental and economic importance of a Trails System. We are one of the few towns who have a fabulous trails network with an IMBA epic trail which are all supported by local governments!

Posted Sat Mar15, 2008, 11:00 AM — By David Burger

This is important information, yet it seems to have a lack of depth. Making an economic argument is mediocre at best, but it may get more trails built. Health is a great argument, yet anyone who has gone over their handlebars won't see it as a "low impact" sport. But that may also lead to more trails. The issue is, IMBA is working to change wilderness classifications so that we can ride through what they want to call "Scenic" areas. Fantastic, let's turn wilderness into scenery (which will soon be less scenic, with riders going to fast to see anyway), crowd every ride, and build a business case for raising the price of our bikes - how about planned obsolescence?