WMBC - WordPress.com · • Oakridge, Oregon – $1.2 Million impact (Mountain Bike Oregon...
Transcript of WMBC - WordPress.com · • Oakridge, Oregon – $1.2 Million impact (Mountain Bike Oregon...
WMBC Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition – To
preserve and enhance non-motorized trail access in Whatcom County through stewardship, education, and advocacy
From The Beginning
• Started as a tight-knit group of mountain bikers - affectionately known as the WHIMPS
• Building and maintaining trails in Whatcom County for 28 years
• WMBC has been the official stewards on Galbraith Mountain for 10 years
Board of Directors • President – Matt Durand, Principal of Mt. Baker High School • Vice President and Director of Volunteers – Barbara Karabin,
Physical Therapist • Director of Education – Hale Hanaway, Teacher at Silver Beach
Elementary • Director of Events – Val Thompson, Self-Employed, Massage
Therapist • Director of Marketing – Kevin Menard, Owner – Transition
Bicycle Company • Director of Advocacy – Blake Treadway, Transition Bicycle
Company • At Large (DNR) – Thad Quinn, Bike Sales and Mechanic
Dedicated Volunteers
• 15 organized trail days a year – some with 60 – 80 volunteers
• 2014 – 7,000 hours, plus thousands more hours of ad hoc maintenance
• 2013 – 5,000 hours, plus thousands more hours of ad hoc maintenance
• 1,500 WMBC and 2,900 Preserve Galbraith Facebook Friends, 652 email subscribers
Trail Maintenance
• Redesign trails to meet modern and sustainable standards
• Removing fallen trees (blowdown) • Inspections and maintenance of bridgework and
trail features • Sustainable trail tread
– Eliminating low spots – Armoring with rock – Crowning trail to sheet water – Grade Reversals
Stewardship
Stewardship
• Galbraith Mountain - 43 mile trail network.
• Larrabee State Park – Two Dollar Trail, Double Black Diamond Trail, Upper Chuckanut Ridge Trail
• Blanchard Mountain – Lily to Lizard Lake Connector, Larry Reed Trail
• Whatcom County Parks – Raptor Ridge Trail, Lower Salal Trail
• Bellingham City Parks – Civic Field Dirt Jump Park and Miranda Trail
Stewards of Galbraith Mountain
• Responsible for Liability Insurance – $4 million dollar policy
• Maintenance of all trails – 43 miles, most trails are ~2-3 feet wide
• Majority of trails are multi-use and utilized by bikers, runners, hikers, and walkers
• Weekly coordination with Janicki Logging during timber harvests
• Re-opened 23 miles of trail in one year after a large timber harvest
• Implemented an EMS checkpoint system.
Education Programs
Education Programs
• Service learning projects with Fairhaven Middle School, Whatcom Middle School, Windward High School, Lynden Christian
• Eagle Scout projects
• Developing after school clubs – Silver Beach, Wade King, Birchwood, Whatcom Middle School
• Training Local Bike Instructors
• Collaboration with WWU students and professors
Education Programs (continued)
• In Collaboration with Everybody Bikes, we promote bike safety at:
– Lowell, Roosevelt, Wade King, Silver beach and Happy Valley Elementary schools.
Community Events
Community Events
• Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day
• Shoot The Trails – Local film and photo contest
• Bike 2 Brew – Group rides followed by a celebration at Kulshan Brewery
• Fall and Spring Races – Cascadia Dirt Cup and Enduro of Subdued Excitement
• We assist with the Tour de Whatcom, Ski to Sea, Padden Pedal and the Bellingham Traverse
• Galbraith Beer series – Boundary Bay Brewery
Advocacy
Advocacy • Our organization and dedicated user base:
– Continue to advocate for Authorized recreation in Whatcom County on DNR-managed land (since 2008)
– Attended County Council meetings to support the Lake Whatcom Park (reconveyance)
– Attend monthly Blanchard Mt. User Meetings (DNR) – Contributed to recent DNR Trail Policy guidelines (on-going) – Guided the Comprehensive Area Management Plan process for
Larrabee State Park (completed) – Contributed to USFS Open Roads Analysis and Discussions – Contributing to the Upper Nooksack River Recreation Planning
Process (on-going) – Advocating for pump tracks and skills zones in city parks
Nationally Recognized Trail Network
Other Promotion
Videos filmed in Bellingham in 2014:
• Matt Hunter (Specialized Bicycles):
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/video-trail-hunter-2014-specialized.html
• Adam Craig and Josh Carlson (Giant Bicycles):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYJCorumXfM
• Lars Sternberg (Transition Bikes):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S94YdYJ-eQ
Mountain Bike Economic Benefits
2014 User Survey (749 respondents):
• 31.5% reside outside of Bellingham or Whatcom County.
• These people are affluent (67% with an income of $70k+)
• 53% spend a minimum of $40 per visit at breweries, restaurants, hotels, gas stations, bike shops and supermarkets.
• 72% of them visit Bellingham at least quarterly (and 25% monthly) to recreate on our trails.
• 50% of our racers are from outside of
Whatcom County.
• Our trails are not seasonal dependent.
Mountain Bike Economic Benefits
Economic Benefits Elsewhere
• Squamish, B.C. – $4 Million annual impact (26 weekend riding season - extrapolated)
• Oakridge, Oregon – $1.2 Million impact (Mountain Bike Oregon weekends)
• Bend, Oregon - $400k impact (High Cascades 100 race)
• Ogden, Utah - $1.2 Billion invested by businesses relocating
• Moab, Utah - $8.4 million annual impact
Improves Quality of Life
Improves Quality of Life
Businesses Recruit talent using Galbraith Mountain (examples)
• St. Joe’s Hospital
• WWU
• Logos Software
• Homes for Sale near the Trail network
• Fanatik Bike
Future Projects:
Proposed or in-process trail projects: • Whatcom County Parks – Reconveyance planning and build
out
• Larrabee State Park – 17 Miles of proposed trails. Trail Planning is currently in progress.
• DNR – Lily to Lizard connector, Alternate Incline Reroutes
• City of Bellingham – Pumptracks and skills zones in parks
• USFS – Canyon Ridge re-routes and additions
• Galbraith Trail Expansion and Skills Zones
Our Vision:
• Continue to build recreation, community spirit and quality of life
• Continue to create nationally recognized trail networks near Bellingham
• To create and host world class races and events
• To build educational programs that promote mt. biking, advocacy and stewardship for the lands where we recreate
• To help draw businesses and recreation-based tourism to Bellingham
In Closing
• Continue to promote mountain biking through stewardship, education, and advocacy