International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA)

Guidelines for a Quality Trail Experience

Summary

In the context of mountain bike trails, excellence is realized when a trail design merges the desired outcomes and difficulty that a rider seeks with the setting in which the outcomes are realized.

Overview

Quality is difficult to define but easy to recognize. For the purposes of the Bureau of Land Management’s Guidelines for a Quality Trail Experience, herein referred to as GQTE, quality is defined as excellence. In the context of mountain bike trails, excellence is realized when a trail design merges the desired outcomes and difficulty that a rider seeks with the setting in which the outcomes are realized. These variables ultimately equate to an overall level of sustainability that protects resources while simultaneously providing a rider with the outcomes they seek.

Quality implies a sincere commitment to attaining the highest practical standard. With regard to a quality mountain bike trail experience, several attributes must apply. A quality mountain bike trail on BLM-administered land is one that is:

• Appropriate to a particular place and setting
• Environmentally and socially sustainable
• Economically responsible, taking into account long-term costs associated with maintenance and administration
• Outcomes-focused, able to provide the targeted experience and benefits for the identified rider skill level

Trail Types Covered

• Mountain Biking Trails