E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Challenges and Opportunities for Bicycling and the NPS Bob Ratcliffe Chief Conservation, Recreation and Community Assistance Programs National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Visitors Use Considerations and Challenges for NPS Management Balancing Protect & Preserve with Use and Enjoy: How can we ensure protection resources while meeting public recreation and visitation demand? Balancing Protect & Preserve with Use and Enjoy: How can we ensure protection resources while meeting public recreation and visitation demand? Determination of Appropriate Uses– not all parks are created equal: What kinds of uses are compatible with and compliment our particular units mission/mandate? Determination of Appropriate Uses– not all parks are created equal: What kinds of uses are compatible with and compliment our particular units mission/mandate? Visitor infrastructure and services: Can we manage or afford the level of facilities and services needed or desired to support safe and reasonable access? Visitor infrastructure and services: Can we manage or afford the level of facilities and services needed or desired to support safe and reasonable access? Visitor Safety, Management and Liability: How can we reduce conflicts and ensure the safety and quality of experience for our visitors? Visitor Safety, Management and Liability: How can we reduce conflicts and ensure the safety and quality of experience for our visitors? E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

Future Challenges for Outdoor Recreation: Hotspots Hotspots can occur where human activity and undeveloped land collide. Projections of 2020 hotspots were made for all counties in the lower 48 states. Social Pressure, on currently undeveloped land, comes from: Population Density Population Density Economic Activity Economic Activity Outdoor Recreation Demand Outdoor Recreation Demand USDA FS, Southern Research Stations, Hotspots.

Recreation Hotspots & Public Land E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

Growing Population and Increasing Diversity E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A 2000 Source: Census Bureau million 571 million

Changing Populations: Implications for Biking Interests Expect increased competition for limited resources. Expect increased competition for limited resources. Expect limits on use, more allocation and permits to protect resources and experiences. Expect limits on use, more allocation and permits to protect resources and experiences. Expect more crowding and conflict from diversity of activities and specialization. Expect more crowding and conflict from diversity of activities and specialization. Expect increasing public debate and litigation over appropriate forms of recreation and public access needs on the public lands. Expect increasing public debate and litigation over appropriate forms of recreation and public access needs on the public lands. Expect less support for conservation from populations who are not engaged in the outdoors. Expect less support for conservation from populations who are not engaged in the outdoors. E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

Parks and Bikes NPS is creating more bike opportunities in parks NPS is creating more bike opportunities in parks Improving Management: Build awareness, improve safety and share best management practices that encourage bike use in parks Improving Management: Build awareness, improve safety and share best management practices that encourage bike use in parks Expanding Visitor Services: Provide concessions and vending operations that encourage biking Expanding Visitor Services: Provide concessions and vending operations that encourage biking Creating More Bike Opportunities: Implement policies and processes to develop trails and routes for bikes in parks - New Bike Rule Creating More Bike Opportunities: Implement policies and processes to develop trails and routes for bikes in parks - New Bike Rule E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

Recent examples of how parks are becoming more bike friendly. Capital Bikeshare on the National Mall Capital Bikeshare on the National Mall Urban bikeshare programs encourage use of and access to parks Urban bikeshare programs encourage use of and access to parks Renting Bikes at the Grand Canyon Renting Bikes at the Grand Canyon Encouraging bike services options through concessions Encouraging bike services options through concessions Mountain Biking trails at New River Gorge Mountain Biking trails at New River Gorge Biking is now an economic driving force for the region. Biking is now an economic driving force for the region.

NPS Programs that Support Biking NPS also offers programs outside of parks that provide: NPS also offers programs outside of parks that provide: Community assistance: Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance and Stateside LWCF and others that work with partners to create trails in thousands of communities nationwide Community assistance: Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance and Stateside LWCF and others that work with partners to create trails in thousands of communities nationwide Grants and Funding: NPS Challenge Cost Share and Connect Trails to Parks Programs - $2 million annually Grants and Funding: NPS Challenge Cost Share and Connect Trails to Parks Programs - $2 million annually National Partnerships: that support education, best practices, volunteering, training and communication such as with IMBA, ACA, American Trails & others National Partnerships: that support education, best practices, volunteering, training and communication such as with IMBA, ACA, American Trails & others Special Designations and Recognition: Includes AGO, National Recreation Trails, Recreation.gov and other programs that incentivize trail development or promote biking Special Designations and Recognition: Includes AGO, National Recreation Trails, Recreation.gov and other programs that incentivize trail development or promote biking E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

A Few Examples of NPS Community Assistance Program successes for Bikes Denver Mountain Bike Initiative Denver Mountain Bike Initiative Natural surface trail projects in urban area designed to connect more people and youth with nature. Natural surface trail projects in urban area designed to connect more people and youth with nature. Poplar Creek Trail in MN Poplar Creek Trail in MN Connecting residents to their local state park Connecting residents to their local state park Jamaica Bay Bike Trail in NYC Jamaica Bay Bike Trail in NYC Connecting communities and underserved populations to and through a National Park. Connecting communities and underserved populations to and through a National Park.

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Our formula for success Cant do it alone: Improving and expanding our work with partners Cant do it alone: Improving and expanding our work with partners Sound Data and Policy Framework: Developing thoughtful policy and good information to make sound management decisions Sound Data and Policy Framework: Developing thoughtful policy and good information to make sound management decisions Thinking Strategically: Taking advantage of our strategic initiatives to accelerate efforts and align resources Thinking Strategically: Taking advantage of our strategic initiatives to accelerate efforts and align resources Locally Driven: Emphasizing community-based partnerships as a platform for collaboration Locally Driven: Emphasizing community-based partnerships as a platform for collaboration

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Working with Partners on a National Scale Education: Building best management practices for trails and biking (example: IMBA) Education: Building best management practices for trails and biking (example: IMBA) Promotion: Developing and promoting bicycle routes and opportunities (example: ACA) Promotion: Developing and promoting bicycle routes and opportunities (example: ACA) Benefits: Collaborating with outdoor industry and tourism partners to document economic and other benefits (example: OIA) Benefits: Collaborating with outdoor industry and tourism partners to document economic and other benefits (example: OIA)

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Successful Partnerships use the Five H approach! Hearts: Promoting stewardship. Hearts: Promoting stewardship. Heads: Fostering interest in conservation, best management practices and building awareness. Heads: Fostering interest in conservation, best management practices and building awareness. Health: Facilitating active and healthy lifestyles. Health: Facilitating active and healthy lifestyles. Hands: Engaging people in public service and volunteering. Hands: Engaging people in public service and volunteering. Hope: Building a better future by getting more kids and families outdoors. Hope: Building a better future by getting more kids and families outdoors. How organizations help the agencies connect people with parks and public lands.

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Tips for Working with the NPS Gain influence by learning the issues, engaging in planning and policy development, and join friends groups Gain influence by learning the issues, engaging in planning and policy development, and join friends groups Build relationships and get to know your local land managers. Build relationships and get to know your local land managers. Offer assistance and expertise to promote best management practices. Offer assistance and expertise to promote best management practices. Build networks by participating or joining organizations that bring together other interests and land managers. Build networks by participating or joining organizations that bring together other interests and land managers. Generate good will by offering to partner or provide services for management solutions. Generate good will by offering to partner or provide services for management solutions.

Questions? E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A For Additional Information Please Contact: Bob Ratcliffe Josh Nadas Read the NPS Bike Rule: