State of the MTB Sector Webinar – Zoom Recording Available

For anyone that missed the State of the MTB Sector Webinar on November 3rd, you can view the Zoom video recording here. The MBTA would like to thank all the presenters for their excellent presentations. Crankworx Events Darren Kinnaird darren@crankworx.com Whistler Mountain Bike Park Wendy Robinson Wrobinson@vailresorts.com IMBA Canada Justin Darbyshire justin@imbacanada.com Indigenous Youth Mountain Bike Program Patrick Lucas plucas.catalyst@gmail.com Colour the Trails Judy Kasiama judith.kasiama@gmail.com Kootenay Adaptive Sports Association Mike Riediger riedigerm@gmail.com Revelstoke Cycling Association Meghan Tabor meghan.tabor@seerevelstoke.com If you have any follow-up questions about the information presented, please contact the presenter directly or Martin Littlejohn at martin@mbta.ca. If you enjoyed this webinar and would like to see other topics in the future, please take a moment to fill out our webinar topic survey. ...

New E-Mountain Bike Policy for BC

Electric bikes (e-bikes) have become increasingly popular in recent years as an alternative form of transportation and a new recreation activity. Recognizing this as an emerging use of Crown land, Recreation Sites and Trails BC has created a policy to clarify e-bike use on established recreation trails. The policy acknowledges e-biking as an allowable activity on Crown land where permitted, and supports Recreation Sites and Trails BC to work with Partnership Agreement holders, communities and other stakeholders to fairly and consistently evaluate e-bike activity relative to current trail uses and use restrictions. The policy only applies to established trails managed by Recreation Sites and Trails BC and does not apply to trails managed by BC Parks or vacant provincial public land, local government or trails on private land. Click here to view the...

Mountain Bike Tourism Creates Jobs and Significant Contributions to Local Economies

Regional economic impact study shows major growth of mountain bike tourism in Sea to Sky Corridor. Vancouver, BC – June 21, 2018 – Whistler, Pemberton, Squamish, and North Vancouver receive a significant share of the estimated 9.2 million overnight visitors that come to the Vancouver, Coast and Mountains tourism region each year according to Destination BC’s Regional Tourism Profile.  An increasing number of visitors are coming specifically for mountain biking from other parts of BC, Alberta, the US and Overseas.  BC has gained legendary status as a mountain biking destination from being featured in countless videos, photographs, and media articles in print and online publications over the past two decades.  Mountain biking has transitioned from being a fringe sport into a mainstream recreational activity, following a similar growth pattern as skiing and snowboarding.  Mountain biking is being embraced by communities throughout the province who see its value both as a local recreation asset as well as a tourism generator. The Mountain Bike Tourism Association (MBTA), in cooperation with community partners and Destination British Columbia, has released the overall results from the 2016 Sea to Sky Mountain Biking Economic Impact Study.  The overall results include a comparison with the previous study completed in 2006 using the same methodology. The results show: Mountain biking visitor expenditures in the Corridor has increased by nearly 100% since the 2006 study, rising from $31.7 million in 2006 to $70.6 million in 2016. The number of jobs supported by mountain bike tourism has grown from 309 in 2006 to an estimated 687 jobs in 2016 with wages totaling $35.9 million. Taxes generated by mountain bike...

Mountain biking visitors contribute significant economic benefits to Squamish

VANCOUVER – April 4, 2017 A new study supported by the District of Squamish finds that mountain bike trails in Squamish attracted $9.9 million in visitor spending in 2016.  Mountain biking is a significant outdoor activity in the District of Squamish, with 25,180 riders taking over 202,000 rides in 2016. Of note, more than 20,000 riders and 99,000 rides were made by visitors from outside of the community, providing a significant boost to the local economy. For the avid mountain biker it is no surprise that Squamish has become a sought after destination.  With over 150 kilometers of maintained mountain bike trails surrounded by stunning mountain and coastal scenery it’s no wonder that it has been featured in many published articles and videos, played host to numerous events and media crews, and is now home to a number of professional riders, bike and adventure related businesses and tourism companies.  The District of Squamish’s tag line sums it up perfectly, “Hard wired for Adventure.” The results of the 2016 study illustrate the significant growth in mountain bike tourism for Squamish over the past decade.  In 2006 a similar study was conducted which determined that mountain bike visitors spent $2.3 million in the community.  This quadrupling of tourism spending over the past 10 years can be attributed to many factors. A major one has been the provincial policy introduced in 2008 to allow approved mountain bike trails on Crown Land under the Forest and Range Practices Act. Once trails are approved communities can then begin to promote them for local recreation and tourism. Mountain bike tourism is likely to continue to...