Boulder-White Cloud Mountains Talking Points:

Please contact your Congressman, Senator, and/or Governor TODAY! Some talking points:

• These areas are not threatened by mining, logging or development. Current land use policy is working. The proposed Wilderness designation areas will eliminate unique and irreplaceable recreational opportunities for human powered recreation by bicycle.
• Bicycles are non-motorized. We want to protect the land from development and resource extraction. Eighty-five miles of trails are at stake. Cyclists want to support and help pass a bill that preserves current recreational access for bicycles.
• Mountain bikers support protecting all of the lands under consideration, but Wilderness is not the only designation that achieves this goal. Congress can and has used other land protection tools, which allow bicycling. We suggest expanding the National Recreation Area management policy and support designating Wilderness where trail access by bicycle is not restricted. The bill should preserve current bicycle access on trails where bicycle use is currently allowed.
• Congress has other tools and can also use designations such as Protection Areas or improved National Conservation Areas, and Non-Wilderness trail corridors.
• There are economic benefits of cycling to Custer and Blaine counties: tourism industry, bike shops, touring companies and cyclists who spend money at restaurants, gas stations and hotels. The Sun Valley Ketchum area is a great example of what mountain bike tourism can do for the economy.
• The impacts of hiking and biking are similar. There is no reason to add Wilderness designation to the areas that currently allow bicycles. These areas are not threatened by mining, logging or development.

Thanks for taking action on this very important issue.

Please phone, fax or email: