NSMBA Presents Business Case to DNV Council - Sign the Petition!

[morgman]

Good luck boys! Sending good vibes from Vegas.

[FlipFantasia]

you've got this on lockdown, politicians love seeing massive amounts of value addedness to relatively little investment

[AlanB]

Great job with the presentation tonight. Very positive reception by Council.

It speaks volumes that other stewardship groups have reached out to the NSMBA for training on trail maintenance. Fantastic endorsement of the leadership you've shown and how well respected the NSMBA has become.

Kudos to you all. Outstanding achievement!

[Woodro]

Big thanks to those who came out in support!

[DrewM]

Great job Matt & Mark (and the NSMBA executive).

In absence of an official write up (apparently everyone is down at Interbike), I figured I would offer my two chain ring bolts for those that missed it.

I apologize for the rambling structure and occasional, obvious, bias. There is a reason I can't write articles for a living...

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The turnout was small and the crowd lacked the frothing vitriol of meetings gone by; the business case was the most professional presentation the riding community has offered.

Matt and Mark's goals were clearly defined, and follow-up questions were handled with clear and concise responses that demonstrated just how much time they have dedicated to TAP and maintenance going forward.

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It was very disappointing to see that, while the majority of the mountain bike community and their representatives at the NSMBA, have moved on to focus on a positive, professional, multi-user maintenance plan, some councilors are still recycling long dis-proven rhetoric and anecdotal re-tellings of trail user conflicts.

Of particular note was councilor Mackay-Dunn who once again regaled the assembled persons with the grand tale of his heroic, last minute, rescue of councilor Harris from a rabid mountain biker gone awry on a multi-use trail, while the veteran crowd mouthed along to the words of this oft repeated yarn.

Mark countered with supporting documentation from the ~400 Members of the BCMC Hiking club and the ~400 Members of the North Shore Hikers club in addition to ongoing support, and dialogue, with the Old Growth Conservancy. The more groups outside the mountain biking world that support the NSMBA, the more legitimacy the organization has in the face of these rare and exaggerated anecdotes.

Furthermore, the NSMBA's "Trail Building Academy" and trail maintenance program has grown to include these non-mountain bike user groups.

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Twice councilors attempted to trap Matt & Mark with questions completed un-related to what was clearly a request for funding for on-going maintenance of existing trails.

1) "Is this plan for the maintenance of existing trails or to construct new trails."

Matt -> "As far as the NSMBA is aware council has not lifted a moratorium that they passed on new trail building."


2) "What is the NSMBA's position on Night Riding."

Matt -> "The NSMBA does not have a position on Night Riding."

Mackay-Dunn was quick to confirm staff's position on Night Riding (they are against night riding especially in parks, which have "theoretical" closing times).

You would think by now that long servicing DNV councilors would recognize that the NSMBA is a trail maintenance and advocacy organizations (not a policy and policing organization) but apparently not.

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Who are the trail building experts?

Fully admitting to my long established bias regarding district employee Susan Rogers, it was nice to hear her give an actual answer to one of (the multiple) questions she was asked by council.

In response to the question "who are the trail building experts" she, as usual, identified Biologists and Foresters employed by DNV and explained that "Best Management Practices" are very much "Evolving" in terms of the knowledge base around trail building.

It was incredibly satisfying to hear Mark correct her... Trail Building is evolving; however, the NSMBA is at the "Apex of Knowledge" with invitations to the IMBA World Summit and to teach trail building and organization in Washington. The DNV has an essentially FREE, professional, ultra-knowledgeable resource at their finger tips, and it would be very nice to hear staff acknowledge it for once.

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Finally: The NSMBA = Value. They do more, significantly better, maintenance then the DNV with significantly less money.

While Matt and Mark did not list a dollar figure they would like to see from the DNV, one councillor (Nicks?) suggested it was the "$64,000" question (yes Mackay-Dunn, we all heard your snide remark: "add a zero").

When you look at the work that TAP has done on the trails on Fromme and Seymour already it is hard to imagine just how much work could be done for what really is a paltry sum.

-D

[FlipFantasia]

Thanks for the recap, drew

[switch]

Sad to hear MacKay Dunn hasn't changed. Time for a change.

[heckler]

thanks Drew. that takes Mackay Dunn off my list of people to vote for.

Which councillors were supportive?

[Knnn]

I agree, Mark and Matt were very professionally and put on and excellent presentation.

Apart from a few irrelevant (grandstanding?) comments from Mackay-Dunn (see previous) and an amusing regurgitated of Monica's rants by one public speaker, I got the impression that the DNV now fully appreciates and understands the capacity and incredible level of experience and expertise the association brings to the table.

I'm left wondering if they don't pony up with some cash, do they realize what a tremendous resource could be lost/wasted if the folks at the NSMBA were to give up beating their heads against a brick wall.

[NSMBA]

A number of people deserve to be thanked for the culmination of efforts on this presentation. Ben Campbell - Barry and Phil Bradshaw were essential drivers of the Business Case and contributed an exceptional amount of their time and expertise in what was a marathon series of think tanks, refinements and re-calibrations. Thank you to all of the supporters who came to voice your support in Council Chambers or to be simply with us in spirit. Thank you to the many community groups who support our position for a sustainable model for our trails. It is inspiring to see the groundswell in the community at present. Thank you to the DNV for the opportunity to present this plan and being engaged in healthy dialogue. Thank you to all of those involved in any way with TAP and the Builder's Academy, it has given us great credence to propose this plan. Together, we will continue to forge ahead!

[DrewM]

Originally Posted by heckler

thanks Drew. that takes Mackay Dunn off my list of people to vote for.

Which councillors were supportive?

From my perspective I wouldn't say any of the councillors seems particularly supportive (I'd be curious if anyone felt differently actually).

There were a few comments on the quality (good) of the presentation, a few comments on the evolution of the NSMBA, and then mostly personal anecdotes and a bit of rambling. Basically if you've been to a council meeting where other mountain bike related topics were discussed you definitely don't need to watch the video.

Sure, I have a personal bias. And I am probably too much of a Troglodyte to understand the nuances of municipal politics. But really Ernie Christ (RIP) is the only councilor I have ever seen take a real, actual (I am for this! I am against this!) stance on anything (mountain bike related or otherwise).

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Council did vote unanimously to send the proposal to staff for comment. The real question will be how they vote once staff/the NSMBA have worked out the details.

-D

P.S. I (may) understand (some) of the reasons that there are two North Vancouvers (District & City) but with how many higher-density-dwelling-non-lawn-mowing mountain bikers we have living in city it's times like these I wish our vote could be counted.

-D

[shirk]

Originally Posted by DrewM

P.S. I (may) understand (some) of the reasons that there are two North Vancouvers (District & City) but with how many higher-density-dwelling-non-lawn-mowing mountain bikers we have living in city it's times like these I wish our vote could be counted.[/SIZE]

-D

2nd this. Really wish my vote counted in what happens on the trails in my backyard.

[NSMBA]

VIDEO is now available of the presentation on Monday night.
Click the link below and click on the film icon to view.

http://www.dnv.org/upload/documents/...0917RC_AGN.htm

[Sharon]

Great work. Sad to hear the current council can't get over the past as the NSMBA has obviously grown and moved forward from the last 14 years of experience.