Time to Stop Talking, Time to Start Acting!

[jajones]

While no non-equine nonmotorized trail user of their right mind is in support of HB 4684, with the exception of a few folks, I've seen a lot of talk and little action.

Time for action.

Below is a link to an online petition opposing HB 4684.

Go to the link. Print it. Post it anywhere and everywhere. Get as many signatures as you can from as many Michigan citizens as you can. Then, PM me for my mailing address. I'll be collecting these and forwarding them on. An ePetition will also be posted soon.

A copy of the Petition will also be available at upcoming events such as the Island Lake Demo and the Poto Trail Marathon/Half-Marathon.

Going to a race or event soon? Why not print the petition out and take it with you? (Rather than posting that "someone" should take it to a race to get signatures.)

Time to do your part. Stop being reactive, start being proactive.

http://velotracts.com/HB4684Petition.pdf

[J.knight]

Nice work Jones!

Gald to see you leading the way. It is too bad the IMBA "leaders" are too busy. You are lucky to not have a job or any family responsibilities....oh wait

[dirt]

Nice work Jones!

Gald to see you leading the way. It is too bad the IMBA "leaders" are too busy. You are lucky to not have a job or any family responsibilities....oh wait

Yep. he put all that effort into a web page that doesn't display properly. Glad he put the effort into that rather then encouraging people to contact their elected reps, working with our lobbyists, and working with some of the biking friendly state reps in Lansing, as the MMBA has been doing in conjunction with IMBA.

[jajones]

Nice work Jones!

Gald to see you leading the way. It is too bad the IMBA "leaders" are too busy. You are lucky to not have a job or any family responsibilities....oh wait

Yep. he put all that effort into a web page that doesn't display properly. Glad he put the effort into that rather then encouraging people to contact their elected reps, working with our lobbyists, and working with some of the biking friendly state reps in Lansing, as the MMBA has been doing in conjunction with IMBA.

Thanks for being part of the problem instead of part of the solution, Nick.

Link fixed.

[irishpitbull]

Nice work Jones!

Gald to see you leading the way. It is too bad the IMBA "leaders" are too busy. You are lucky to not have a job or any family responsibilities....oh wait

Yep. he put all that effort into a web page that doesn't display properly. Glad he put the effort into that rather then encouraging people to contact their elected reps, working with our lobbyists, and working with some of the biking friendly state reps in Lansing, as the MMBA has been doing in conjunction with IMBA.

Thanks for being part of the problem instead of part of the solution, Nick.

Link fixed.

Nice work. When I get if filled what do i do with it?

[jajones]

PM me and I'll send you my address. I don't want to post on the Forum due to bots.

[dirt]

Nice work Jones!

Gald to see you leading the way. It is too bad the IMBA "leaders" are too busy. You are lucky to not have a job or any family responsibilities....oh wait

Yep. he put all that effort into a web page that doesn't display properly. Glad he put the effort into that rather then encouraging people to contact their elected reps, working with our lobbyists, and working with some of the biking friendly state reps in Lansing, as the MMBA has been doing in conjunction with IMBA.

Thanks for being part of the problem instead of part of the solution, Nick.

Link fixed.

Jason, I'm just like you. Spent my time on the board, burned out, and left it in the hands of others. But, I'm not trying to act like we did things so much better when we were on the board.

[SteveF]

It's a pity there has to be so much squabbling among ourselves in the face of this sort of challenge. It makes me wonder if we will be able, or indeed if we even deserve, to be heard on issues like this. I'm going to print this petition and distribute it as I can, and I thank JAJ for making it available. And I appreciate all that the MMBA and IMBA crew have done and continue to do to challenge this bill as well.

Advocacy is boring, frustrating work--even the tiny bit I've been part of wore me out. I suppose it's useful to have an outlet for those frustrations even at the cost of unity to our cause. I remember how Lucinda Means used to just throw F-bombs all over the place when she got fed up. Everyone take a deep breath, shout a big "F@#$%!" at nothing in particular and everything in general, and feel better.

[jajones]

Board...no Board...MMBA...no MMBA...it doesn't really matter, Nick. I never said anything about doing anything better when I was on the Board than the current MMBA Board. As a matter of fact, I would say the MMBA Board and Ted Welsh (and John Gonway prior to him) have been the most proactive on this by communicating and attending meetings. As I said, in my initial post, "with the exception of a few folks".

This State has thousands of mountain bikers. Usability of hundreds of miles of mtb trails could be lost. Yet, I've seen very little direct action.

Having trails to ride is the end all and be all of our sport. Without it, there is nothing. Yet, so much of Michigan mountain biker's time is poured into other aspects of the sport over important advocacy issues. All kinds of m.asturbatory time, money and dialogue on everything from racing to equipment. People will drive hours to race at a place like Yankee, but won't spend a second to take direct action to preserve the very trails on which they ride. It is surreal.

People need a kick in the ass. And, as always, I'm hear to provide that kick.

[irishpitbull]

Board...no Board...MMBA...no MMBA...it doesn't really matter, Nick. I never said anything about doing anything better when I was on the Board than the current MMBA Board. As a matter of fact, I would say the MMBA Board and Ted Welsh (and John Gonway prior to him) have been the most proactive on this by communicating and attending meetings. As I said, in my initial post, "with the exception of a few folks".

This State has thousands of mountain bikers. Usability of hundreds of miles of mtb trails could be lost. Yet, I've seen very little direct action.

Having trails to ride is the end all and be all of our sport. Without it, there is nothing. Yet, so much of Michigan mountain biker's time is poured into other aspects of the sport over important advocacy issues. All kinds of m.asturbatory time, money and dialogue on everything from racing to equipment. People will drive hours to race at a place like Yankee, but won't spend a second to take direct action to preserve the very trails on which they ride. It is surreal.

People need a kick in the ass. And, as always, I'm hear to provide that kick.

Amen

[i69whitey]

Lead, follow, or get the #@!! outta the way!
Way to be another leader, J
just maybe, if we're loud enough, the herd will follow
after all
MOUNTAIN BIKING IS NOT A CRIME

[b_b]

I did not perceive anything negative towards imba from jajones post. That came from another poster.

[sisu]

mountain biking is not a crime, but it will be a WASTE OF TIME if we don't get to work on this asap.

Next time you ride your favorite ribbon of singletrack, imagine what it will look like once horses are allowed on it (if you need a visual, stop by the Maybury horse trails and have a look).

[irishpitbull]

As someone who has shared trails with Horse's it is terrible.

[dirt]

I did not perceive anything negative towards imba from jajones post. That came from another poster.

You're correct. I seemed to have been responding to the first two posts, rather then just Jason's.

I hindsight, a petition probably is a good idea. My initial response to petitions seems to developed into "Geez, another petition for something else?", because they seemed to have become overused and misused. I think I've realize that this is something that the MMBA/IMBA Chapters should get behind, and try to get move people aware of . I see NO harm in trying to as many signatures as we can.

My one suggestion would be that we need to have an address/location to send these too now, and it needs to be on the form. Otherwise, some people with petitions will never hear about where to send them, and they'll never be returned. With an address included, copies that into 'the wild' will still be returned.

Oh, and every page needs to have the text at the top. You can't have pages of just signatures, because there is no proof they were signing THIS petition.